White van man

{{about|the British slang term|the confidence trick|White van speaker scam|the television programme|White Van Man (TV series)}}

{{short description|Stereotypical British independent tradesman}}

Image:White vans Oxford.JPG, with assorted white vans]]

File:Mercedes sprinter 2 v sst.jpg, a typical white van]]

"White van man" or "a-man-with-a-van" is a stereotype used in the United Kingdom for a Luton van and smaller-sized commercial van driver,{{cite web|author=WARREN HOGE |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/14/world/leatherhead-journal-the-white-van-man-of-england-oh-he-s-a-devil.html |title=Leatherhead Journal; The White Van Man of England: Oh, He's a Devil! – New York Times |work=Nytimes.com |date=2000-07-14 |access-date=2013-08-05}} typically perceived as a selfish, inconsiderate driver who is mostly petit bourgeois and often aggressive.{{cite web|author=Leo Benedictus |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2006/jul/07/leobenedictus.features11 |title=The question: Can we ever love White Van Man? | Life and style |work=The Guardian |date=2006-07-07 |access-date=2013-08-05}} According to this stereotype, the "white van man" is typically an independent tradesperson, such as a builder, plumber or locksmith, self-employed, or running a small enterprise, for whom driving a commercial vehicle is not their main line of business, as it would be for a professional freight-driver.{{cite web|last1=Shaw|first1=Esther|title=Watch out for White Van Man!|url=http://www.moneysupermarket.com/car-insurance/blog/watch-out-for-white-van-man/|publisher=Moneysupermarket.com|access-date=22 July 2015|date=25 April 2013}} The "white" refers to the archetypal and most common colour of the van, not the driver himself.