Frequently Asked Questions
For some people the Land Rover Defender is a way of life. But for others, it may be their first endeavour into the world of Land Rover’s.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the buying process, all you need to know about Shipping and Import, and what it’s like owning and living with a Land Rover Defender.
If there is anything else you wish to know, please get in touch.
Use the buttons below to skip sections, or keep scrolling to view all.
The Buying Process
Once you're set on a vehicle in our inventory, we require a 10% non-refundable deposit payment to secure that vehicle, this can be paid through either a wire transfer or card payment via our payment processor Stripe. If you would like us to arrange shipping, we will initiate a booking with a shipping carrier at this point. We then require the 90% balance, payable only via wire transfer no later than 7 days prior to dispatching the vehicle to the port of loading.
If you wish to arrange your own transport, we require the balance to be paid before the Defender is collected.
-
Yes of course! We actively encourage viewings, but also understand that most of our buyers are overseas.
If you wish to send someone on your behalf then we would be love to have them over!
-
For those that are unable to visit our vehicles in person, we can arrange a video call at a time of day to suit you.
It will give you a chance to have a look around the vehicle and an opportunity to ask any questions.
-
For vehicle sales, we take a 10% deposit by secure payment link to secure your Defender, followed by a further 75% payment shortly afterwards to begin final preparation and paperwork. The remaining balance is due 48 hours before the vehicle leaves Pangaea Classics HQ to head to the port for shipping.
For Bespoke Builds, payments are structured in phases to reflect key milestones throughout the project. Phase 1 is a 35% deposit to commence your build and secure parts. The remaining balance is divided into three further stage payments at agreed milestones during the build process, with the final payment due just before delivery.
This phased approach ensures clarity, progress visibility, and peace of mind throughout the entire process.
-
Shipping vehicles around the world is our bread and butter!
Please see the Shipping and Import section for all the information!
-
Absolutely, if there’s any options or accessories that you want fitted to the Defender such as Heated Seats, a Roof Rack or LED Headlights, then these this can easily be arranged before shipping!
-
For vehicles that we are selling, they will be stated as ‘US Eligible’. This means that they meet our strict conditions, and that we are sure that they meet the requirements for eligibility.
As a general rule, vehicles must be more than 25 years old upon entry, based on the the vehicle’s date of manufacture. They must retain their original chassis and be in unmodified mechanical condition.
Shipping and Import
We realise finding the right car is only the first half of the journey. The second half is the shipping. The Pangaea philosophy is that there are no boundaries. What use would it be selling you the vehicle, if we couldn’t get it to you.
With that in mind we've been shipping collectible vehicles around the world for over eight years. In fact, there's only a few continents we haven’t shipped to. I bet you can guess one…
Our wealth of knowledge on international vehicle shipping means we are uniquely placed to provide formative information from, most appropriate shipping methods through to market specific import regulations.
PLEASE NOTE:
US Import Duty is currently 12.5% - this is made up of the original 2.5% and the additional 10% reciprocal tariff on vehicles coming from the UK.
-
For US bound vehicles we would advise utilising Roll-on Roll-off (RoRo) vehicle shipping. This is the method adopted by car manufacturers including Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley and Rolls-Royce to transport their vehicles to North America.
The indicative cost to ship a vehicle using RoRo can range from $1,350.00 USD to $3,950.00 USD depending on destination, carrier and required provisions such inland transport, export and import arrangements.
-
Shipping times vary slightly depending on destination and vessel schedules, but as a general guide, most shipments to the US East Coast take around 2 to 4 weeks, while the West Coast typically takes 5 to 6 weeks from leaving Pangaea Classics HQ to arrival.
This includes time at sea and normal port handling. We’ll keep you updated at each stage, from loading to customs clearance, so you always know where your Defender is and when to expect delivery.
-
Yes, for complete peace of mind we offer All-risk insurance at 2.2% of the vehicle value. This insurance has a $1250 excess and a minimum premium of $125.
Insurance is arranged through Abbott and Bramwell Insurance Brokers and underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc
-
For the US, the vehicle must be more than 25 years old upon entry, based on the date of the vehicle’s manufacture. It must retain its original chassis and be in unmodified mechanical condition.
Please see the US Government website for more info:
https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-218?language=en_USFor Canada, the vehicle must be more than 15 years old upon entry, based on the month and year of its manufacture.
Please see the Canadian Government website for more info:
https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/importing-vehicle -
Yes, we do. Our team manages all the necessary export documentation, customs clearance, and import paperwork to ensure your vehicle arrives legally and smoothly. We work closely with a trusted U.S.-based customs broker who oversees the process once your Defender reaches port.
You’ll receive all the import documents and paperwork directly from us, making it effortless to title your Defender with your local DMV.
-
If you're looking to import a vehicle to the US or Canada you will need to arrange customs clearance. Do not fear, we can organise the whole process for you and provide a combined shipping and customs clearance quotation.
Below is an example import and customs clearance for a US and Canadian bound vehicle:
Vehicle: Land Rover Defender 110 200 TDI 1992
Value $34,500 - US Import Customs entry fee. $550.00
ISF filing (Import Security Filing). $75.00
EPA/DOT Entry documentation submission. $80.00
Customs Duty: 2.5% of passenger vehicle value. $862.50
Non-Commercial Customs Bond: $34,500 x 3 x 2.50 / 1000 =
Total Bond charged = $258.75 ($2.50 per $1,000 of three times the value. Minimum charge $85.00.)
