Defender not the same as registration document

Hi all,
Just about to buy my first Defender, nearly new from a main dealer.
The registration document says it's a 110 utility but in the flesh it's a 110 station wagon.
The salesman says Land Rover started doing this to avoid paying higher road fund licence, is that legal? Land Rover insurance said, "just tell us what it looks like and we'll insure it as that." But they're quoting double my lowest quote online.
What happens if I need to claim and insurers refuse to pay out and what happens if I want to sell ?

You need to call DVLA, they, and only they, will tell you what you are buying and its taxation class. Of course the insurance will say that...they want your money but wont pay out if it gets nicked!!

Fridge,

When it comes to landrovers, this happens a lot! The amount of clients I've had on the phone wanting a quote on a stationwagon that is registered as a van, and vice versa, is unbelievable.

In my experience, and what I always suggest to my customers, is to insure the vehicle as what it actually is, despite the V5 being wrong. Then you can enter the realms of re-registering the vehicle with the DVLA, which can be quite an interesting process in itself.

Have a good day,

Ed

I would suggest that insuring a vehicle that has different information on the V5 will cause more problems down the line. Get it taxed and tested on the information that is held by the DVLA, whether that is right or wrong, you will be acting in ''good faith''. If you deliberately insure it as what you believe it is then basically you are open to all sorts of poo if its nicked or damaged. Call the DVLA.

Thanks,
I suppose I'll start by ringing the DVLA.
I haven't bought it yet but I have paid a deposit and negotiated some extras which they're fitting as we speak.

Also, main dealer said they'd sort out the tax.

Make sure you declare the bloody extras as well or you may find the insurance has been invalid!

Yes I've done that on the quotes. I assume an A bar is the same as bull bars, just sounds a bit worse.

A bars are generally plastic and therefore seen as less 'dangerous' than the old (now illegal) metal bullbars chavs have. Just remember, you have bought this and already are questioning the V5, when you come to sell you will want to sort that to make sale easier...people will walk from any slightly irregular info on a V5 these days as theres so many for sale. Get it sorted and enjoy it.

What a hassle !
Thanks for your help storm.

Just spoken to a couple of insurance companies who say there's no way they'll insure it while the registration document has a different description to the actual car....Help!

could always just change the bodywork over

Brokenfridge said:

Just spoken to a couple of insurance companies who say there's no way they'll insure it while the registration document has a different description to the actual car....Help!

Click to expand...

Ask for your money back or get the dealer to sort the thing out, why should you do it. They might even spring for a courtesy car whilst doing it.

Brokenfridge said:

Just spoken to a couple of insurance companies who say there's no way they'll insure it while the registration document has a different description to the actual car....Help!

Click to expand...

As I mentioned before, we can do it for you. If you want me to give you a bell you can fire your number over to me and I'll give you a call straight away.

Cheers,

Ed

If the v5 says utility then wouldn't the entire county spec thats fitted have to be listed as a modifications? Email landrover directly and ask them about it. Sounds a bit suspect to me

Far as i know you can change v5 details to diff model

Just spoken to dealer. He says Land Rover now register all 110s as LGVs.
He's emailing me over a statement from them.

If you're interested, this is what they said,
(not sure how this resolves the insurance question though)

Context
As part of the 11MY programme, all Defender derivatives were re-classified into the N1 Commercial Vehicle category in order to be type approved for sale under the new European Complete Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) legislation. Subsequently, at 12MY the new 2.2l PUMA engine was introduced to comply with the EU5 emissions legislation which came into force for N1 Commercial Vehicles on the 1 January 2012. Even though all Defenders are categorised at N1 Commercial Vehicles for ECWVTA purposes, they are not all treated in the same way for vehicle taxation purposes. The N1 classification also led to a change in the way the vehicle masses and dimensions are calculated which caused a reduction in Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) for some versions and the withdrawal of some of the Heavy Duty vehicles in the range. The purpose of this bulletin to provide clarification around some of the more frequently asked questions on this subject.
Vehicle Taxation
VED – The reclassification of all Defenders into the N1 Commercial Vehicle category means all
derivatives are subject to the Commercial Vehicle VED rate, which is currently £215.
Benefit in Kind (BIK) – The reclassification into the N1 category made no change to the way Defenders are treated for income tax purposes. A Commercial Vehicle is required to be of a construction primarily suited to the conveyance of goods. Consequently, 90 and 110 Station Wagons do not meet these requirements and are considered a Passenger Car for BIK purposes. However, 110 Utility Wagons, along with all other Defender derivatives do meet these requirements and are considered to be Commercial Vehicles for BIK purposes.
VAT – in the same way as BIK, the reclassification into the N1 category made no change to the way Defenders are treated for VAT purposes. Defender 90 Station Wagons are treated as a Passenger Car, whilst 110 Station Wagons are normally treated as Commercial Vehicles because they have a payload which exceeds 1000kg. 110 Utility Wagons and all other derivatives are also considered to be Commercial Vehicles.
Please note, vehicle taxation can be subject to local interpretation of HMRC guidelines so interested parties should be advised to seek clarification with the local tax office.
Vehicle Weights
The N1 Masses and Dimensions legislation requires that a vehicle load be placed centrally in the load space for the measurement of vehicle masses. Previously the load could be spread across the entire vehicle. As a consequence, a greater load is placed on the rear axle which necessitated a reduction in the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) for some versions to ensure the rear axle capability is not exceeded. Full details of the changes to Mass and Dimensions can be found in the attached addendum from the original Defender 11MY Product Brief (click here to view).
Vehicle Conversions
A further bulletin will be released shortly in connection with the Whole Vehicle Type Approval legislation that comes into force for all converted vehicles from the 29 April 2013.

afaik all new defenders were reclassified a few years back to light commercial vehicles. Think landrover managed to wangle it so they could keep producing the defender longer as it now fails to comply with eu car regs.

As others have said;
I have had quite a few quotes fer different Defenders,there was ALWAYS a conflict with what I was "insuring" and what the insewerance "thought" it was.
I explained the fact Defenders are modular and can easily be changed from one version to the other and that it's a Landrover trait that descriptions are rarely accurate,after a few minutes on hold they alawys said "no problem".