Van Sizes and Our Fleet
UK van sizes run from a car-derived small van to a 3.5-tonne Luton box van. First Choice Transportation Ltd uses all of them for courier work, matching the van to your load: a long wheelbase van takes up to 4 UK pallets and a Luton up to 6. Here are the sizes, what each carries and the price band.
Office: 020 8202 2008 · WhatsApp: 07507 612919
✓ Registered company 15276847 ✓ VAT registered ✓ £20,000 goods in transit cover ✓ £2m public liability ✓ Open 24/7
Get a price in minutes
Van Size Guide: Which Van for Your Job
Small van
Documents, parcels, boxes, samples and single items.
Long wheelbase van
Furniture, long items, bulk boxes and up to 3 to 4 UK pallets.
Luton van
Wardrobes, white goods, stock and up to 6 UK pallets.
Choose by the biggest single item and the total weight, then the volume. For pallets, see UK pallet sizes. Asking yourself what size van do I need? Send a photo when you get a courier quote and we choose for you.
Van Sizes UK at a Glance
| Van | Typical load length | Typical load volume | Pallets (ours, up to) | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small van | about 1.8 to 2.6 m | about 3 to 6 m³ | – | £40 first 10 miles, then £1.25/mile |
| Medium wheelbase van | about 2.5 to 3.0 m | about 6 to 9 m³ | – | Quoted to suit the load |
| Long wheelbase van | about 3.4 to 4.3 m | about 11 to 17 m³ | 3 to 4 UK or 4 to 5 Euro, ~1,100 to 1,300 kg | £60 first 10 miles, then £1.80/mile |
| Luton van | about 3.5 to 4.2 m | about 16 to 20 m³ | 6 UK or 8 Euro, ~1,000 kg | £60 first 10 miles, then £1.80/mile |
| Lorry | Rigid and articulated lorries through our partner hauliers | Quoted per job | ||
Dimensions are typical UK figures and vary by make and model. Pallet counts and payloads are for our vans. All prices plus VAT; full rates on courier prices.
MWB Van Dimensions
Typical MWB van dimensions sit between a short and a long wheelbase van: a load length of about 2.5 to 3.0 metres, about 1.7 metres wide (around 1.35 metres between the wheel arches) and 1.4 to 1.9 metres high depending on the roof, giving roughly 6 to 9 cubic metres. Medium van dimensions like these suit several boxes, a sofa on its side or small furniture.
For anything longer, a long wheelbase van adds about a metre of load length.
Lorries for Bigger Loads
When a job is too big for a Luton van, it is moved by lorry through our partner hauliers, from rigid to articulated lorries. Lorry jobs are quoted per job. Give us the full details of the load, with photos, so we can choose the right vehicle. For pallets, see pallet delivery; for heavy items, large item courier.
Van Sizes FAQ
What are the different types of vans?
The common UK sizes are a car-derived small van for parcels and boxes, a short wheelbase panel van, a medium wheelbase van, a long wheelbase or extra-long van for bulky loads and pallets, and a Luton box van for the largest loads under 3.5 tonnes. Bigger than that is a lorry, quoted separately.
What is the difference between L1 and L2 vans?
The L number is the load length grade: L1 is the shortest body, L2 medium, L3 long and L4 extra long. The H number is the roof height, from H1 low to H3 high. So an L3H2 is a long wheelbase van with a medium-high roof. Exact sizes vary between manufacturers.
Can I drive a 3.5 tonne van on a car licence?
Usually yes. A standard category B car licence covers vehicles up to 3,500 kg maximum authorised mass, which includes most panel vans and Luton vans. Anything heavier needs a C1 or C licence. With a courier you do not need to drive at all: the driver comes with the van.
What size van do I need?
Match the van to the biggest item and the total weight, not just the volume. Documents and parcels fit a car or small van; furniture and a few pallets suit a long wheelbase van; a wardrobe, white goods or up to six pallets need a Luton. Send us a photo and we will choose for you.
Do you charge more for a bigger van?
Yes, in two price bands. A car or small van is £40 for the first 10 miles then £1.25 a mile; a long wheelbase or Luton van is £60 then £1.80 a mile, plus VAT. Lorries are quoted per job. You pay for the whole vehicle, not by the item.
Do you have lorries for bigger loads?
Yes. When a job is too big for a Luton van, it is moved by lorry through our partner hauliers, from rigid to articulated lorries. Lorry work is quoted per job, so give us the full details of the load, with photos, and we choose the right vehicle. Call 020 8202 2008.
Why Book First Choice Transportation
First Choice Transportation Ltd is a registered UK company (No. 15276847) based in Southgate, North London, founded by Allam, who has 15 years’ experience in courier and transport work, with 30 drivers across the UK.
The Right Van First Time
Send a photo and we match the vehicle to the load.
Priced by Van and Miles
Two price bands, plus VAT; you pay for the whole vehicle.
Collected Within the Hour
30 to 45 minutes across London and the Home Counties; 45 minutes to an hour elsewhere.
Proof of Delivery
Signature and photo on handover, texted to you.