Van Servicing and Class 7 MOTs: What Van Drivers Need to Know
A van earns its keep, and a van off the road costs money every hour it is not working. That changes how it should be looked after. Here is what van owners and drivers need to know about MOTs, servicing and the wear that a working vehicle picks up, and how our Lymington Van Centre is set up to deal with it.
Class 4 or Class 7?
MOTs are grouped into classes by the type and weight of the vehicle. Most cars and small vans are Class 4, which covers vehicles up to 3,000kg design gross weight. Larger vans between 3,000kg and 3,500kg are Class 7. The design gross weight is on the plate inside the door or under the bonnet, and if it is over 3,000kg you need a Class 7 test. Not every test station can do one, because a Class 7 bay needs a longer, heavier-duty lift and a brake tester rated for the weight. Our Lymington Van Centre is equipped for Class 7 testing, so larger vans can be tested and serviced in the same place, and our Newport branch tests Class 7 alongside cars.
A van needs its first MOT at three years old, and every year after that, the same as a car. The test covers the same items: brakes, steering, suspension, tyres, lights, emissions, the body and the structure.
Why a van's service schedule is different
A van is usually driven further, loaded heavier and started more often than a car. Manufacturers set shorter service intervals to match, and a lot of vans on variable or "long-life" schedules end up being serviced far too rarely because the schedule assumed gentle use. If your van does stop-start delivery work or carries heavy loads, an annual service with an oil change is the minimum, and many fleets service at six months.
Wear that vans pick up
- Rear brakes and suspension. Carrying weight over the back axle wears rear pads, shoes and springs much faster than on a car. Broken rear springs are a common Class 7 failure.
- Tyres. Vans need commercial-rated tyres with the correct load index. A car tyre on a loaded van is dangerous and an MOT fail. Scrubbing on kerbs and tight turns wears the edges quickly.
- Clutch and gearbox. Hill starts with a load and a lot of urban driving take their toll.
- DPF. If the van does short local runs, the diesel particulate filter will struggle to regenerate. See our separate post on DPF warning lights.
- Bodywork and load area. Damaged sills and steps, seized sliding-door mechanisms and corroded load floors all get picked up at the MOT.
- Lights. High-mounted brake lights, side markers and rear number plate lamps get missed and get you stopped.
Keeping the van on the road
The best thing you can do is book the service and the MOT together, so the van is off the road once rather than twice, and have any advisories dealt with while it is in. If you run several vans, we can set up a trade account and keep the schedule for you. Ask at the branch about fleet servicing.
To book, enter the registration online and the correct MOT class will be offered automatically, or call the Lymington Van Centre directly.
Book online at bestgarages.co.uk or call your nearest branch: Newport on 01983 533360, Lymington on 01590 674776, or Fordingbridge on 01425 561504.