Driving a van on a car licence

You can drive a van that will carry up to 12 people including the driver.

If you haven't driven a van with 11 other passengers before, take it easy because it will be heavy - it could weigh well over two tonnes and the handling characteristics of the van will change considerably. It will take much longer to stop and it will be slower to accelerate. Depending on the passengers and any cargo, it will feel much different around corners, tending to lean more. 

If you are an inexperienced driver you will find driving with passengers more tiring because there will be more distractions. Take frequent breaks and don't become too involved in conversations that your passengers are having. Driving a van with children can be very noisy if the kids are boisterous. 

Before leaving, ensure that the side door of the van is closed properly.

Vans usually have a shorter bonnet than a car so that more space can be given over to moving objects in the back without making the van unduly long. This means the engine is often underneath the front seats and the driving position is more upright. It can also make a van more noisy mechanically than a car

For a list of what you can drive on what licence, see this article.