Overview
- The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency implemented the change on Monday, reclassifying zero‑emission goods vehicles with a design gross weight of 3,501–4,250 kg as Class 7 (category N2) for MOT purposes.
- Owners of affected vans will have their first MOT deferred to three years after registration instead of 12 months, which reduces testing frequency and short‑term fleet downtime.
- The DVSA updated technical MOT tables to add N2 zero‑emission vehicles for efficiency checks, tyre tread depth rules, and speed‑limiter requirements for vehicles capable of more than 56 mph.
- The Department for Transport estimates the package could cut MOT costs by up to 60% and the government says it is backing rollout of electric vans and chargers with more than £1 billion in support.
- Industry groups welcomed the move as removing operational hurdles caused by battery weight pushing vans into heavier HGV categories and said it should make electric vans cheaper to run and faster to adopt for fleets.