What does cat N1 stand for on my logbook?
I have just purchased a van and it comes up with cat N1. What does this mean?
Asked on 23 July 2026 by Graham Poole
Answered by
David Ross
The N1 designation on your V5/C indicates that this is a commercial vehicle with gross vehicle weight (GVW) of up 3,500kg. A commercial vehicle with a GVW above this figure would be classified as N2, while a dual-purpose vehicle of the same size and GVW would have the category M1. The fact that your vehicle is designated N means it is classed as a commercial vehicle and therefore must be insured as a van and abide by the speed limits for vans, which is 50mph on single carriageways and 60mph on dual carriageways (unless stated otherwise) and you can read more about speed limits for different vehicles here - www.gov.uk/speed-limits
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