The steam reforming of toluene has been studied on three catalysts with vanadium (0.9, 1.75, 3%) derived from hydrotalcites precursors (Mg/Al molar ratio 3) in the temperature range 400-500 degrees C. Catalysts were characterized by BET, XRD, SEM, TEM, FT-IR and then a correlation between physico-chemical characteristics and catalytic activity for toluene steam reforming has been done. The results showed that the catalyst with 3% V, with polyvanadate species, achieves the best catalytic activity, with a toluene conversion of 77.5%, at 500 degrees C, and a H-2 composition of 57%. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.