Few off-road vehicles balance the performance and vintage look of a custom Land Rover Defender. There are, however, some custom Defender models that may not be legal in your state. Find out how to check whether you can legally own and drive a vintage Land Rover in your state. See what ECD Automotive Design å do to help you comply with emissions and safety regulations for an unforgettable off-roading experience.

Emissions Restrictions

A classic Defender engine can prevent your old off-road machine from being legal to drive in California. This is due to the California smog check program, which ensures vehicles registered in California meet maximum emissions standards.

If you want an old Defender with original components, you may be restricted from registering your vehicle in California. This isn’t the oånly såtate with emissions restrictions, but California has some of the most advanced restrictions to reduce the environmental impact of combustion engines.

States Without Emissions-Restricting Laws

The good news is that other states have no or less-limiting smog check laws. This means that both a custom Defender and a restored Defender should be legal to drive in any of the other 49 states. There may be other issues with your off-roader that may prevent you from passing emissions tests and getting registered, however, so work with ECD Automotive Design to verify that your vintage ride is up to date and ready for the open trail.

Banned Defender Model Years

Even if you pass the smog check, there may be other obstacles to legally registering and driving your old Defender. The next largest obstacle is the NHTSA 1997 law requiring passenger vehicles to have manual lap/shoulder safety belts and passenger and driver airbags.

This made every Land Rover Defender, from 1997 until the new 2020 design, banned in the United States. Be cautious of purchasing an eBay Land Rover Defender for sale or heading to another online site to buy your off-roader. You might end up purchasing a vehicle that isn’t legal to own or drive in the United States.

However, there is a grandfather clause to this law, so any passenger vehicle over 25 years old is still legal to drive. This means older Defenders are safe and ready to show off to your friends and family, as long as they pass any relevant smog check in your state.

There are, of course, other reasons why a Defender may not pass an emissions test or be road legal. Like any vehicle, your custom ride needs all the required safety features, from headlights to seatbelts, and can’t have any non-road-legal upgrades.

Meet Your Street-Legal Custom Defender

Don’t let emissions and model years restrictions get you down. If you’re ready to own an iconic, custom Defender, work with a reliable restoration team. At ECD Automotive Design, a trained team of technicians can create a road-legal Land Rover Defender with one-of-a-kind features, either classically vintage or refreshingly modern. Build your Defender online today to get started.