Thousands of van drivers could be at risk of hefty fines after new figures revealed that overloading vehicles was behind the majority of penalties in England and Wales.
Analysis of official data by Dawsongroup vans showed around 60 per cent of all Light Goods Vehicle offences which occurred between 2021/22 and early 2025/26 were due to vehicles carrying too much weight.
In total, 1,181 offences were recorded, with 709 linked to overloading. Of those, 687 ended in convictions, a rate of nearly 97 per cent, underlining how likely drivers are to be penalised if caught.
The findings suggested many drivers and businesses may be unknowingly breaking the law as part of everyday work.
Overloading can happen easily due to the weight a van carries, which often changes depending on the job, the tools required and the number of workers on site. Even small additions can push a vehicle beyond legal limits.
But the financial consequences can be severe. In the first three months of 2025, the average fine for an overloading offence stood at £9,882.44, meaning a single breach could cost nearly £10,000.
Every van has a gross vehicle weight, which is the maximum weight the vehicle is allowed to be fully loaded, including the van itself, fuel, the driver, passengers, tools, equipment and any other cargo.
If a vehicle exceeds this limit, it is classed as overloaded. Enforcement officers can then issue fines depending on how far over the limit the van is.
Drivers can be slapped with hefty fines for overloading vans
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GETTYOverloading a vehicle can also be dangerous and lead to several problems, including reducing the stability of the vehicle as well as increasing its starting and stopping times, which can burn more fuel over time and cause more road incidents.
Other recorded offences included Vehicle Excise Duty offences, with 82 cases recorded. There were also 35 cases linked to tachographs and records, and 27 involving plating and testing, all of which resulted in convictions.
Across these main categories, fewer than one in 14 cases avoided conviction, highlighting the high likelihood of punishment once offences are identified.
The data also revealed a sharp rise in enforcement activity in recent years. In 2021/22, just 68 LGV offences were recorded.
Overloaded vehicles were found to be the most common cause for road penalties among van users
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GETTYBut by 2024/25, that figure had surged to 448, more than six times higher in just four years. Early data for 2025/26 suggested the trend is continuing, with 68 offences already recorded in the first quarter alone.
Overall, around 96 per cent of all cases resulted in a conviction, with experts explaining that the issue could have been driven by pressure on workers and tight schedules.
Aaron Cawrey, Head of Fleet at Dawsongroup Vans, said: “Many van offences arise from day-to-day operational pressures rather than deliberate rule breaking.
“Payload can vary from job to job, vehicles may carry different equipment throughout the week, and compliance checks can sometimes be overlooked when teams are working to tight schedules.”
Drivers should not overload a vehicle when travelling | PA
Mr Cawrey said better planning could prevent many offences before they happen. “Ensuring the right vehicle specification for the job, understanding payload limits and maintaining consistent vehicle checks can significantly reduce compliance risks for businesses operating vans,” he said.
He also warned most prosecutions come down to a small number of issues. “When you look at the figures, overloading and construction and use violations together account for more than 80 per cent of prosecutions,“ he added.
Beyond fines, businesses could also face wider disruption. Vehicles may be taken off the road, incur higher insurance costs, or, in more serious cases, even have their business closed for repeated breaches.