MilesheetYour van is not allowed to do 70 on that road
Vans and cars towing have lower national speed limits than cars, on single and dual carriageways. Most drivers have no idea.
This is the most widely broken rule on British roads that almost nobody knows they are breaking.
The national speed limits
For a car or motorcycle:
- Single carriageway: 60 mph
- Dual carriageway: 70 mph
- Motorway: 70 mph
For a car-derived van or goods vehicle up to 7.5 tonnes:
- Single carriageway: 50 mph
- Dual carriageway: 60 mph
- Motorway: 70 mph
For a car or van towing a trailer or caravan:
- Single carriageway: 50 mph
- Dual carriageway: 60 mph
- Motorway: 60 mph
So a van on a national-speed-limit single carriageway is limited to 50, not 60. On a dual carriageway it is 60, not 70. Both are enforceable and both are routinely ignored by drivers who genuinely believe the derestricted sign means the same thing to them as to a car.
The table to keep in your head
| Vehicle | Built-up area | Single carriageway | Dual carriageway | Motorway |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car or motorcycle | 30 | 60 | 70 | 70 |
| Car-derived van | 30 | 60 | 70 | 70 |
| Van or goods vehicle up to 7.5t | 30 | 50 | 60 | 70 |
| Car or van towing | 30 | 50 | 60 | 60 |
| Goods vehicle over 7.5t | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 |
All figures in mph, and all assume the national speed limit applies. A posted limit always overrides them.
The rows that catch people are the two in the middle: a van on a derestricted single carriageway is limited to 50, and towing anything drops you to 60 on the motorway.
The car-derived van exception
There is a distinction that catches people. A car-derived van — a vehicle based on a car, under two tonnes maximum laden weight — keeps car speed limits. A small panel van that looks similar but is not car-derived does not.
The V5C is the place to check. "It's only a small van" is not the test.
What the difference costs in time
A 150-mile single-carriageway run:
| Vehicle | Limit | Journey time | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car | 60 mph | 2h 30m | — |
| Van | 50 mph | 3h 00m | +30 min |
| Towing | 50 mph | 3h 00m | +30 min |
Half an hour on a long A-road run is a real cost to a working day, and it is the reason the limit is so widely ignored. It is still the limit.
Towing: the extra rules
Beyond the speed limits, towing brings others that are easy to fall foul of:
- No towing in the outside lane of a motorway with three or more lanes, except where lanes are closed
- Licence entitlement depends on when you passed your test and the weight of the combination
- Noseweight and maximum towing limits for your specific vehicle, which are on the V5C and the towbar plate
Why this matters more if you drive for work
Two reasons beyond the fine.
Points affect your job. Drivers who need a licence for work — trades, deliveries, anyone with a company vehicle — are at more risk from accumulating points than the average motorist, because they are on the road far more.
Insurance and employer liability. A speeding conviction while driving for work involves your employer as well as you, and can affect the business's insurance.
The dull but effective answer
Know your vehicle's category, and check the V5C rather than guessing from the shape of the bodywork. Then treat a derestricted sign on a single carriageway as 50 in a van, not 60 — which is exactly the situation where everyone behind you will be certain you are wrong.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Speed limits
- GOV.UK — Towing with a car
- The Highway Code
- GOV.UK — Penalty points (endorsements)
General road safety information, not legal advice. Check your vehicle's classification on its V5C.