Maximum legal speed in a van
Discussion
bigdog3 said:
SS2. said:
bigdog3 said:
SS2. said:
If it has 8 seats plus one for the driver, it isn't a bus, a coach or a minibus.
So how is this "Renault Trafic 2700dci 9 seat minibus" classified ? 
Tyre Smoke said:
Right so, what are the speed limits for it then?
We have similar ones at work (9 seater Vivaro) and have decided they are subject to car limits as they are M1 passenger vehicles. One of our lines of business is as a technical service for vehicle homologation and IVA.The M/N distinction is what defines a vehicle as either "passenger" or "goods". I can't see any court arguing with that. Not sure if there are any examples?
Dual purpose vehicles are where it gets trickier, as they are usually N1 and therefore a goods vehicle in terms of homologation. Although to be fair, the requirements of a dual purpose vehicle are quite well defined, so while it's not easy to tell at first glance it is quite clear if you have the rules and a tape measure to hand.
Although definition of the unladen weight is quite a grey area so anything on the border could be tricky. Gross weight is a lot easier as it's on the chassis plate.
Brinyan said:
Just a bit of advice, to clarify my ignorance! Through the post this morning came a speeding fine. I was doing 71mph on A303, on a dual carriageway section. I was driving my Mercedes Vito Dualiner - seats in the back, side windows, no window in the rear door. The script states the speed limit of this vehicle is 60mph, as it’s a goods vehicle.
Can anyone just confirm that’s correct. At a toll bridge etc, it’s classed as a car, as has seats in the back.
I know I broke the limit, so not denying it, just didn’t realise the speed limit for this type of vehicle is 60mph.
Cheers
From this a key fact might be the lack of rear windows. To be DPV and subject to car speed limits van types vehicles with the right number of seats need a certain amount of glass behind the B pillar AND in the rear window. Construction & Use Regs IIRC. Can anyone just confirm that’s correct. At a toll bridge etc, it’s classed as a car, as has seats in the back.
I know I broke the limit, so not denying it, just didn’t realise the speed limit for this type of vehicle is 60mph.
Cheers
However I last studied traffic law in the mid 1980s and it may well have changed.
It didn’t seem entirely logical then, but what do I know...
Coin Slot. said:
So I have a VW T32 LWB Kombi, rear seats, rear windows, glass tailgate, 2300kg unladen.
Commercial or passenger carrying limits?
What taxation class is it? And is it M1 on the V5?Commercial or passenger carrying limits?
Not conclusive by any means, but I'm taking Diesel Car and M1 to give car limits and anything else van limits.
SkodaIan said:
It depends on what it says on the V5. If the Dualiner is described as a "Light Commercial", as far as the law is concerned it is a van and subject to 60mph speed limits on dual carriageway and “50mph limit on single carriageway NSL roads.”
Is that right? I thought the 50mph single carriageway bit only applies to HGV’s?Alucidnation said:
Reffro said:
It is all made very clear on both websites.
"Most vans:
have a lower speed limit than cars
must follow the speed limits for goods vehicles of the same weight
Vehicles under 2 tonnes laden (loaded) weight may qualify as a ‘car-derived van’ or ‘dual-purpose vehicle’. These vehicles have the same speed limits as cars."
" ‘car-derived van’ means a goods vehicle which is constructed or adapted as a derivative of a passenger vehicle and which has a maximum laden weight not exceeding 2 tonnes."
Vito Dualiner (min 2700kg) and nearly every small van I mentioned above must adhere to Goods vehicle limits
Can't really argue with that."Most vans:
have a lower speed limit than cars
must follow the speed limits for goods vehicles of the same weight
Vehicles under 2 tonnes laden (loaded) weight may qualify as a ‘car-derived van’ or ‘dual-purpose vehicle’. These vehicles have the same speed limits as cars."
" ‘car-derived van’ means a goods vehicle which is constructed or adapted as a derivative of a passenger vehicle and which has a maximum laden weight not exceeding 2 tonnes."
Vito Dualiner (min 2700kg) and nearly every small van I mentioned above must adhere to Goods vehicle limits
As it doesn't allow for DPV as already mentioned.
IMO for the OP to gain car limits all he needs to do is install a rear window.
I have run Dualiners and traveliners - with rear windows BOTH have car limits
I also installed 6 rear seats in my T4 and sent the V5 off to the DVLA asking for DPV classification - they gave it MPV which is even better as it meant I was exempt from the LEZ as it was now a car !
However I didn't install a rear window so the speed limit was a grey area.
Tyre Smoke said:
Coin Slot. said:
So I have a VW T32 LWB Kombi, rear seats, rear windows, glass tailgate, 2300kg unladen.
Commercial or passenger carrying limits?
What taxation class is it? And is it M1 on the V5?Commercial or passenger carrying limits?
Not conclusive by any means, but I'm taking Diesel Car and M1 to give car limits and anything else van limits.
SS2. said:
If it weighs in at more than 2040kg unladen, it can't be a dual-purpose vehicle.
.#pedantry matters..
Which means virtually identical vehicles have different speed limits .#pedantry matters..
For example:
Nissan Navara King Cab Pick Up 2.5dCi 4WD - Unladen weight 2037 kg
Nissan Navara King Cab Pick Up SE 2.5dCi 4WD - Unladen weight 2056 kg
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