The planned change in the law around driving heavy electric vans has taken effect, meaning that anyone holding a standard car licence is now allowed to get behind the wheel of a BEV van weighing up to 4.25 tonnes. Previously, this was possible only thanks to a so-called derogation, which required drivers to undergo extra training.
The change applies to all vehicles, not just vans, with Category B licence holders now able to drive electric vans, minibuses with up to eight seats, SUVs and trucks that weigh over 3.5 tonnes but no more than 4.25 tonnes. If the vehicle has been adapted to support disabled passengers then this top gross vehicle weight has been increased to 5,000kg, with the additional 750kg only allowed to be taken up by the weight of the specialist equipment.
All drivers who passed their test after 1 January 1997 are not allowed to drive a combustion-engine vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tonnes.
The change was first considered by the previous Conservative Government in October 2022 but it wasn’t able to bring it into law before the General Election in 2024. The incoming Labour Government had not commented on it, but has now brought the law into effect. As of 10 June 2025, it is now in place.
The weight limit increase was first introduced in 2018 to allow for the heavier nature of electric vans. The batteries weigh more than a full fuel tank and engine, which then takes up more of the gross vehicle weight. This then leaves less capacity for payload.
As an extreme example, if the Mercedes-Benz eSprinter with the 113kWh battery was only allowed to have a 3.5-tonne gross vehicle weight, it would only have a payload of around 200kg, due to its high kerb weight. Most of this could then be taken up by the driver and passengers, meaning the van would only be good for carrying a load of inflated balloons or similar.
The changes to the licence requirements were brought in at the same time as the confirmation of the extension of the plug-in van grant, which is now due to run until April 2026.
Towing changes
The law has also changed around how much you can tow using an electric vehicle while holding a standard Category B licence. The law now says that car licence holders are able to drive a vehicle and trailer combination with a total trailer weight of 7,000kg. So if your vehicle has a gross vehicle weight of 4,250kg, then the most that your trailer can weigh is 2,750kg. However, the trailer must never weigh more than 3,500kg.
Those who passed their standard car driving test before January 1, 1997 can drive a vehicle and trailer combination of up to 8.25 tonnes.
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