A 3.5 tonne van is a van with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of 3,500kg, which is the most it’s legally allowed to weigh when fully loaded, counting the van itself, the driver, the fuel and everything in the back. It’s the heaviest petrol or diesel van you can drive on a standard car licence.
Can you drive one on a car licence? Yep. A category B (car) licence covers petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles up to 3,500kg MAM, and electric or hydrogen vehicles up to 4,250kg. Anything heavier falls into category C1 (3,500kg to 7,500kg) and needs a C1 or C licence. That’s basically why so many vans, Lutons included, are built right up to the 3.5 tonne limit and no further.
MAM, kerb weight and payload are the three numbers worth knowing:
- MAM is the maximum legal loaded weight: 3,500kg.
- Kerb weight is what the van weighs empty.
- Payload is the difference between the two, and it’s what you can actually carry. The body and any fitted equipment count towards kerb weight, so a 3.5 tonne panel van and a 3.5 tonne Luton van can carry quite different amounts. The figures for a particular van are on the plate or sticker fitted to it, and GOV.UK explains how to read it.
Overloading a van past its MAM is an offence and a safety risk. It lengthens braking distances and strains the tyres and suspension. A van that looks like it still has room can be over its weight limit, because books, tools and white goods add up quickly, so it’s worth planning a load by weight as well as volume, and securing it properly once it’s in.
If you’re booking a van for a move rather than driving one yourself, the size you pick is more about space than weight. When you book a man and van in Bristol with The Van Man Co, the XL option is a Luton at around 18m³, which suits house moves and bulky furniture. Not sure which size fits your stuff? Our guide on what size van you need for moving goes through it.