Land Rover Defender Insurance for Classic and Imported Defenders

By Jon Merwin, Founder and CEO

Classic Land Rovers have a devoted following in New England, and it’s easy to see why. They look at home on a dirt road in the Lakes Region, a Maine woods road or a Connecticut horse farm. We insure Series trucks restored to original, rare North American Specification Defenders, right-hand-drive 90s and 110s imported once they turned 25, and full restomods built with modern engines and interiors. Each raises different questions about value, use and paperwork.

This guide covers what’s specific to insuring a classic Land Rover Defender. For how collector insurance works in general, start with our classic and collector car insurance guide. We shop collector car coverage with carriers including Hagerty, J.C. Taylor, Liberty Mutual, Cincinnati and American Modern, and we’ll confirm eligibility for your vehicle before you rely on a policy.

The Defender family and how insurers see it

Series I, II, IIA and III (1948 to 1985)

The original Land Rovers. Simple, rugged and now highly collectible, especially early Series I trucks and well-restored IIAs. Most are hobby vehicles and fit naturally on a collector policy.

90, 110 and Defender (1983 to 2016)

The coil-sprung Land Rover 90 and 110 arrived in the 1980s and took the Defender name around 1990. Production for world markets ran until 2016. Most Defenders in the US today were imported once they reached 25 years old.

North American Specification (NAS) Defenders

Land Rover sold the Defender in the US only briefly: a small run of NAS Defender 110s for 1993, then Defender 90s for the 1994, 1995 and 1997 model years. NAS trucks are rare, and original, documented examples are valued very differently from imports or rebuilt trucks.

The new Defender (2020 to today)

The current Defender is a modern luxury SUV and is usually insured on a regular auto policy or a high-value auto policy, not a collector policy.

Imports, the 25-year rule and paperwork

Under federal law, a vehicle at least 25 years old can generally be imported without meeting current US safety standards. That opened the door to thousands of Defenders imported from the UK and elsewhere. Before you buy or insure one, make sure the paperwork is complete:

• Customs and federal import entry documents
• A US title, or the paperwork your state requires to issue one
• A VIN that matches the paperwork, and the chassis number on the truck
• Records of any engine, chassis or bulkhead replacement

Title and registration rules for imported vehicles differ by state, so check with your state’s motor vehicle agency. Insurers want to see that the truck was legally imported and is properly registered before they write coverage.

What drives a classic Defender’s value

• Originality and specification. NAS trucks, original Series trucks and factory special editions carry a premium.
• Chassis and bulkhead condition. Rust in the steel chassis and bulkhead is the biggest value question. A galvanized replacement chassis is common and should be documented.
• Engine. Original petrol and diesel engines, factory V8s and the condition of each.
• Build quality. For restored and restomod trucks, the builder, the parts used and the documentation.
• Paperwork. Clean import, title and registration history.

Bring us photos, receipts, build sheets and recent sales of similar trucks to support the agreed value. Our guide to agreed value car insurance explains how values are set and kept current.

Restomods and common modifications

Defenders are one of the most popular restomod platforms in the world. Common changes include modern V8 or diesel engine swaps, upgraded axles and suspension, winches, snorkels, roof racks and roof tents, larger tires, modern seats, air conditioning and infotainment. Many builds are worth far more than an original truck. They are usually insured under modified-vehicle rules, and the value should reflect the build. See modified car insurance, and if your truck is still being built, see restoration and project car insurance.

Off-road use and how you drive it

Collector policies are written for hobby use: shows, club events, tours and occasional pleasure drives. Many Defender owners want more than that, such as trail days, overlanding trips or beach driving. Collector policies commonly limit or exclude off-road use, so tell us exactly how you use the truck. If it’s a regular driver, it may fit better on a regular or high-value auto policy with the right coverage. Trailering to rallies and shows is covered in our guide to car shows and trailering.

Rust, storage and New England winters

A Defender’s aluminum body panels don’t rust the way steel does, but they can corrode where they meet steel, and the steel chassis and bulkhead are vulnerable to salt. Many New England owners keep their classic Defender off salted roads in winter. Wash the underside thoroughly after any winter or beach use, and store the truck in a dry, locked, enclosed building. See collector car storage and winter lay-up and our spring recommissioning guide.

If you have a claim

Ask whether you can choose your repair shop, such as a Land Rover specialist. Parts for most Defenders are widely available, but NAS-specific parts, original Series parts and custom restomod components can take time to source. Keep records of the build so the insurer can see what was there before the loss.

Why work with an independent agency

Specialty insurers look at a Land Rover differently, and their rules on use, storage, modifications and value change over time. An independent agency can compare them side by side and coordinate the collector policy with your daily-driver auto insurance, your home insurance and your umbrella policy, so liability limits line up and nothing falls through the gaps.

Portsmouth Atlantic Insurance is a family-owned independent agency founded in 2005. Our 15 employees work from our Portsmouth, NH office and a Connecticut office, we are licensed in 10 states, and we work with 40+ carriers. We are New Hampshire’s highest-rated agency on Google, with 1,000+ Google reviews and over 2,000 testimonials, and we don’t charge any fees.

We work with collectors from our Portsmouth office across New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut, and in our other licensed states. See our state guides for New Hampshire, Connecticut and Maine.

Frequently asked questions

Can I insure an imported Defender on a collector policy?

Often, yes. Many classic Defenders in the US were imported once they were old enough to qualify under the federal 25-year rule. Insurers want to see that the vehicle was legally imported, titled and registered, and they look at its condition, use and storage. We’ll confirm eligibility for your vehicle.

Does a right-hand-drive Defender cost more to insure?

It can affect how some insurers view the vehicle, and not every insurer handles right-hand-drive vehicles the same way. That’s one of the reasons it pays to compare. Tell us up front if your Defender is right-hand drive.

Will a collector policy cover off-roading in my Defender?

Not always. Collector policies are written for hobby use and commonly limit or exclude off-road use. If you plan to take the truck on trails, beaches or rallies, tell us so we can find coverage that fits how you actually use it.

Is a restomod Defender with a modern V8 insured differently?

Usually. A Defender with an engine swap, upgraded chassis or extensive modern equipment is generally insured as a modified vehicle, and the value has to reflect the build. Keep the builder’s documentation and receipts and share them with us.

Is the new Defender a collector vehicle?

Usually not. The current Defender, sold in the US since 2020, is a modern SUV that is typically insured on a regular or high-value auto policy. Classic Defenders, NAS trucks and Series Land Rovers are the ones commonly insured as collector vehicles.

What our clients say

From our client surveys. Comments are lightly edited for typos only.

“

Jon is super helpful and amazingly communicative. He responds fast with well thought out answers making the process of getting insurance for my home and car super simple.

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Very informative, responsive, and helpful with answering any questions we had. Helped us get the best deal and coverage, explained the differences between coverage options, and let us choose what worked best for us. Highly recommend!

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Excellent guidance on insurance options and fantastic quoting and onboarding experience. We trust their recommendations and feel that we have best coverage for peace of mind at best possible cost.

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