Buyer's guide

Van body types explained

Compare every common UK commercial body: what each is for, typical payloads and sizes, popular models, and live vans for sale. Use this hub before you filter the marketplace.

Pick the right shape for the job

Body type drives load space, payload, licence needs and running costs more than badge or badge engineering. Below you will find every major van body we list (panel, combi, pickup, tipper, Luton, box, dropside, crew, chassis cab, minibus, small, refrigerated, campervan and motorhome) with plain-English definitions and a direct link into live stock (4,316 vans available now).

Still unsure on dimensions? Use our van dimensions comparison and the first-time van buyer guide rather than guessing from photos alone.

All body types

  • Panel Van body type illustration

    Panel Van

    1,893 vans live

    A panel van is the blank-canvas workhorse: solid sides, a rear load bay and no windows in the cargo area. Plumbers, electricians, couriers and fleet operators favour them for secure tooling and parcels. Typical payloads sit around 700–1,400 kg with SWB to LWB options; load lengths often span 2.4–4.2 m. Popular UK choices include the Ford Transit Custom, Mercedes Sprinter, Volkswagen Transporter and Vauxhall Vivaro, all easy to rack out and cheap to insure relative to specialist bodies.

    Browse 1,893 panel vans How to choose a panel van
  • Combi Van body type illustration

    Combi Van

    89 vans live

    A combi van blends a glazed passenger cabin with a sealed cargo bay behind a bulkhead, useful when you need to carry a small crew and kit in one vehicle. Trade installers, site supervisors and rental fleets use them for mixed people-and-tools days. Expect roughly 600–1,200 kg payload depending on seating and wheelbase, with mid-size L1/L2 layouts common. Best sellers include the Ford Transit Custom Kombi, VW Transporter Shuttle derivates and Mercedes Vito Tourer Crew. Check seat rating against your licence.

    Browse 89 combi vans First-time van buyer guide
  • Pickup Truck body type illustration

    Pickup Truck

    5 vans live

    Pickup trucks pair an open load bed with a passenger cab for outdoor trades, landscaping and farm work. Dropside-style beds and canopy options expand weather protection. Payloads typically run 1,000–1,200 kg on 1-tonne double cabs, with load beds around 1.5 m. Popular UK models include the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Isuzu D-Max and Mitsubishi L200. Choose four-wheel drive for soft ground and confirm bed length before buying ladder racks or toolboxes.

    Browse 5 pickup vans First-time van buyer guide
  • Tipper body type illustration

    Tipper

    119 vans live

    Tippers use a hydraulic bed that lifts to dump aggregate, spoil or waste, essential for builders, groundworkers and scrap hauliers. Three-way tippers add side-discharge flexibility on tight sites. Payloads often sit between 1,000–1,350 kg on 3.5 t chassis, with short or long beds. Favoured bases include Ford Transit tippers, Mercedes Sprinter tippers and Iveco Daily conversions. Inspect ram seals, bed floors and PTO hours carefully on used examples.

    Browse 119 tipper vans First-time van buyer guide
  • Luton body type illustration

    Luton

    43 vans live

    Luton vans add a box body that overhangs the cab, maximising volume for removals, furniture and bulky deliveries. Tail-lifts are common for heavy items. Cubic capacity often ranges from ~10–20 m³ with payloads around 800–1,200 kg once the body weight is factored in. Well-known options include Ford Transit Lutons, Mercedes Sprinter Lutons and Peugeot Boxer / Citroën Relay box conversions. Measure doorway height and check tail-lift service history before you buy.

    Browse 43 Luton vans Van dimensions comparison
  • Box Van body type illustration

    Box Van

    4 vans live

    Box vans (box bodies) mount a rectangular cargo box on a chassis for high-volume parcel and warehouse work when a Luton overhang is not required. They suit courier depots, catering kit and light distribution. Volumes commonly sit around 8–16 m³ with payloads near 900–1,300 kg depending on body build. Look for Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter and Iveco Daily box conversions. Confirm interior height, rear door aperture and whether you need a roller shutter or barn doors.

    Browse 4 box vans Load space calculator
  • Dropside body type illustration

    Dropside

    58 vans live

    Dropside vans have fold-down side panels and a flatbed for easy forklift or roadside loading of pallets, fencing and plant. Scaffolders, fencing firms and plant hirers rely on them. Payloads typically reach 1,000–1,350 kg on 3.5 t chassis with bed lengths from ~2.5–4 m. Popular bases include Ford Transit dropsides, Mercedes Sprinter dropsides and Isuzu/NLR light trucks. Check side-hinge condition, bed-floor corrosion and whether winch or crane mounts are still rated.

    Browse 58 dropside vans Payload & weight converter
  • Crew Van body type illustration

    Crew Van

    120 vans live

    Crew vans (crew cabs) add a second row of seats behind the driver so a full team travels with the tools. Ideal for utilities, highway maintenance and multi-trade site teams. The trade-off is a shorter load bay: payloads often land around 800–1,200 kg with L2 layouts preferred. Common picks are Ford Transit Custom Double Cab, VW Transporter Double Cab and Mercedes Vito Dualiner. Verify seatbelt count, bulkhead rating and remaining load length for your racks.

