Peugeot survey finds 43% of UK van drivers see vans as a quiet space

Research commissioned by Peugeot shows that many British van drivers treat their vehicle as somewhere to switch off, recharge and get away from the pressures of the working day. The survey of 1,000 UK commercial van drivers was conducted by OnePoll in July 2026.

Beyond the quiet space finding, 34% of respondents called their van their ‘work office’ and 29% saw it as somewhere to escape workplace stress. UK van drivers spend an average of 17 hours a week in their vans, the equivalent of two standard working days, while 10% spend between 21 and 25 hours. One fifth (20%) even regard the van as a second home.

Lunch breaks in the van

Almost half (48%) of those surveyed eat lunch in their vans, on average four days a week, compared with 28% of office workers who eat at their desks. Only 15% mostly use a café and 18% prefer to eat outdoors. A packed lunch is typical for 51%, a supermarket meal deal for 21% and fast food for 15%.

The work site is the most common lunch spot at 48%, followed by supermarket car parks (35%), service stations or rest areas (32%) and scenic locations (31%). Listening to the radio (64%) and scrolling social media (55%) lead the activities, while 37% call a friend or loved one and 19% take a nap.

Work vans in everyday life

The vehicles also serve outside working hours. Some 63% of drivers use them for shopping, 49% for visiting friends and family, 29% for sports and holidays and 26% for the school run. Items kept on board include food (53%), paperwork (49%) and clothes (31%), with 10% storing a bed or bedding.

Peugeot Partner cabin and equipment

Air conditioning (62%), storage (52%), adjustable seats (48%) and smartphone connectivity (47%) were the interior features drivers valued most. In the Partner, air conditioning and a load-through bulkhead are standard, storage includes a full-width overhead shelf, and the Crew Van seats up to five. Every version gets a 10-inch HD touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as part of the i-Cockpit.

Steve Wass, Managing Director of Peugeot UK, said: “The work van is so much more than a means of getting from job to job. It’s an office, and crucially somewhere for van drivers to take a well-earned break.”

First launched in 1996 and now in its third generation, the Partner is currently the UK’s best-selling compact van. Buyers there can choose diesel or electric powertrains for the same monthly rental, in standard and long wheelbase versions.

Supplied by Newspress UK (PEUGEOT)

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