Buying a used van

For a lot of sole traders and small firms, the van is where the working day starts.

Buying a used one means checking its history, its weight and where you can drive it.

Most of these checks use free government services and the van's registration number.

Check the van before you see it

Ask the seller for the registration number, the make and model, and the MOT test number.

The DVLA's vehicle enquiry service shows what the DVLA holds about the van. That includes its tax and MOT dates, when it was first registered, its weight, its fuel type and its emissions. You can compare those details with what the seller told you.

The MOT history shows past passes and failures and the mileage at each test. For vans it goes back to 2005. Citizens Advice suggests asking the seller about any gaps. You can also check whether the van has a safety recall that has not been fixed.

When you see the van

Ask to see the V5C log book. It should carry a "DVL" watermark, and its details should match the van and what you were told. The vehicle identification number and the engine number should match the log book too.

Some blank log books were stolen. GOV.UK says a log book with a serial number between BG8229501 and BG9999030, or between BI2305501 and BI2800000, might be one of them. If you see one, call the police as soon as it is safe to.

Citizens Advice suggests viewing a vehicle in daylight and in dry weather. It also suggests a test drive of at least 15 minutes on different kinds of road. Make sure you are insured before you drive.

The plated weight

Every van has a maximum authorised mass. This is the most it can weigh with the heaviest load it can carry safely on the road. You may also see it called the gross vehicle weight.

The weight is listed in the owner's manual and usually appears on a plate or sticker on the van. Some vans are down-plated, which means the plate shows a lower weight than the van could carry.

Licences for the driver and the business

A category B car licence from a test passed on or after 1 January 1997 covers vehicles up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass for petrol and diesel, hybrids included. For electric and hydrogen vehicles the limit is 4,250kg. Vehicles between 3,500kg and 7,500kg need category C1. You can check your own licence online.

A business that carries goods in a vehicle with a gross plated weight over 3,500kg needs a goods vehicle operator's licence. Carrying other people's goods for hire or reward in Europe needs a licence for vans over 2,500kg as well.

Clean air zones

Some cities charge older vehicles that miss their emissions standards. In October 2026, the GOV.UK checker covers clean air zones in Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside.

London's Ultra Low Emission Zone covers every London borough and runs every day except Christmas Day. It includes vans up to and including 3.5 tonnes. London and Scotland each have their own checker. Putting in the registration number before you buy shows whether the van would need to pay.

Once you have bought it

Vehicle tax does not pass to you with the van. You need to tax it before you drive it, using the green new keeper slip from the log book. The van also needs insurance before it goes on the road.

Once a van is three years old, it needs an MOT every year.