    Browse 120 crew vans First-time van buyer guide
  • Chassis Cab body type illustration

    Chassis Cab

    41 vans live

    A chassis cab is a factory cab-and-chassis sold ready for specialist bodybuilders: tipper, fridge, recovery or custom box. Fleet managers and converters choose them when a standard panel van will not fit the job. GVWs from 3.5 t upwards are common; payload depends entirely on the finished body. Popular donor chassis include Ford Transit Chassis Cab, Mercedes Sprinter Chassis and Iveco Daily Chassis. Buy only with a clear bodybuilder plate and matching V5C description.

    Browse 41 chassis cab vans First-time van buyer guide
  • Minibus body type illustration

    Minibus

    73 vans live

    Minibuses are glazed people-movers for schools, care operators, hotels and community transport. Configurations typically seat 9–17 passengers; driving licence rules tighten above certain seat counts and weights. Payloads for luggage are modest once seats are fitted, so focus on seating layout, accessibility and D1 entitlement. Leading models include Ford Transit minibus, Mercedes Sprinter Tourer and VW Caravelle / Transporter Shuttle. Check tachograph needs, wheelchair access and recent LOLER/lift certificates where fitted.

    Browse 73 minibus vans First-time van buyer guide
  • Small Van body type illustration

    Small Van

    82 vans live

    Small vans (city vans) are compact high-roofers for urban deliveries, mobile services and parking-restricted centres. Think Ford Transit Connect, VW Caddy Cargo, Renault Kangoo and Peugeot Partner. Payloads usually sit around 500–800 kg with load lengths near 1.8–2.2 m: enough for tools or multi-drop parcels, not a full house move. They are cheaper to run and insure than mid-size Transits; prioritise ULEZ compliance and sliding-door access for kerbside work.

    Browse 82 small vans Van dimensions comparison
  • Refrigerated Van body type illustration

    Refrigerated Van

    0 vans live

    Refrigerated vans (fridge vans) carry temperature-controlled cargo for catering, pharma and grocery delivery. Single or multi-temp fridges and freezers are available, often with stand-by electric hooks. Useful payloads shrink once the fridge unit and insulation are fitted, commonly 600–1,000 kg. Bases include Ford Transit fridge conversions, Mercedes Sprinter refrigerated bodies and Fiat Ducato fridge vans. Service the fridge hours, door seals and temperature printouts before purchase.

    Browse 0 refrigerated vans First-time van buyer guide
  • Campervan body type illustration

    Campervan

    28 vans live

    Campervans convert a van into sleeping and living space for leisure or mobile workbases. Layouts range from simple rock-and-roll beds to high-spec pop-tops with kitchens. Payload for extras is limited after conversion weight, often only a few hundred kilos for passengers and gear. Popular donor vans include VW Transporter / California, Ford Transit Custom Nugget and Mercedes Marco Polo. Confirm habitation certificates, gas safety and whether the V5C still reads as a commercial vehicle.

    Browse 28 campervan vans
  • Motorhome body type illustration

    Motorhome

    62 vans live

    Motorhomes are purpose-built leisure vehicles with higher roofs, washrooms and integrated living modules, larger than most campervan conversions. They suit touring rather than daily trade use. Weights often push into C1 territory; check your licence and axle ratings carefully. Brands span from coachbuilt Fiat Ducato / Peugeot Boxer chassis to A-class layouts. Inspect damp reports, habitation checks and service histories; browse stock mainly if you want leisure inventory rather than commercial payload.

    Browse 62 motorhome vans

Choosing the right van size

Body type and size work together. Once you have shortlisted a shape here, compare load length, height and doorway aperture with our tools. We do not duplicate a separate size guide on this page.

Body type FAQs

A panel van has a solid-sided cargo bay with no rear passenger seats in the load area, maximising secure goods space. A combi van adds glazed side windows and seats behind the driver (usually with a bulkhead), so you can carry a small crew and tools together. Choose panel for pure cargo; choose combi when people and kit share the same day.

On a typical 3.5-tonne UK chassis, tippers and dropsides often retain the highest useful payloads (around 1,000–1,350 kg) because the body is relatively light. Luton and fridge bodies add weight, which reduces payload even when cubic volume looks larger. Always check the plated payload on the specific van, not just the body type label.

Most house moves need a Luton or large box van with a tail-lift: roughly 10–20 m³ of volume. A standard mid-size panel van is fine for a studio or a few rooms of boxes, but wardrobes and sofas usually need Luton height and a lift. Compare interior dimensions with our van dimensions tool before you hire or buy.

Most vans under 3,500 kg GVW can be driven on a standard UK car licence (category B). Minibuses with more seats, heavier motorhomes, and some tipper/chassis combinations can require D1 or C1 entitlement. Always check the vehicle’s plated GVW and seating capacity against your licence before you buy.

Start with what you carry on a typical day (tools, people, temperature control or open materials), then shortlist a body type on this page and compare live stock. Use our first-time buyer guide for the checklist (budget, inspection, licence) and the van dimensions comparison tool for load length and height. Avoid buying on volume alone; payload and doorway aperture matter as much as cubic metres.