It is really important to make sure that your licence covers you to drive your van, if your licence doesn’t have the correct categories and you have an accident, you may find that you are not insured. If it’s a company van then the company or employer will be in trouble.
A standard driving licence will include category
B, noted in section 14 on the rear of your licence. This allows you to drive a van with an unladen weight of up to 3.5 tonnes, which is quite a large van
If you passed your test between 1st of January 1997 and 18th of January 2013, then you are also allowed, additionally, to tow a trailer of up to 750 kg, a combined weight of up to 4250 kg. You need have no additional tests or training to tow up to this weight
But, if your trailer is heavier than 750 kg then the combined weight of your van and trailer needs to be less than 3500 kg in total. The trailer must never be heavier than the van
If your licence has category E, then the trailer can weigh up to the weight of the van, where your all up weight does not exceed 8250 kg. It is normal to have a category E if you passed your test before 1st January 1997.