Driving a van for the first time can be a very intimidating experience no matter how much of a confident driver you are. So, whether you’ve hired a van for the day to help with moving or you’ve just bought your own van, don’t worry because you will get the hang of it.

Driving a van isn’t that different from a car once you have a proper feel for your van. So, we put together our top tips for first-time van drivers…

Firstly, you need to make sure your driving licence allows you to drive your chosen van, on a standard driving licence you can drive any van with an unladen weight of up to 3500kg.

1. Make Sure the Cabin is Set up

Before setting off on any journey in your van you need to make sure your comfortable and the cabin is set up. First, you need to adjust your driver’s seat to the correct position because in a van you are more prone to aches and pains as you will usually be driving a van for longer hours than a car. So, make sure your seat is in a comfortable position and you can easily reach the pedals.

 Next, you need to ensure your mirrors are properly adjusted to the correct angle, so you have a full view of the roads around you. Of course, you may not have a rearview mirror in your cabin if you have a bulkhead or no rear windows, but don’t let this panic you because the van will have larger van wing mirrors and a higher seating position instead.

2. Get to Know your Van

It is a good idea to be familiar with all your van’s features before driving anywhere, so read the vehicle’s manual or speak to the seller of the van. The main features you need to be able to work are the heating or air conditioning, lights, wipers and radio.

 A problem that never arises with cars is height and weight restrictions, but with vans, it is a different story. Make sure you know the dimensions of your van to avoid getting yourself in a disastrous situation.

3. Loading your Van

No matter what you are loading into your van you need to do it with care and logically. If you are loading heavy goods into your cargo area you need to ensure they are tied down to avoid movement when you are driving that can destabilise your van. Make sure you know the capacity of your van to ensure you don’t overload the rear of your van.

 You may want to store ladders or tools on the roof of your vehicle, you need to ensure you have the correct roof rack attached to your van properly. Anything you load onto your roof rack system needs to be secured properly using ladder loading systems and roof rack accessories.

4. Adjust your Driving

The actual driving of a van isn’t much different to a car apart from you have more weight behind you. Bearing this in mind you need to drive slower than usual and keep a bigger distance between you and the vehicle on front, because a heavily loaded van takes longer to stop than a car or an empty van, depending on your speed.

 You also need to consider any blind spots you may have if you don’t have a rear-view mirror in your van.

 When turning corners try to take them wider than usual to allow yourself extra room to prevent clipping the kerb.

5. Parking Your Van

This is where any beginner van drivers may struggle, parking a van isn’t easy because of the size, weight and blind spots. So, it is important to give yourself enough room to get into the space and constantly check all your mirrors. If you have a passenger with you, it would be easier if they exit the vehicle and guide you into the space slowly.

6. Speed of your Van

Vans actually have different speed limits to cars so to prevent getting a speeding ticket make sure you are aware of the changes:

• Motorways:  70mph

• Dual Carriageways:  60mph

• Single Carriageways:  50mph

• Built-up areas:  30mph

These tips will help you get comfortable behind the wheel of a van but with practice, you will soon become confident!