You don’t have to have a special licence to drive a van in the UK, and that may lead some people to believe that it’s just as easy as driving a car, but that’s certainly not the case.

There are certain things you need to know when you’re driving a van, because you will have to adapt your driving technique. You must brake sooner, especially if you have a heavy load, and remember you won’t be able to accelerate as fast as you can in a car, so be careful when you pull into fast lanes.

Remember the height of your van, because you may find that you’re unable to park in a multi-storey car park or an underground car park. Remember not all vans have rear view mirrors, so you have to be using your wing mirrors more and remember to always check over your shoulder before pulling out.

It’s crucial to take wider turns, so always give yourself enough space to make it round a corner or a sharp bend.