Is the Land Rover Defender ULEZ Compliant?
Based on 106,838 MOT tests, around 6% of Land Rover Defenders still on the road are likely to meet London's ULEZ standards, and about 82% are likely to be charged. For the remaining 12%, it depends on the exact Euro standard or month of registration.
The fuel mix matters: tested cars were 97% diesel. Diesel Defenders are generally compliant from 2016, while diesel cars from 2013 or earlier are likely to be charged.
- Likely compliant
- 6%
- Likely charged
- 82%
- Depends on the car
- 12%
- MOT tests analysed
- 106,838
Check a specific Defender
Year and fuel type are a guide. Enter the registration to check that car's own record.
Defender ULEZ compliance by year and fuel
Estimated from the year of first registration. Numbers show how many Defenders of each type were MOT tested, as a guide to how common they are.
| First registered | Diesel | Petrol |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Likely compliant201 tested | Likely compliant53 tested |
| 2020 | Likely compliant3,356 tested | Likely compliant665 tested |
| 2016 | Likely compliant1,756 tested | Likely compliant44 tested |
| 2015 | Check exact car6,535 tested | Likely compliant63 tested |
| 2014 | Check exact car5,746 tested | Likely compliant43 tested |
| 2013 | Likely charged4,293 tested | Likely compliant21 tested |
| 2012 | Likely charged3,816 tested | Likely compliant15 tested |
| 2011 | Likely charged3,895 tested | Likely compliant8 tested |
| 2010 | Likely charged3,953 tested | Likely compliant10 tested |
| 2009 | Likely charged3,467 tested | Likely compliant18 tested |
| 2008 | Likely charged3,689 tested | Likely compliant12 tested |
| 2007 | Likely charged3,926 tested | Likely compliant10 tested |
| 2006 | Likely charged3,718 tested | Likely compliant4 tested |
| 2005 | Likely charged4,108 tested | Check Euro standard4 tested |
| 2004 | Likely charged4,202 tested | Check Euro standard6 tested |
| 2003 | Likely charged4,331 tested | Check Euro standard6 tested |
| 2002 | Likely charged3,830 tested | Check Euro standard6 tested |
| 2001 | Likely charged3,154 tested | Check Euro standard6 tested |
| 2000 | Likely charged2,981 tested | Likely charged17 tested |
| 1999 | Likely charged2,992 tested | Likely charged62 tested |
| 1998 | Likely charged3,280 tested | Likely charged214 tested |
| 1997 | Likely charged3,367 tested | Likely charged40 tested |
| 1996 | Likely charged3,503 tested | Likely charged17 tested |
| 1995 | Likely charged2,871 tested | Likely charged18 tested |
| 1994 | Likely charged2,326 tested | Likely charged31 tested |
| 1993 | Likely charged1,882 tested | Likely charged44 tested |
| 1992 | Likely charged1,447 tested | Likely charged37 tested |
| 1991 | Likely charged1,661 tested | Likely charged56 tested |
| 1990 | Likely charged1,472 tested | Likely charged152 tested |
| 1989 | Likely charged1,692 tested | Likely charged209 tested |
| 1988 | Likely charged1,277 tested | Likely charged182 tested |
| 1987 | Likely charged1,433 tested | Likely charged225 tested |
| 1986 | Likely charged1,512 tested | Likely charged222 tested |
| 1985 | Likely charged1,094 tested | Likely charged215 tested |
| 1984 | Likely charged616 tested | Likely charged177 tested |
| 1983 | Likely charged156 tested | Likely charged70 tested |
How ULEZ rules apply to the Defender
Cars that miss the standard pay £12.50 for each day they're driven in the zone. Petrol and petrol-hybrid cars need Euro 4 (most from 2006), while diesels need Euro 6 (most from September 2015).
- Diesel (97% of Defenders tested): likely compliant from 2016; 2013 and earlier are likely to be charged.
- Petrol (3% of Defenders tested): likely compliant from 2006; 2000 and earlier are likely to be charged.
Defenders from 2014 and 2015 sit on the boundary (12% of those tested): some were built to the required standard before it became compulsory. The Euro standard is sometimes on the V5C logbook, or Land Rover can confirm it. Our ULEZ calculator can help.
Thinking of buying one? Check how Defenders fare at the MOT too: see the Land Rover Defender MOT failure rate.
Buying a used Land Rover Defender for London: what the MOT data shows
The Land Rover Defenders in this data were first registered between 1983 and 2021. 2015 was the most common year, with 6,601 tests (6% of the total), and half were registered in 2005 or later.
Defenders from likely-compliant years passed their MOT first time 88% of the time, at an average of 31,253 miles. Older ones likely to be charged passed 66% of the time with 115,247 miles on average, so a compliant car is usually the more reliable buy as well as the cheaper one to drive in London.
On a budget, the oldest diesel Defenders likely to comply are from 2016. 1,756 of them were tested; 2016 cars passed first time 83% of the time and averaged 31,380 miles. Check the Euro standard on the V5C before you buy one from around then.
Whichever year you choose, check the Defender's weak spots. The most common MOT failures were lights and electrics: "not working" (10.2% of tests); steering: "ball joint dust cover excessively damaged or deteriorated so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt" (3.1%); suspension: "has an excessively worn bush" (2.8%). The most frequent advisory was "leaking excessively from engine", on 15.2% of tests.
Overall, 68% of Defenders passed first time, slightly below the 71% average for all cars, and they had covered 102,581 miles on average, more than the 73,145-mile average.
ULEZ compliance for other models
Other Land Rover models
About this data
Based on 106,838 first MOT tests of the Land Rover Defender carried out in 2023.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). First attempts on cars only; “pass rate” means passing first time. Averages cover all 32,735,164 cars tested (71% passed), and years with under 50 tests are hidden.
ULEZ results are estimates from fuel type and year of first registration. Transport for London makes the final decision.
Learn more about how our data works.
Frequently asked questions
What 106,838 MOT tests say about the Land Rover Defender and London's ULEZ.
Is the Land Rover Defender ULEZ compliant?
In our data about 6% of Defenders on the road are likely compliant and 82% likely to be charged. Petrol and petrol-hybrid cars need Euro 4 (most from 2006), while diesels need Euro 6 (most from September 2015).
Which petrol Defender years are ULEZ compliant?
Petrol Defenders first registered from 2006 are likely compliant. Some earlier cars meet Euro 4 too, so check the exact vehicle.
Is a diesel Defender ULEZ compliant?
Only if it meets Euro 6, which generally means first registered from September 2015. Diesel Defenders from 2013 or earlier are likely to be charged.
How can I check if a specific Defender is ULEZ compliant?
Enter its registration in our free ULEZ check, which uses the vehicle's DVLA record. Always confirm with TfL before relying on it.
Related guides
- ULEZ · 6 min readULEZ explained: which cars are compliant and what it costsSince August 2023 the ULEZ covers every London borough. Which cars comply, what the daily charge costs if yours doesn't, and what you can do about it.Read the guide
- MOT · 6 min readPre-MOT checklist: 20 things to check yourself before the testTwenty quick checks, grouped by area, that you can do on your driveway in under half an hour. No tools beyond a coin and a helper needed for most.Read the guide
- MOT · 5 min readMOT retest rules: when it's free, partial or full priceFix a failed MOT within a day or two and the retest is often free; wait too long and you pay for a full test again. The three retest types explained.Read the guide
Is your Defender ULEZ compliant?
Enter the registration for a check based on that car's own DVLA record.