Van speed limits

[MX51ROD]

I expect this has been raised before , but a search bought up zilch
Any BIBs here that could give a definitive answer to this conundrum
A work acquaintance of mine has been pulled for speed in a VW Transporter , his offence, exceeding the speed limit for his type of vehicle , he was doing 70 on a dual carriageway which had a 70mph limit , the limit would appear to be 60mph for a VW transporter and similar vans eg Transit , Citroen Dispatch etc on any road or motorway where the limit is 70mph
This includes all vans except car derived vans , simple example , VX Astravan
I always knew large vans eg Sprinter were subject to lower limits ( whenever have you seen a Sprinter doing less the warp speed ) but small vans ?
Now the grey area , According to Bedfordshire Police , this also included a Transit Connect . So by association my Citroen Berlingo , but a call to a local Citroen dealer , and they class these vans as car derived , as they also turn up as people carriers .The Police simple rule of thumb is if the gross weight of the vehicle ie fully loaded is less than 2 tons then the limits applying are as for a car .So even the Police have a vague application of the rules
My question , what the hell is the is correct limits for my van ?

[eybic]

I'm 99% sure it depends what taxation class it is. Our Transporter is registered as N1 which is a Van so no getting away with the car speed limits unfortunately.

eta: What's your "type approval" on this site: https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/

[The Surveyor]

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

[eybic]

The Surveyor said:

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

I found that really confusing, easier to check what it's registered as.

[MX51ROD]

The Surveyor said:

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

Been there already , no help

[mr rusty]

watch this space http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=1069...

[SS2.]

eybic said:

I'm 99% sure it depends what taxation class it is.

I'm 100% certain it isn't.

[eybic]

SS2. said:

eybic said:

I'm 99% sure it depends what taxation class it is.

I'm 100% certain it isn't.

Really? Surely it's down to what it is registered as, in simple terms a Van (N) or a car (M)

[MX51ROD]

eybic said:

I'm 99% sure it depends what taxation class it is. Our Transporter is registered as N1 which is a Van so no getting away with the car speed limits unfortunately.

eta: What's your "type approval" on this site: https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/

Even more confusing my van is also N1 , therefore the dealer is incorrect , how many small van drivers are totally unaware

[robdcfc]

Roughly, no windows behind driver means 60 limit in a 70.

Unless its been changed at DVLA to a motorhome

[eybic]

MX51ROD said:

eybic said:

I'm 99% sure it depends what taxation class it is. Our Transporter is registered as N1 which is a Van so no getting away with the car speed limits unfortunately.

eta: What's your "type approval" on this site: https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/

Even more confusing my van is also N1 , therefore the dealer is incorrect , how many small van drivers are totally unaware

So is a corsa van I just checked

I always thought it was down to what it was registered as.

[SS2.]

eybic said:

SS2. said:

eybic said:

I'm 99% sure it depends what taxation class it is.

I'm 100% certain it isn't.

Really? Surely it's down to what it is registered as, in simple terms a Van (N) or a car (M)

It would need to meet the definition of a 'car derived van' for normal speed limits to apply. The taxation class wouldn't be relevant to this.

Rather like the taxation class wouldn't be relevant for say a Transporter 'van' that had been converted to a 'dual-purpose vehicle' - no change to its taxation class but it would be subject to a different set of speed limits.

[eybic]

It's ridiculous that you can't put your reg into a database and it to confirm what limits you need to stick to. I had this confusion when I first started using vans so just stick to the lower limits.

[robdcfc]

http://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/advice_centre/ca...

[eybic]

The term "car derived" seems to be the sticking point. It's not something that everyone agrees on

[The Surveyor]

MX51ROD said:

The Surveyor said:

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

Been there already , no help

Why is your van not simply a Goods vehicle with a weight less than 7.5 tonnes, it is a small van, but still a van. It's not a car based van, or a duel purpose vehicle (assuming it's not a 4x4 or has rear seats) so speed limit is 60 on duel carriageway and 70 on a motorway.

[SS2.]

MX51ROD said:

My question, what the hell is the is correct limits for my van ?

If your Berlingo is a derivative of a passenger vehicle and has a maximum laden weight not exceeding 2 tonnes, then it's car derived and not subject to special speed limits for its class.

If it isn't 'car derived', then it would be subject to [some] lower speed limits.

I seem to recall there being some debate as to whether the Berlingo was a car derived van or, if the commercial version came first, a van derived car.

[Nigel_O]

Its simple - if the van is derived from a car, it has car speed limits, otherwise it might have lower limits, depending on the road.

So, for example, a Citroen Berlingo, a Vauxhall Combo or Astra, Renault Kangoo, even a LandRover Discovery Commercial are all car-derived and enjoy 70mph limits on a DC

A VW Transporter (of any age), a Transit van and even a Transit Connect are not car-derived and are limited to 60 on a NSL DC.

I didn't know this either (never needed to) but it was covered (in some detail) on a speed awareness course I attended a year or two ago

[22]

I think a VW Transporter can be either. Factory fitted seats = car derived, otherwise it's a van!

ETA - seats behind the driver!

[fastbikes76]

eybic said:

The term "car derived" seems to be the sticking point. It's not something that everyone agrees on

Yup, seems stupid really.

My Citroen Dispatch panel van is registered as N1 and reduced limits apply, yet the identical model with seats in the rear is classed as a car and registered as M1. The 'car' version is a 9 seater so if fully loaded with 9 passengers and a little luggage you will be far over what I do/could carry in my van.