Brits believe the white van is more British than the Royal Family

• A quarter (23 per cent) of Brits believe white vans are more iconic than the Royal Family in terms of Britishness
• White vans are a more iconic symbol of Britishness than Sunday roasts (24 per cent), black cabs (20 per cent), complaining about the weather (20 per cent) and queuing (19 per cent)

The white van beloved by tradespeople is a classic symbol of the nation, with a quarter (23 per cent) of Brits seeing them as more British than the Royal Family according to research by Direct Line. Just 15 per cent disagree that white vans are a British icon.

Most Brits (56 per cent) agree that white vans are an iconic symbol of Britain. A quarter (26 per cent) of people say they are more British than builder’s tea or breakfast fry ups (24 per cent). White vans are even seen as a more iconic sign of Britishness than Sunday roasts (24 per cent), black cabs (20 per cent), complaining about the weather (20 per cent) and queuing (19 per cent).

Unsurprisingly, white remains the colour of choice for vans, with 58 per cent² of all new Light Goods Vehicles registered last year being white. There were almost three times as many white vans registered compared to the next closest colour, grey (181,243 white vs 60,831 grey).  White vans power the UK economy according to 42 per cent of people.

Once dubbed as the selfish, inconsiderate, and aggressive, nearly two thirds (63 per cent) of white van drivers feel that the stereotypes around white van drivers are outdated and inaccurate. Almost three quarters (72 per cent) claim that they are considerate drivers who respect the rules of the road. When it comes to tucking into takeaways and having dirty vans a similar proportion (73 per cent) say that they try to lead a healthy lifestyle and 69 per cent keep their vans clean and tidy.

Attitudes of the general public are changing, with those under the age of 45 more likely to view white van drivers as hard working rather than inconsiderate drivers. The view that white van drivers are inconsiderate drivers is more widely held by those over the age of 45.

Eva Sandstra- Bennett, Van Product Manager at Direct Line business insurance commented: “White vans and their drivers are a British icon and backbone of the nation, travelling an estimated 57 billion vehicle miles a year³ to repair our homes, fix utilities and deliver our orders.  It’s refreshing to see that people appreciate the hard work of white vans and their drivers and that old stereotypes are starting to wane.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

¹ Censuswide survey of 2,595 UK Consumers, including 848 tradespeople, conducted 6^th March – 11^th March 2024. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles and are members of The British Polling Council.

² Freedom of Information Act request made to the DVLA in January 2024 - The number of new light goods vehicles registrations by colour in 2023.         

³ Latest available data from the Department for Transport (DfT): Road traffic statistics - Summary statistics (dft.gov.uk)

Direct Line Group  

Unni Henry  

PR Manager 

Email: unni.henry@directlinegroup.co.uk  

About Direct Line business insurance

Launched in 2007 Direct Line business insurance now has over half a million customer policies, providing a flexible range of insurance products for the landlord, van and small business sectors.

Direct Line business insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Direct Line business insurance and U K Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.

Customers can find out more about Direct Line business insurance products or get a quote by calling 0345 301 4827 or visiting https://www.directlineforbusiness.co.uk.