About 7.5 tonne Hire Trucks
7.5t rental trucks / lorries are popular with businesses and people doing larger house removals. They offer a considerably load weight and load area than Luton vans - but can still be driven on a car licence by most people (if you passed your car test before 01/01/1997).
Here are some of the key facts about 7.5t lorries:
Driving licence requirements: Category C1, minimum legal age 21 (You should have C1 on your licence if you passed your car (category B) test before 01/01/1997).
Payload (load weight): Usually 3000kg - 3500kg for a 7.5 tonne box van type lorry (lower with tail lift).
Fuel Consumption: Depends on model and weight of load, but probably 12-18mpg.
Minimum rental age: Most van and truck hire companies won't rent 7.5 tonne vehicles to anyone under 25.
Speed Limits & Other Rules: Note that when driving a 7.5 tonne truck, the following speed limits apply:
- Single Carriageway roads: 50mph
- Dual Carriageway roads: 60mph
- Motorways: 70mph
(These are the same limits that apply to all vans with a maximum laden weight over 2 tonnes.)
Other Notes: Drivers who have taken their car (category B) test since 01/01/1997 will not have category C1 (7.5t) entitlement on their driving licenses. If you are in this position, you will need to take a separate category C1 test before you can drive 7.5 tonne trucks legally on public roads.
Note that if you are using a 7.5t hire truck for commercial use you will be required to keep a record of your driving activities using the vehicle's tachograph. This is not required for "non-commercial carriage of goods for personal use" - i.e. moving house for yourself.
This is not a definitive statement of tachograph rules and driving licence regulations - please check with VOSA or the DVLA if unsure.
Where to Hire 7.5 tonne Trucks
Not all van hire companies offer 7.5t trucks for hire.
Sixt
do, but they are not available at all locations.
Larger regional companies like U-Drive (south east/south west England) and Salford Van Hire (Leeds / Manchester) specialise in hiring heavier vehicles and may have better availability.
There are of course lots of local van hire companies that offer 7.5 tonne vehicles - ring around those in your area (try www.yell.com for a list) and ask if they can help.
