Heavier electric vans face MOT hurdles despite recent changes

Despite licence rule updates, electric vans over 3.5 tonnes are still subject to HGV testing

Heavier electric vans face MOT hurdles despite recent changes
Image: Bigstock.

Recent changes to Category B licence rules in the UK now permit standard licence holders to drive electric vans weighing up to 4.25 tonnes. However, a notable discrepancy remains concerning MOT testing, according to Jess Shanahan. Many heavier electric vans, despite being classified as light commercial vehicles (LCVs) for licensing purposes, are still considered heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) for their MOT.

This situation arises because the increased weight of these vans is primarily due to their batteries, a factor acknowledged by the government’s licensing amendments. Yet, the MOT regulations for vehicles over 3,500kg gross vehicle weight (GVW) have not changed. This means popular electric models like the Ford E-Transit, Mercedes eSprinter, and Vauxhall Movano Electric must undergo HGV testing, even though drivers no longer require additional training or an upgraded licence to operate them.

The government is aware of this inconsistency. A Department for Transport consultation has explored proposals to move zero-emission vans up to 4.25 tonnes to the Class 7 MOT regime, which is used for smaller vans. Other proposals include extending the first test to three years from registration and removing tachograph and drivers’ hours requirements for these vehicles.

Lee O’Neill, Operations Director at Venson Automotive Solutions, noted in a WhatVan article that the current framework creates barriers for fleets transitioning to electric vehicles, leading to longer downtime and higher testing fees. Freedom of Information data reveals that only 1,223 3.5-4.25t electric vans were tested between January 2022 and January 2025. While the low 5.5% failure rate indicates their efficiency, the limited number of HGV MOT facilities (fewer than 600 nationwide, compared to over 6,500 Class 7 centres) contributes to significant wait times.

Businesses operating or considering electric vans over 3.5 tonnes should note:

  • An HGV MOT is required after one year, not three.
  • Testing must be done at an Authorised Testing Facility (ATF), not a standard MOT garage.
  • Expect additional brake testing and plan for associated downtime and higher maintenance costs.

Until the government acts on the consultation, this testing framework remains in place.

Source: Installer Online

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

Have your say!

0 0

Lost Password

Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.