New Driving Licence Rules for Heavier Electric Vans: What You Need to Know

Starting June 10th 2025, new driving licence rules for heavier electric vans will come into effect, aligning them with their lighter petrol and diesel counterparts. This change aims to make it easier for drivers to transition to zero-emission vehicles without facing additional regulatory hurdles. Here’s what you need to know about these new rules and how they might affect you.

What’s Changing?

1. Weight Limit Increase:

   
   

   • Drivers with a standard category B licence can now drive zero-emission vehicles up to 4.25 tonnes. This adjustment accounts for the additional weight of the vehicle’s batteries, which previously pushed electric vans into a heavier weight category with stricter regulations.

     
     

2. Vehicle Types Affected:

   
   

   • The new rules apply to a variety of vehicles, including vans, minibuses, trucks, and any other vehicle that can be driven up to 3.5 tonnes if they are petrol or diesel.

     
     

3. Training Requirements:

   
   

   • The previous requirement for five hours of additional training for drivers of electric vans weighing up to 4.25 tonnes has been removed. This change aims to simplify the process of switching to electric vehicles.

     
     

4. Towing Allowances:

   
   

   • Adjustments have been made to towing allowances for zero-emission vehicles weighing up to 4.25 tonnes. Drivers can now tow a trailer as long as the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of the vehicle and trailer combination does not exceed 7 tonnes. For example, if your vehicle has a MAM of 4.25 tonnes, the MAM of your trailer will be limited to 2.75 tonnes.

     
     

Why These Changes Matter

• Easier Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles:

  
  

  • By removing additional training requirements and aligning the weight limits for electric vans with those of petrol and diesel vans, the new rules make it easier for drivers and fleet operators to adopt zero-emission vehicles.
    

• Cost Savings:

  
  

  • The elimination of the five-hour training requirement can result in cost savings for fleet operators, making electric vans a more attractive option.

    
    

• Environmental Benefits:

  
  

  • Encouraging the adoption of zero-emission vehicles helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to environmental sustainability.

    
    

What’s Next?

While these changes are a step in the right direction, there are still some regulatory flexibilities that need to be addressed. The Department for Transport (DfT) is currently reviewing feedback from a consultation on additional regulatory flexibilities for zero-emission vans, including annual vehicle testing, drivers’ hours, tachographs, and speed limiter devices. The outcome of this consultation is expected to be communicated in due course.

The new driving licence rules for heavier electric vans show a significant step towards making zero-emission vehicles more accessible and practical for drivers and fleet operators. By aligning the regulations for electric vans with those for petrol and diesel vans, the government aims to remove barriers to adoption and encourage the transition to a cleaner, greener fleet.

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