Vans continue to be the workhorse of Britain, accounting for 18% or almost a fifth of all miles driven on roads.
Analysis by the AA reveals that van drivers are now travelling more miles than before the pandemic, fuelled by the boom in home shopping.
Latest road traffic estimates from the Department for Transport show vans accounted for 58.7 billion miles in the year to June 2024, up from 57.6 billion in June 2023, and 53.5 billion pre-pandemic. That’s up 1.9% year on year and a rise of 10.4% pre-Covid.
The number of vans on UK roads has also risen. In the year to June 2024, there were almost 4.8 million registered vans a rise of 600,000 from June 2019, and vans now account for 11% of vehicles.
Overall, the total number of miles driven in the last year on British roads was 332.9 billion, up 1.7% year on year (from 327.4 billion), but a decrease of 1.2% pre-pandemic (compared to 337 billion).
Cars accounted for the most miles at 252.5 billion, but that was down 3.5% on pre-Covid levels. Some of that decrease can be attributed to the rise in home and hybrid working, meaning less journeys for workers to and from offices. There were nearly 34 million cars registered in the year to June 2024 – cars still account for over three-quarters (76%) of miles travelled.
Lorry mileage was down slightly year on year and on levels pre-pandemic. HGVs drove 17 billion miles in the year to June this year. That compares to 17.1 billion to June 2023 and 17.2 billion to June 2019. HGVs account for 5% of traffic on the roads.
Sofa surfers fuel rise in van miles
The increase in van mileage is due in part to the rise in home delivery services such as Amazon, and lower footfall in high streets. Online sales currently account for just over a quarter of all sales (25.8%) and many retail outlets rely on logistics firms who recruit self-employed delivery drivers where the employee uses their own vehicle.
Also of interest is the rise in pure electric vans, as logistics and fleet companies look to reduce CO2 from their pool of vehicles. In 2019 there were just over 8,000 pure electric vans, compared to more than 73,500 in June 2024.
As a result of the increase in van usage, the AA is now offering a commercial use add on for its breakdown cover so that multipurpose vehicles are covered whatever their use.
It’s aimed at everyone from couriers and tradespeople to driving instructors, taxis and minicabs. Adding commercial use gives cover for vehicles used to carry equipment, people or goods in return for payment and means private and commercial vehicles can be covered under one policy.