Vehicle value THC (Terminal handling charges) $82.90
Courier for stamped CBP 7501 Entry Summary. $35.00Total: $1,944.15
All stated pricing in United States Dollars
Vehicle: Land Rover Defender 110 TD5 2004
Value $24,500 - Canadian Import
Customs Clearance Brokerage Fee C$500.00
Duties @ 6.1% of vehicle value. C$1,494.50
GST (Goods and Services Tax) @ 5.0% of vehicle value. C$1,230.00
Excise Tax for Air Conditioning. C$100.00
CFIA inspection fee: C$125.00
Environment & Transport Canada Compliance. C$30.00
Licence/Permit/Certificate Fee. C$15.00
THC (Terminal handling charges) C$99.93Total: $3,594.43
All stated pricing in Canadian Dollars
If you're looking to import a vehicle elsewhere, please get in touch and we can introduce you to a local import agent in your region.
-
Each one of the US’s 48 States has different procedures regarding the titling and registration of an overseas imported vehicle.
One thing they all have in common is every state’s DMV will require evidence that the vehicle was imported and that an entry was filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Your stamped CBP 7501 Entry Summary is your proof that you filed your entry with CBP, so be sure to keep a copy to present to the DMV when registering your vehicle.
Your DMV will typically need the following:
Bill of Sale / Purchase Contract
Photo ID
Photo of the VIN/serial number
US Import documents to include, DOT, EPA Declaration & Stamped CBP 7501 Entry Summary
It's worth noting that a lot of DMVs have their Out of State and Imported Vehicles department handle overseas import vehicle titling. So if you're having trouble getting information from your DMV, it's worth asking to speak with someone in this department.
-
Of course, we’re happy to help! We’ve shipped dozens of cars over the years, many for existing clients with other cars abroad, and some for people who have bought a car elsewhere. If you’ve found a vehicle and want to get it shipped home, we can certainly help. Just get in touch.
Owning a Defender
Owning a classic Land Rover Defender is as much about the experience as it is about the vehicle itself. It’s about the stories, the adventures, and the satisfaction of driving something truly iconic.
With decades of combined experience living with, maintaining, and restoring Defenders, we’ve learned what keeps them happy and what doesn’t. Whether you’re curious about maintenance, parts availability, or modern comforts, this section will help you understand what it’s really like to live with a Defender.
-
Yes! Whilst any car can be daily driven, Defender’s produced after 1990 fitted with the 200 TDI engines are more than capable of keeping up with modern traffic. The later 300 TDI features the more modern R380 gearbox and all round disk brakes.
Both these engines feature world renown reliability and are capable of being used every day of the year. They will cruise effortlessly on the motorway at 70mph whilst returning decent fuel economy of around 25-28mpg.
Modern upgrades such as air conditioning, heated seats, sound deadening packages, and Apple Carplay (all available as options on our vehicles) can make the experience more comfortable.
-
The maintenance on a Defender is fairly minimal, with an oil change approximately every 5,000-10,000 miles, depending on use. All parts from service items to restoration parts, are readily available from numerous suppliers throughout the US, including Rovers North and Rover Parts. Finding a shop to service your Defender is easy as the vehicle’s are fairly easy to work on. We estimate annual maintenance at around $350.
-
The price of Defenders can vary from restoration projects at around $35,000 to nut-and-bolt restorations for over $150,000.
A lot of this depends on the condition of the car, and how much work has been done to the vehicle. Both our Tier 1 and Tier 2, offer great value vehicles for different buyers.
Some buyers want a great original vehicle that has been refreshed for the next generation. Others want a comprehensively restored vehicle that is as close as possible to a ‘new’ Defender that’s 25 years old.
We offer complete restorations, including a full engine, gearbox, transfer case and axle rebuilds. Our restorations take more than 2,000 hours, and every part is disassembled and either replaced or rebuilt.
Naturally we offer Left Hand Drive (LHD) vehicles to markets that drive on the right hand side of the road, such as the US, Canada and Europe. We source these from climates which are far kinder to the Defender than the UK. You will see some restorers offer UK supplied RHD vehicles to LHD markets, and we would advise against these.
To meet eligibility for the US, the vehicles must retain their original or equivalent replacement specification engines, and drivetrains. Conversions to LS or LT V8’s is a popular conversion carried out in the US, though it’s not a conversion that we would recommend. The Rover V8 (originally based on the Buick 215) is a great engine for those after a petrol engine, and the performance can be greatly improved offering up to 360hp. The diesel engines offer decent performance and their character suits the vehicle well. Be aware that conversions to non Land Rover engines can seriously affect the resale value.
-
Both the 300Tdi and Td5 engines are known for their reliability and character rather than outright speed, but they perform exceptionally well for what they are.
The 300Tdi typically returns around 22–25 mpg (US), while the newer Td5 averages slightly better at 23–27 mpg (US), depending on driving conditions and setup. These engines are happiest cruising at around 70 mph, where they feel settled and efficient for long-distance travel.
Neither will win drag races, but both deliver the kind of torque, simplicity, and longevity that make Defenders so enduringly capable
-
Don’t worry, the majority of our customers have never owned a Defender before either!
We’ll send you a personalised video of your vehicle walking you through where everything is and how to operate it all, so that you can jump straight into it when it arrives. We’ll go through the engine bay as well, so you can be confident to check the levels and be sure it’s perfect!
We’ll also be on standby once it arrives to help you out, should you need it.