Hiring a van: which licence you need
A category B licence permits vehicles up to three thousand five hundred kilograms of maximum authorised mass and up to nine seats including the driver, which covers almost every van offered for private hire.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- The category B limit is 3,500 kilograms of maximum authorised mass.
- Above that a C1 licence is required, up to 7,500 kilograms.
- Vans are limited to 90 km/h on motorways and 80 on conventional roads.
- Van height of 2,10 to 2,80 metres rules out most underground car parks.
The figure that decides is the maximum authorised mass on the vehicle documents, not how big the van looks or what you intend to put in it.
What category B allows
Vehicles up to 3,500 kilograms of maximum authorised mass and up to 9 seats including the driver. That covers the removal vans commonly available for private hire, with load volumes between 6 and 20 cubic metres. It also permits towing a light trailer up to 750 kilograms, and combinations up to 4,250 kilograms with the additional training endorsement.
| Maximum authorised mass | Licence | Usual load volume |
|---|---|---|
| up to 3,500 kg | B | 6 to 20 m³ |
| 3,500 to 7,500 kg | C1 | 20 to 40 m³ |
| over 7,500 kg | C | over 40 m³ |
| Light trailer | B, up to 750 kg | |
| Combination up to 4,250 kg | B with endorsement | |
| More than 9 seats | D1 or D | |
| Usual minimum age | 21 to 25 years | by company |
| Daily hire cost | 55 to 120 € | by volume and season |
The speed limits are different
Vans used for carrying goods are limited to 90 kilometres per hour on motorways and dual carriageways and 80 on conventional roads, against 120 and 90 for a car. That difference is easily forgotten and accounts for a large share of speeding notices in hire vehicles. Thirty kilometres per hour on a dual carriageway is enough for a penalty of 100 € to 300 €.
What is overlooked before loading
The overall height, between 2,10 and 2,80 metres, which rules out underground car parks with a 2 metre clearance. The real payload, which is the difference between maximum mass and kerb weight, usually 800 to 1,400 kilograms. Securing the load, which is a legal requirement and is checked at roadside stops. And access to the destination street, a very concrete problem in the island's old towns.
A move from an 80 square metre flat typically needs 12 to 16 cubic metres, which is 2 trips in an 8 cubic metre van or one in a 16.
Cost and conditions
Daily hire runs 55 € to 120 € depending on volume and season, with excesses of 1,500 € to 2,000 € and mileage sometimes capped at 100 or 200 kilometres a day, with excess kilometres at 0,20 € to 0,35 € each. That last condition is what most raises the cost of a move between municipalities: 300 kilometres in a day against a 100 kilometre allowance adds 40 € to 70 € to the final bill.
Frequently asked
+Do I need a special licence for a van?
Not up to 3,500 kilograms of maximum authorised mass. Above that a C1 licence is required.
+What speed limits apply?
Ninety kilometres per hour on motorways and 80 on conventional roads, below those for a car.
+How much can it carry?
The usual payload is 800 to 1,400 kilograms, being the difference between maximum mass and kerb weight.
+Will it fit in an underground car park?
Rarely. Van height is 2,10 to 2,80 metres against a typical clearance of 2 metres.
+What does it cost per day?
Fifty five to one hundred and twenty euros by volume and season, with a possible daily mileage cap.
Sources
- 1Dirección General de Tráfico, Ministerio del Interior (August 2026)
- 2Boletín Oficial del Estado, BOE (August 2026)