Experts have dug into some alarming figures
Van drivers are being hit with thousands of pounds in fines for carrying too much weight, with more than £390,000 in penalties handed out over the past year alone for overloaded or unsafely loaded vans. With the average fine now standing at £2,000 per offence, overloading is one of the most costly and easily avoidable mistakes a van driver can make.
New research from Go Compare van insurance reveals that 208 drivers were convicted of exceeding their vehicle’s Maximum Authorised Mass (MAM) in the 2024/25 financial year, resulting in fines totalling £391,964.90. The MAM is the legal weight limit of a van, including cargo, fuel, tools and passengers.
Even a small amount of excess weight can lead to an instant fine or court summons. Overloading not only breaks the law, but it also puts both the driver and public safety at risk.
Increased weight can significantly increase stopping distances, heighten the risk of tyre blowouts and affect steering and handling.
Data shows a clear upward trend, with more fines being issued and over £70,000 more collected in penalties than in the previous financial year. Related offences like construction and use, which include uneven or insecure loads and breaches like axle overloads, added a further £50,924 in fines over the same period.
Financial year
Reported cases
Convictions
Total fines issued
Overloading
2024 to 2025
214
208
£391,964.90
2023 to 2024
193
187
£317,846.13
Construction & use
2024 to 2025
62
62
£50,923.76
2023 to 2024
118
113
£121,571.28
In total, there were 270 convictions for overloaded or unsafely loaded vans in a single year in 2024/25, equating to one conviction every working day, and almost £450,000 in fines overall. The insurance comparison site is calling on van owners to understand their vehicle’s weight restrictions, warning drivers that exceeding limits can void their insurance, with those found guilty facing steeper premiums or complete cover refusal.
Steve Ramsey, motoring expert at Go.Compare, said: “Avoiding an overloading fine really comes down to awareness and routine. Know your van’s weight limit, factor in everything you’re carrying, not just the cargo, and get into the habit of checking daily.
“It’s easy to assume you’re under the limit, but it doesn’t take much to cross the line. A couple of extra toolboxes, some building materials, or even a second passenger can tip the balance.
“And it’s not just the financial concern, any motoring conviction must be declared to your insurance provider. Offences like overloading or construction and use breaches can lead to higher premiums, limited options, or even policy cancellation. That’s a steep price for something that’s easily preventable.”
About the data
Information on the most frequent offences and their average fines among LGVs was sourced directly from the DVSA, including VED figures. The average fines for all reported quarters for the 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025 financial years, which include overloading and construction and use offences, were calculated using DVSA data.
