Today’s cars are filled with the latest and highest safety technologies designed to help prevent accidents and keep us protected when those accidents can’t be avoided. The reason why there is a price difference between what you find on UK classifieds sites and vehicles licensed, taxed, and titled here is that companies like our spent the time to learn the rules, take the risks, and do things the right way so your dreams don’t get crushed – along with your Defender.Land Rover builds its cars with the best targets in mind. The only way they are eligible is if they’re fairly mechanically original. But do you want to be the one they find?īeware of anyone on eBay that declares USA EXPORT ELIGIBLE in all caps.

This doesn’t mean a few don’t sneak past Customs and Boarder Protection. What will happen is that customs will give you a call and say, “Dear _, we have your car, but you need to find a way to ship it back to the UK at your own expense and pray that the person who sold it to you made an honest mistake and will give you some of your money back. Eligible.Ī 1987 Land Rover Defender 2.5L TD has had a motor swap to a 25 year old 200Tdi. The last one is a new challenge we’re facing.Ī 1987 Land Rover Defender 2.5L TD has had a motor swap to another 2.5L TD. Is the vehicle is original factory specification: VIN visible on chassis, original spec motor, not significantly modified. 1993 (to the month and day) as of May 2018. Since engines do not have serial numbers from Land Rover, nor are they stamped with the VIN, it is possible to import a vehicle that has had the same model engine swapped into the vehicle. There is a slight exception to the “engine” portion of this statement above. The original frame, body, chassis, engine, and transmission must all be retained.” “The vehicles must be exactly 25 years old down to the year, month, and day.

We hope this changes soon, but as of May of 2018, the rules by DOT, EPA, and Customs is this: I’ve seen a lot of these ads posted lately and they’re wrong.

No matter how much the person tells you it’s legal, it’s not.

If you’re looking at a 1989 Defender 110 with a 200Tdi motor, walk away. You cannot import an upgraded Defender on “points” because the parts are all 25 years old.

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