When choosing a van for your business, one of the most important—and often misunderstood—factors is payload capacity. Whether you’re transporting tools, equipment, materials, or passengers, knowing exactly how much weight your van can legally and safely carry is essential. Overloading is one of the most common offences among UK commercial vehicles, and the consequences can be costly for your business.
This updated guide explains everything you need to know about payloads in modern vans, how to calculate them correctly, and why staying within legal limits is critical.
What is a van payload?
Payload is the maximum weight a van is legally permitted to carry. This includes:
- Cargo
- Passengers
- Tools and equipment
- Any additional onboard items
If it goes in or on the van, it counts toward the payload.
In short:
Payload = How much your van can safely carry without breaking the law or risking safety.
Key terms you need to know
Before calculating payload, it’s important to understand the weight terminology used by manufacturers, insurers, and the DVSA.
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
Also known as Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM), this is the absolute limit of what the van can weigh when fully loaded.
It includes:
- The van itself
- Cargo
- Tools, materials, equipment
- Fuel
- Passengers
Exceeding the GVW is illegal and unsafe.
Unladen Weight (UW)
This is the weight of the van without:
- Passengers
- Cargo
- Fuel
- Tools and standard equipment
It is essentially the weight of the empty vehicle before anything is added.
Kerb Weight (KW)
Kerb weight includes:
- 90% full fuel tank
- Standard tools (like the jack and spare wheel)
- Basic equipment
The key difference from Unladen Weight is that Kerb Weight assumes the vehicle is ready to drive.
Understanding the difference between these is essential to accurately calculating payload and complying with UK law.
How to calculate a van’s payload
Once you have the key weight figures for your vehicle, calculating payload is simple.
Payload formula:
Gross Vehicle Weight – Unladen Weight = Payload
That’s it.
The calculation tells you the total combined weight of passengers, cargo, and equipment your van can legally carry.
Example:
- GVW: 3,500 kg
- Unladen weight: 2,000 kg
Payload = 3,500 – 2,000 = 1,500 kg
That 1,500 kg must include everything you add to the vehicle.
The dangers and consequences of overloading a van
Driving an overloaded van is both dangerous and illegal. Many businesses underestimate how quickly weight adds up—particularly when transported goods vary daily.
Safety risks of overloading include:
- Reduced braking efficiency
- Dramatically increased stopping distances
- Excessive strain on suspension, tyres, and engine
- Higher risk of tyre blowouts
- Compromised stability and steering control
- Difficulty accelerating and climbing inclines
- Increased fuel consumption
Even being partially overloaded significantly reduces vehicle safety.
UK penalties for exceeding payload limits
The UK has strict enforcement policies for commercial vehicle overloading. According to recent DVSA data, the agency stops over 10,000 vans each year, and overloading remains one of the top offences.
Fines are tiered based on how overloaded the van is:
- Up to 10% overload: £100 fine
- 10–15% overload: £200 fine
- 15–30% overload: £300 fine
- Over 30%: Court summons and potentially much higher penalties
Additionally:
- The DVSA or police can issue a prohibition notice, preventing you from continuing your journey.
- Insurance can be invalidated if an overloaded vehicle is involved in an accident.
- Businesses risk significant damage to their reputation and operating licence integrity.
Overloading isn’t worth the risk—financially or legally.
Choosing the right van payload for your business
Every business has different requirements, and choosing the wrong payload capacity can lead to ongoing operational challenges. A van that’s too small leads to repeated overloading risks, while a van that’s too large may mean unnecessary cost.
Our consultants help you select a vehicle that properly supports:
- Your daily load requirements
- Tools and equipment weight
- Passenger needs
- Additional modifications (such as racking or storage systems)
- Towing requirements
- Compliance with GVW limits (3.5 tonnes, 4.25 tonnes for electric vans, etc.)
We offer hundreds of vans across a range of payload capacities—from compact city vans to heavy-duty commercial workhorses.
Final thoughts: Payload should never be an afterthought
Van payload directly influences safety, efficiency, and legality. Understanding it ensures you stay compliant, avoid fines, protect your drivers, and keep your business running smoothly.
If you’re unsure what payload you need, our specialist team will guide you through the process and help you select the perfect van for your operations.
FAQs
Why is it important to distribute the weight on the van evenly?
Each axle of the vehicle has a maximum weight it can hold so it’s really important that your load is properly distributed across the front and rear axles.
Where can I find the GVW for my van?
Gross Vehicle Weight can be found on your VIN plate. Alternatively, you can check the manufacturer’s handbook.
How much is the fine for overloading a van in the UK?
If you’re stopped during the regularly performed checks and your payload is more than it’s legally allowed to weigh, you can be charged as follows:
- overloaded by up to 10% – £100 fine
- overloaded by 10% up to but not including 15% – £200 fine
- Overloaded by 15% or more – £300 fine
For heavy overloading cases, when the weight limit is exceeded by 30% or more, or if the excess weight is 5 tonnes or more, the driver is more likely to get a court summons rather than a fixed fine.
Is there a payload checker I can use?
There are some online tools allowing you to check your vehicle’s payload by entering the reg number, however, they are designed to be a guide only.
What is the best small van for payload?
There’s no better small van for payload than the Vauxhall Combo, which has a maximum payload of 1,028kg in the 2300 1.6 CDTi 105 variant.
 
 
