Van / Campervan speed limits

There’s lots of misinformation floating about on this to the extent that having been pretty sure, I’m now doubting my own reasoning.

I looked here: https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits and based on that came to these conclusions:

I had a MWB Transit panel van with a maximum permissible mass (or GVW) of 2800kg. As such it was a goods vehicle under 7.5 tonnes and the speed limits were 50 on single carriageway and 60 on dual.

I did a home campervan conversion and sent off to the DVLA to have it reclassified as a campervan which they approved. The reg certificate now says the taxation class is LGV and the body type is Motor Caravan.

As I interpret the website above, it is now a motor caravan of not more than 3.05 tonnes maximum unladen weight and so I can do 60 on single carriage way and 70 on dual.

Am I right?

Correct

If it’s a white van then traffic laws are optional so re classification is unnecessary

I’d never trust it enough to do 70 past a copper on a dual carriageway.

As far as I’m concerned its something that the law has neglected to address so it could go either way, we’ve had a guy at work stopped for doing 70mph on a dual and he was driving a Combo which is legitimately a car derived van that can do car speed limits.

Seeing as my (and yours) tax is still LGV, that could counter the argument that its no longer a goods vehicle, its just a body type change.

Seeing as my (and yours) tax is still LGV, that could counter the argument that its no longer a goods vehicle, its just a body type change

I assume that if I got done I’d just produce documents and that would be the end of it.

Living in Inverness it wont surprise anyone to learn that its the new average speed cameras on the A9 that have prompted this.

You’re right. You are not subject to the lower limits.

However, the operator in the speed cameravan would only see a transit (potentially) speeding. Keep your documents handy!! Particularly anything from Dvla confirming change of use.

I read that for a while the DVLA were not accepting regregistrations unless it obviously looked like a campervan form the outside.

Presumably this was under pressure from the police getting pissed off stopping vans only to be told they were now campers.

Are average speed cameras linked to ANPR? that’s the only way they would be able to bust you.

Seen loads of large company vans recently proudly displaying ‘this vehicle is limited to 70mph’ stickers, which suggests even fleet managers don’t realise there us a lower limit, so I’m not too worried.

You can still do 70 on the motorway.. It’s just duel and single carriageways where different limits can apply

Most fleet managers wouldn’t want to limit their vehicles below the maximum allowable speed limit.

However, mine is limited to 70mph but newer replacements (from Vivaro size) will apparently be nearer 56mph.

Well bugger me, you’re quite right! I was sure that the limits were be the same for dual carriageway and motorway.(I’ll probably still do 60 to save fuel though)

This isbold legislation that hasn’t kept up with the fact that most modern vans can actually stop when you want them to. Only seen this enforced in north wales to be honest

It does seem a bit odd that everything from a small panel van to a 7.5 tonner is lumped together.

It even applies to small vans that aren’t car derived, transit connects ect. Unless they share a chassis with a car

Van are only limited by the power of the engine, the law does not apply!

Where’s the best place to find out about this? Does the vehicle’s logbook give a classification which can be used to look up its speed limits?

I’ve got a 2004 Defender 90 Hard Top, and always assumed it had the same speed limits as a car, but after looking online and finding conflicting information I’m totally confused!

I was always very aware of the limits in the van, wanted to get the conversion certificate but never did enough to it. It had a habit of smashing headlight bulbs for which I tended to get a short follow from Cumbria Constabulary who soon got bored of me doing 50 and pulled over to let me know the bulb was gone.

With its lack of sound insulation I find my defender is self limiting to 50 most of the time.
But was never sure which actual limit I should stick to with it
Mines a 110 hardtop.

Is it taxed as a commercial vehicle or as a private car? If you tax it as a private car it’s car speed limits.

Private light goods I think.

A
Quick google has found many similar dissuasion and much confusion

Yes, it’s confusing. Some internet comments suggest that Defenders older than 2008 are classed as commercials, whereas earlier ones aren’t. Mine is run as a business vehicle (VAT registered partnership). When you say ‘taxed’ do you mean the Road Tax, and if so would the tax disk give me a clue?

