Driver licence required for a Mercedes Benz Vario

flazio

What sort of licence do you need to drive a Mercedes Benz Vario van?
It's van shaped so it might possibly be a B class, but the size of them makes me sceptical that with a laden weight they may just be creeping into C1 territory.
Anyone know for certain?

goz83

If under 3.5 tonne, a B license. If over 3.5 tonne, C1. My understanding is that a a 3.5 tonne truck can be driven on a B license, but the minute you load it and the weight is over 3.5 tonne, the B license is useless. This could be wrong, but it's what I was told by a truck sales man, which might suggest that information is not entirely accurate.

Mycroft H

I'd say they were C1

R.O.R

They are definately over 3.5Ton, so a normal "B" licence isn't enough.

Current models only go to 7.5Ton, so can be driven on a C1, but I think some of the older models may have been up to 8.25Ton which would require a C Licenece (C1 is up to 7.5Ton).

There should be a chassis plate (around the passenger wheel arch IIRC) displaying the GVW of the vehicle. If it's over 7,500kg then you need a C licence.

Having moved an 813 around out the back, it's more Truck than van to drive.

CiniO

goz83 wrote: »

If under 3.5 tonne, a B license. If over 3.5 tonne, C1. My understanding is that a a 3.5 tonne truck can be driven on a B license, but the minute you load it and the weight is over 3.5 tonne, the B license is useless. This could be wrong, but it's what I was told by a truck sales man, which might suggest that information is not entirely accurate.

That incorrect.
Licence categories apply to gross vehicle weight, not actual weight. That means that if you have van weighting 2tonnes but which can be loaded up to 4 tonnes, you cant drive it on B licence even if empty.

flazio

Thanks for the information folks, had a look on the Merc website. The vario can have a GVW of between 5990kg to 7490kg. A C1 is enough for Goods vehicles between 3,500kg and 7,500kg. Interesting how the higher end GVW just about slots in under the C1 class.

Mycroft H

flazio wrote: »

Thanks for the information folks, had a look on the Merc website. The vario can have a GVW of between 5990kg to 7490kg. A C1 is enough for Goods vehicles between 3,500kg and 7,500kg. Interesting how the higher end GVW just about slots in under the C1 class.

You will get other manufactures getting vans having a 3500kg weight limit to get under the B lenience limit. Ducato Maxi is a good example.

vinniem

flazio wrote: »

What sort of licence do you need to drive a Mercedes Benz Vario van?
It's van shaped so it might possibly be a B class, but the size of them makes me sceptical that with a laden weight they may just be creeping into C1 territory.
Anyone know for certain?

If gross vehicle weight exceeds 3500kg then u need a min of C1 to drive it legally