Guidance

Car-derived vans and dual purpose vehicles

Published 5 March 2015

Car derived vans

Very few vans will meet the criteria for a car derived van (CDV). Those that do are likely to be similar to a Ford Fiesta van, Vauxhall Corsa or Renault Clio van.

Legal definition of a car derived van

Schedule 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 describes a car derived van as:

‘car-derived van’ means a goods vehicle which is constructed or adapted as a derivative of a passenger vehicle and which has a maximum laden weight not exceeding 2 tonnes.’

How to identify a car derived van

Car derived vans are:

• designed to weigh no more than 2 tonnes when loaded fully
• based on car designs or the vehicle is built from a platform which has been designed and developed to be built as a car or a van by the same manufacturer

As a general rule, from the outside, these vehicles will look like the size of a car, but on the inside the vehicle will look like and function as a van, because:

• there will be no rear seats, rear seat belts or mountings
• there will be a payload area with floor panel in the rear of the vehicle
• there will be no side windows in the rear of the vehicle - or if present, side windows will be opaque and fixed (with no means of opening or closing)

If your van is a CDV, it will be recorded as such under ‘body type’ on the vehicle’s registration document (V5C). If there is any other entry under ‘body type’ the vehicle is not registered as a car derived van and will be subject to speeds lower than the national limits.

Speed limits

Car derived vans are the only light commercial (goods) vehicles which are subject to the same speed limits as a car.

All other light commercial (goods) vehicles, including small vans, are restricted to maximum speed limits applicable to goods vehicles not exceeding 7.5 tonnes maximum laden weight:

• 50mph on single carriageways
• 60mph on dual carriageways
• 70mph on motorways

What to do if you think your vehicle has been incorrectly registered

The Department for Transport recognises that historically some vehicles may have been incorrectly registered.

If you believe your vehicle is a CDV and is not registered as such, for:

• new vehicles - check with the dealer
• older vehicle – check with the manufacturer

Until such time as your vehicle has been re-registered as a CDV (if appropriate) you should comply with the lower speed limits applicable to a goods vehicle. You will need written confirmation that the vehicle qualifies as a CDV from the manufacturer to accompany the re-registration application.

If your goods vehicle is registered as a CDV but it:

• exceeds 2 tonnes maximum laden weight
• does not meet any other of the criteria for a CDV

then it is incorrectly registered and you are not permitted to travel at the national speed limits. You must comply with the lower speed limits applicable to a goods vehicle.

As above please check the registration details with the dealer / manufacturer and re-register with DVLA as appropriate.

Dual purpose vehicles

A dual purpose vehicle is a vehicle constructed or adapted for the carriage both of passengers and of goods and designed to weigh no more than 2,040 kg when unladen, and is either:

• constructed or adapted so that the driving power of the engine is, or can be selected to be, transmitted to all wheels of the vehicle

or

• permanently fitted with a rigid roof, at least one row of transverse passenger seats to the rear of the driver’s seat and will have side and rear windows - there must also be a minimum ratio between the size of passenger and stowage areas

See The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (Part 1 Regulation 3) for the full definition.