I’ve got to drive through some average speed monitored sections tonight, so I’ll probably have to play it safe and stick to 50mph. 🙁

I’ve found more comments that as a four wheel drive the fender is dual purpose according to vosa so not covered by commercial speed limits.

Don’t think I will take the risk just yet

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?s=e7246c0271daf88ed56298ed8f12d8a7&t=3876183&page=2

It’s a bit long but may help

The way I interpret is this. If your driving along on your own in a van you are limited to 50mph. If you fit some seats and load it with children, you can go faster!

I asked the question about campers from van bases when I went on a speed awareness course. If it says motor caravan on the V5 then the same rules as a car, otherwise van rules apply.

As far as I know with Vans, they have to have the EXACT same bodyshell as the Car they are based on to have the Car speed limits.

So a Fiesta Van, which is basically a 3 door Fiesta but with no rear side windows, will have Car limits whereas a old Combo or my Escort will have lower limits as it’s just the front that shares the panels with the Car.

Most fleet managers wouldn’t want to limit their vehicles below the maximum allowable speed limit.

Ocado, Morrisons, Waitrose, Adsa and Tesco van fleets are all speed limited at (or close to) 60mph.

Anyone have a link to the page where it tells you about the changes in limits when towing? My, less than 3.05 tonnes campervan loses 10 mph on dual carriageways when towing… I think…

Spin – might I suggest a letter to the Polis asking for clarification? Then keep a copy handy.

pretty much everything loses 10mph when towing on any limit above a 30 – except for Goods vehicles over 7.5 tonne

trailrat, am sure you are right, and a 30 year old campervan running on lpg is quite happy at 50 🙂 Just keen on confirming that I can still do 60 on dual carriageways (over 50 in reality)…

Its a complete mess and not clear at all. There is a huge thread on the T5 forum re speed limits. … another way to check is the VIN number. What it says on the VED disc isnt completely accurate, its what the chassis is approved for.

M1 numbers are car and people carriers, 60mph on country rds
N1 are commercial vehicles, 50mph on country roads

This is probably the info that the ANPR use to issue, or not issue, tickets.

The VIN number can be seen on the dash through the windscreen,

IANAL btw…

Sorry I meant if you tax it as a car because that’s what your v5 says. You can’t tax it as a car if your v5 says its not.

Much of my knowledge comes from T5 forum I’d suggest there.

But rickmeisters post is interesting. Goes off to check….

orangeboy, I’ve always thought my 3050kg GVW Defender 110 was a Dual Purpose Vehicle for speed limit and MOT purposes.

Looks like that’s changing soon though.
Item 3 on page 3

Following further consultation with the Department for Transport, an amendment to the Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations early next year will see the removal of the dual purpose vehicle definition.

It’s not clear if that just applies to MOT tests or speed limits as well.

I have never seen a white van go under 70 on a motorway.

are they not thinking of raising the speed limit for HGV’s on single lane highways for articulated lorries from 40 to 50 ?
The regulations for vans are confusing and outdated.

In Englandandwales – and the A9

I drove at 50mph tonight give or take a few mph, and it felt really slow. That was in my Defender which usually gives the impression you’re driving faster than you are. In a more refined vehicle 50mph or even 60mph can feel like the world has stopped. A few HGVs were going faster than the speed limit through the average speed cameras. I never thought I’d see the day when I could be holding up lorries!

I’m all for driving safely and at a safe speed for road conditions, but this level of enforcement is really grim. I can’t help but notice the poor state of the roads – it must be costing a lot to implement and run the average speed systems, and I wonder if the money might not be wiser spent.

Thanks for the info about the VIN – I’ll have to see if I can find it.

Found it…

http://www.vwt4forum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=12072&highlight=speed+limits

It includes a letter I wrote to VW with their take on the speed limit for their T5 s… They reckon that all their T5s, irrespective of ved class, Type Approval M1 or N1 should be 50mph, 60 on dual carriageways, 70 on mways.

Its worth a cup of cocoa and biscuits as its a fair old read. Does show the lengths we tried to go to finding a definitive.

hth