# Choosing van size and payload > How to size a van properly: gross vehicle weight, kerbweight and payload, the 3,500kg licence ceiling, and the load dimensions that decide the job. Source: https://fleetme.co.uk/guides/choosing-van-size-payload --- # Choosing van size and payload By [the FleetMe team](https://fleetme.co.uk/about) · Updated 14 October 2026 · 9 min read The short answer **Size a van by payload and load length first, body size second. Payload is gross vehicle weight minus kerbweight, and it falls as you add racking, tools and a passenger. A standard car licence caps you at 3,500kg.** ## The three numbers that decide everything ## The 3,500kg ceiling on a standard car licence ## Small, medium and large: what each class is actually for ## What eats your payload before you load anything ## The dimensions that decide whether the job fits ## When a different body beats a bigger van ## Two expensive mistakes, in both directions ## How to size it with us ## Put a price on it Tell us the vehicle, the term and the annual mileage you need and we come back with a written quote, and we aim to do that the same working day. Rentals are quoted ex VAT with the VAT-inclusive figure alongside, and your agreement is with FleetMe. How many vehicles do you need? Takes a minute. No obligation. ## Enquiry received, one step to go. We can put a guide figure together from what you ve told us. To confirm the vehicle, the monthly rental and a delivery date **in writing**, we need your business details and the underwriting information. Next step · about 5 minutes Complete your business application It s pre-filled from your answers. Nothing is committed until we confirm your quote and you sign. No obligation · About 5 minutes Prefer to leave it there? We ll still be in touch about your enquiry. ## FAQs ### How do I work out a van’s payload? Payload is gross vehicle weight minus kerbweight, both of which appear on the manufacturer’s plate and the V5C. Manufacturers define kerbweight slightly differently, so check the plate on the actual variant rather than relying on a brochure figure, and remember racking and tools come out of the payload. ### What weight of van can I drive on a normal car licence? Up to 3,500kg maximum authorised mass if you passed your test on or after 1 January 1997. Drivers who passed before then usually hold category C1 grandfather rights up to 7,500kg. Since 10 June 2025, category B holders can also drive zero-emission vehicles up to 4,250kg. ### Does racking reduce a van’s payload? Yes, directly. Steel racking, ply lining, a roof rack, a tow bar or a tail lift all add kerbweight and come straight out of your payload, as does every tool that lives in the van permanently. On a medium van the cumulative effect can run to several hundred kilograms. ### What happens if I overload a van? DVSA can issue a prohibition preventing the vehicle from moving until the load is reduced, along with fixed penalties, and both driver and operator can be prosecuted. Overloading also affects braking and handling, can affect insurance cover, and breaches the terms of a lease agreement. ### Will a sheet of plywood fit in my van? Only if the width between the wheel arches is at least about 1,220mm and the load length is sufficient, many medium vans fall short between the arches. Check that measurement specifically, and check whether the van has a load-through bulkhead flap for longer material. ### Is a bigger van always better? No. A larger body on the same 3.5-tonne chassis can leave you with less payload than a well-specified medium van, while costing more each month and in energy or fuel. Size from a weighed, loaded vehicle and the largest item you actually carry, then leave a sensible margin. ## Next step Business van leasing → How the monthly rental is built, what is included, and who business contract hire is for. Business van leasing eligibility → The honest answer on who gets considered, and what we look at when we assess a business. Or go straight to the range: [browse vans and pickups](https://fleetme.co.uk/vans) · [company cars](https://fleetme.co.uk/cars) ## Related