Vans are tested differently

Light commercial vehicles up to 3,500kg gross design weight need an MOT from three years old, the same as a car. The test class depends on weight: class 4 covers vehicles up to 3,000kg, and class 7 covers 3,000kg to 3,500kg. Heavier vehicles fall under goods vehicle testing at an authorised station on a different schedule.

What to look for in a working van

Mileage is the first thing to read, because a three-year-old van can carry the mileage of a ten-year-old car. Advisories on brakes, suspension and tyres on a loaded vehicle tend to recur rather than resolve, so a long run of repeated advisories usually means maintenance was done to the minimum. Check the payload plate against what you intend to carry as well — overloading is a common cause of premature wear.

Buying a van for business use

A van that carries your tools or your stock is a business asset, and its compliance record is part of its value. Keeping every vehicle's MOT, tax and service dates in one place prevents the fine that arrives when a vehicle slips past its expiry while it is out on a job.