Can I drive a Luton van on a B licence?

If you need a van rental hire, you might assume that it will require you to have a special type of licence in order to do so. For certain types of vans that might be the case. However, for a Luton van, all you will need is your normal, full Category B car driving licence. In this guide, we’ll be exploring why you’re able to drive a Luton van with a B licence. As well as other important information you should know before hiring a Luton van.

Driving a Luton van on a B licence

Official guidance states a person can drive a van up to a weight of 3.5 tonnes if they have a standard car licence and passed their driving test after 1st January 1997. Those who passed their driving test before 1st January 1997 can legally drive a van up to 7.5 tonnes in weight. Luton vans typically weigh 3.5 tonnes, so anyone with a B driving licence can drive this size van or smaller, no matter when you passed your test.

What can you do with Category B?

Let’s take a closer look at what else category B entitlement means for drivers:

On or after 1st January 1997

They can drive a minibus with a maximum of 8 passenger seats up to 3.5 tonnes in weight.
They can tow a 750kg trailer as long as the combined weight of the vehicle and trailer doesn’t exceed 3.5 tonnes.

They arepermitted to ride 15KW motor tricycles.

Before 1st January 1997

Those who passed their test prior to the start of January 1997, can do all the above and the combined GVW is a significantly heavier 8,250kg.

What you need to know about driving a Luton van

If you haven’t driven a Luton van before, it might take some getting used to compared to driving a car. This is because the van is significantly bigger and longer than any car and won’t have a rear-view mirror. Before driving off in a Luton van for the first time, it is beneficial to:

Familiarise yourself with all the controls, their positions, and how to use them. Especially your lights and windscreen wipers.
Make sure you know the dimensions of the van, particularly if you’ll be parking in a car park, going under a bridge, or driving down a road with restricted access. Top tip – be prepared to take the corners wide.
Give yourself time to adjust to your new seating position and posture in the driver’s seat, as it will be different from a car.
Take some time to try your brakes when the van is empty as they will be sharper and more instant.
Check your mirrors are set correctly so you can see the entire road around you. You will be relying on them to see to the side of you and behind you when you’re driving.
Plan your route properly so you don’t have to worry about getting lost whilst you’re in a different style of vehicle that you aren’t used to.

What are the benefits of driving a Luton van?

Now that you know you can drive a Luton van on a B licence, here are some reasons why you should:

Luton vans have come a long way from where they started. The modern vans of today are comfortable and will securely take your goods to their new destination.
You get a lot of space in a Luton van. If you’re organised enough with your packing, you could easily fit the contents of a 2-bedroom flat in the back all in one go (if it doesn’t exceed the weight limit).
Unlike other types of vans, you can drive a Luton with your normal driving licence. Therefore, you can get most of the benefits of using a small lorry without having the hassle of taking additional tests and adhering to more requirements.

Conclusion

In summary, yes you can drive a Luton van with a B licence as with a normal driving licence you can drive vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes in weight according to UK driving regulations.

Looking for van hire in Consett County Durham? Book online or contact the team at Croxdale. Our rentals are flexible to suit your needs, whether you’re looking for adaily hireoption or a monthly van rental period. Choose the right vehicle for you with us today.

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A167 Croxdale Durham County Durham DH6 5HS

Head Office: Croxdale Service Station LTD A167 Croxdale Durham County Durham DH6 5HS

Reg. Company Number: 913346

VAT Reg. No. GB176008861

Financial Disclosure

Croxdale Service Station Limited is an Appointed Representative of Automotive Compliance Ltd, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No 497010).

Automotive Compliance Ltd’s permissions as a Principal Firm allows Croxdale Service Station Limited to act as a credit broker, not as a lender, for the introduction to a limited number of lenders.

We can introduce you to a selected panel of lenders, which includes manufacturer lenders linked directly to the franchises that we represent. An introduction to a lender does not amount to independent financial advice and we act as their agent for this introduction. Our approach is to introduce you first to the manufacturer lender linked directly to the particular franchise you are purchasing your vehicle from, who are usually able to offer the best available package for you, taking into account both interest rates and other contributions. If they are unable to make you an offer of finance, we then seek to introduce you to whichever of the other lenders on our panel is able to make the next best offer of finance for you. Our aim is to secure the best deal you are eligible for from our panel of lenders. Lenders will pay a fixed commission to us for introducing you to them, calculated by reference to the vehicle model or amount you borrow. Different lenders may pay different commissions for such introductions, and manufacturer lenders linked directly to the franchises that we represent may also provide preferential rates to us for the funding of our vehicle stock and also provide financial support for our training and marketing. But any such amounts they and other lenders pay us will not affect the amounts you pay under your finance agreement, all of which are set by the lender concerned. If you ask us what the amount of commission is, we will tell you in good time before the Finance agreement is executed. All finance applications are subject to status, terms and conditions apply, UK residents only, 18’s or over. Guarantees may be required.

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