Weight limits: how much can my rental van carry?

There are probably going to be several times in your life when you need to hire a van. Most of us live van-less day-to-day lives but may need a vehicle with some extra boot space in certain situations – like moving house, say, or delivering a full suite of furniture to Debbie from Facebook Marketplace.



It's the same story with businesses. One week, your cute company car may see you through, and then the next week you might need to upgrade to a van to take things to an event or move office. 

Whatever your reasons for hiring a van, one crucial thing to keep in mind is to avoid overloading your vehicle. Not only is it very dangerous, but it can also net you penalty points or costly fines. If the police catch you driving an overloaded van, you may have to unload it then and there before carrying on with your journey. 

Now, you don't want to be leaving Debbie's chest of drawers on the side of the road, do you? So make sure you check the weight limits of your van before you drive it.

How much weight can I put into my van?

Just like the amount of weight each person can lift at the gym, each different make and model of van can carry a different amount. As a rough guide, a large 3.5-tonne box truck (Luton van) can carry up to 1,300 kilograms.

You need to check for "payload" and "gross vehicle weight" each time you rent a different type of van. The payload is the amount you're legally allowed to carry in the back. The gross vehicle weight is the total weight of your van, you, any other passengers, load and fuel.

If you're going to get caught out on either of these, it will probably be gross vehicle weight, so make sure you're following the weight restrictions if you don't want penalty points or fines.

What happens if my van exceeds these weight limits?

Exceeding the gross vehicle weight in your rental van not only leaves you vulnerable to being stopped by the police and getting fined, but it also risks your safety – not to mention the safety of your passengers, other road users and pedestrians. 

Both the DVSA and the police take overloaded vans very seriously. You may have to pay fines up to £300 if you overload your van, depending on how much you have exceeded the gross vehicle weight limit.

• 5-10% overloaded = £100 fine
• 10-15% overloaded = £200 fine
• 15-30% overloaded = £300 fine

If you have really, really overloaded your van and exceed 30% over the gross vehicle weight limit, you will probably be taken to court and could receive a fine of up to £5,000. Not only that, but you can say hello to some penalty points and even a voided insurance policy if you're involved in an accident while driving an overweight vehicle.

How about axle weight?

A common mistake people make when loading a van is not understanding its axle weights.

You need to make sure your load gets distributed evenly and appropriately over both axles. Each axle has a separate weight limit, which means that even if you're under the gross vehicle weight limit, you might still be driving illegally if you've exceeded the weight limit of either axle.

This can also result in fines and penalty points, so keep this information in mind.

How do I know if my van is overloaded?

There are some telltale signs of overloading that you should pay attention to, as overloading is very dangerous. Exceeding the gross vehicle weight of your van puts extra pressure on the vehicle, making it harder to control and at a higher risk of suspension failures, braking problems and blown tyres.

Some visual signs that your van is overloaded include:

Underinflated tyres
Sides and back of the van are much closer to the ground
Side wings are closer to tyres

To avoid an overloading drama, look at your van before and after you load it. If you notice any of the above signs, you might have taken things a bit too far.

How can I avoid overloading my rental van?

As well as checking your van visually, you can also visit your local weighbridge. 

Weighbridges are platforms used to weigh heavy-duty trucks, buses, vans and other vehicles. With a quick search on the internet, you can find a weighbridge near you so you can check and rest assured your van is at a safe weight to drive.

What sorts of vans can I rent?

There are lots of different vans available for rent, with options for all needs.

Here are some different sorts of vans you can rent:

• Short wheelbase: ideal for larger goods and items, like fridges and washing machines
• Sub one-tonne CDV: ideal for lighter loads, like courier jobs
• Long wheelbase: ideal for couriers and construction industries
• Extra-long wheelbase: ideal for office moves, events, moving bulky items or collecting/delivering lots of foods
• Luton van: ideal for removals

Roughly adding up the weight of all the things you want to put in your rental van before choosing a size is a good idea. The rental company will also be able to offer advice on which size van is best for your needs.

Where can I find a rental van?

Here at Metro Vehicle Hire, we have a large fleet of rental vans you can choose from. Whether it's a transit van to ferry around your band instruments or a low-loader for removal jobs or moving house, there's a van to suit every need.

Check out our fleet of vans for hire or contact us for more information at (0191) 4888 700.