Driver Licensing Regs Relaxed For Alternatively Fuelled Vans

The government has announced licence regulations are to be relaxed for drivers of some alternatively fuelled vans.

Currently, drivers with Category B (car) licences are permitted to drive vans which weigh up to 3.5 tonnes. However, electric and hybrid vans of a comparable size must carry a large battery pack, making them slightly heavier.

The government announced in March that it would seek agreement from the EU for drivers with Category B licences to be permitted to drive alternatively fuelled vans weighing up to 4.25 tonnes.

The move follows news that operators of alternatively fuelled vehicles up to 4.25 tonnes will also be exempt from HGV operator licensing, as long as they only operate domestically.