Updated driving licence regulations for zero-emission vehicles come into effect today (10 June 2025), making the switch to electric vans simpler for drivers.
Under the new rules, holders of a standard category B licence can now operate zero-emission electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) of up to 4.25 tonnes. The typical MAM limit for petrol and diesel vehicles in this category remains 3.5 tonnes.
This change eliminates the previous requirement for additional training. Until now, while alternatively fuelled vans weighing between 3.5 and 4.25 tonnes were exempt from the standard MAM limit, drivers still needed to complete five hours of extra training to legally drive them. The updated rules remove this burden, acknowledging the extra weight contributed by batteries or alternative fuel systems.
The rule applies to all vehicles that fall under the category B licence — including vans, minibuses, SUVs, and trucks — normally limited to 3.5 tonnes. Drivers are also now allowed to tow using a 4.25-tonne zero-emission vehicle, provided the combined MAM of the vehicle and trailer does not exceed seven tonnes. Those who passed their category B test before 1 January 1997 remain entitled to drive combinations up to 8.25 tonnes.
The changes, first announced in May, have been broadly welcomed. The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) described them as “long overdue.” However, concerns remain that without further regulatory adjustments, these updates may not have a meaningful impact. The Department for Transport (DfT) recently consulted on aligning the treatment of 4.25-tonne zero-emission vans with 3.5-tonne diesel vans to ensure a level playing field.
The fleet industry is calling for additional reforms, such as shifting zero-emission van testing from the heavy goods vehicle system to the class 7 MOT scheme and adjusting the annual test schedule so these vehicles undergo their first MOT after three years, and yearly thereafter. The sector also wants the removal of tachograph and driver hours regulations for these vans to match the lighter 3.5-tonne diesel vehicles.
The BVRLA, which has long lobbied for these changes, cautioned that outdated rules are still slowing the move to a cleaner van fleet. Chief Executive Toby Poston said: “Regulatory barriers remain a key blocker for van fleet decarbonisation, alongside the lack of fiscal support and concerns over charging. Government knows the levers that need to be pulled.”
An outcome from the DfT’s consultation on further regulatory flexibility for zero-emission vans is expected this summer.
