LEZ Station wago conversion.

hi, I know there are many threads on this already but none seemed to answer my question. I am 17 in a couple of months and my dad bought this land rover defender 90 200tdi panel van from new in 1992, we live on the very edge of the low emission zone and as i will be using the land rover as a first car the LEZ is a pain in the bum. I was wondering if some form of conversion could be done to allow the vehicle to be compliant with the low emission zone. For example if station wagon windows where fitted on the rear panel with rear seats would there be a way of becoming compliant ?
Any advice is much appreciated.
Many thanks, Matt.

NO! Otherwise everyone would be doing it. It depends on what the vehicle was first registered as from new so you are up the proverbial swanny. Any panel sided Landy falls foul of the LEZ and there is no way around it unless you fit particulate filters and get a VOSA compliance certificate which would cost more than the vehicle is worth. Sorry bud.

Hmm that's a shame really, there must be a way around it. Its such a downer, all ive wanted to do from the age of 6 was drive, now i'm near enough able to they'v put a bloody low emission zone up to spoil all the fun.

nope, its been done on here before, if it was first registered as a van, it will ALWAYS be a van with regard to the LEZ, the only way around is as shifty says, no ifs or buts about it.

Shifty1962 said:

NO! Otherwise everyone would be doing it. It depends on what the vehicle was first registered as from new so you are up the proverbial swanny. Any panel sided Landy falls foul of the LEZ and there is no way around it unless you fit particulate filters and get a VOSA compliance certificate which would cost more than the vehicle is worth. Sorry bud.

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Not true, IF you can convince DVLA it has been converted then it can be re-registered, I had a similar issue with converting a Panel VW van to a camper van, it basically ended up having to send loads of pictures of all the modifications along with documented proof that these had been done (i.e. reciepts). The problem is DVLA are the ones who decide and they seem to change their mind as to what is needed to qualify as a complete conversion (we have similar issues when registering overseas vehicles, everyone has a different opinion!).

Best thing to do is to get a complete comparison of the difference between a van and a station wagon from land rover, you would need to do all the changes (i.e. not just cut windows in, you need the correct roof, panels, seats, carpets e.t.c.) and then send all the info along with all the pictures of the conversion into the DVLA and let them decide, no guarantee that they will accept it though!

I have had this done to mine changed the sides from pick up to station wagon when it went through its rebuild then i sent the V5 off to DVLA for the colour change and also the change it from pick up to station wagon and also change is so it stated 7 seater on the V5 they didnt even ask for pictures

Vehicle: K356ESH
Date Status
07 May 2013 to onwards
Not Subject to LEZ
What does not subject to the Low Emission Zone mean?
According to our records this vehicle is not subject to the Low Emission Zone and is not required to meet the Low Emission Zone standards this time.
If you disagree you can get advice on completing a Vehicle Compliance Application

There ya go just run mine through the checker

You can get it approved easily enough. All you need to do is make it look like a station wagon, so seats in the back, some windows and maybe a bit of carpet. Then take some photos to prove as such and contact TFL to register it with them. I know at least one person who went to a lot of trouble (fitting a V8 etc.) to get his car allowed in and then they decided this rule and he was a bit miffed to say the least that he could have just put a few windows/seats in and got the same result!

This only works for pre-1998 vehicles though, for cars made after that point they only accept the DVLA's description of what the car is - so you'd have to go through the battle with them to change it. Which is a lot harder.

See this page, there's a whole section for Land Rovers:

Which vehicles are affected? | Low Emission Zone | Transport for London

Thanks for all the advice. I think the best path to go down is to add windows in as it already has rear seats, out some carpets in and improve the interior. What's the worsted that can happen ? They say no. Either way when used offroad the passenger sitting in the back will actually be able to see. Many thanks guys ! Any more advice is welcome

This Piece of legislation nicely demonstrates why left leaning governments are a disaster. (free country my arse)

I have just got some csw rear panels and roof for mine and once I decide on the seat confituration will prepare for a battle with the DVLA.

Couldn't of said it better minimole23. We already have rear bench seats in ours so im gong to look into the side windows etc to also go to war with the DVLA.

Read my post again, if yours is pre-1998 as you say then you don't need to battle with the DVLA. What the DVLA think it is means toss all in that case. You have to register it directly with TFL who will update their database (the original data for which came from the DVLA).

Post-1998 vehicles they refuse to do this for, they will only accept the DVLA value. I'm not sure of the reason for this distinction.

I'm more concerned about if they roll similar schemes out elsewhere, so would rather change it now rather than later when it will probably get even more challenging.

I was just planning to pay the daily charge when it was my turn to ferry my aunt at xmas. This thread however made me see how much the daily charge was..... £100 f'in pounds a day!!!

I'll pay for a taxi to pick her up this year and stay at home with my favourite tipple!

CaptainMorgan said:

I was just planning to pay the daily charge when it was my turn to ferry my aunt at xmas. This thread however made me see how much the daily charge was..... £100 f'in pounds a day!!!

I'll pay for a taxi to pick her up this year and stay at home with my favourite tipple!

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Ahahaha, not quite as stylish as a landie though.