1996 LAND ROVER DEFENDER2.5L Diesel

The 1996 Land Rover Defender presents a stable roadworthiness status with a clean test history. The most recent examination on 21 November 2025 at 184,960 miles returned a pass with no defects recorded, continuing an unbroken five-year sequence of fault-free results. Annual mileage accumulation sits at a modest level for a three-decade-old vehicle. The record shows 174,154 miles at the 10 December 2021 test, rising to 177,548 by 18 November 2022, then 180,261 in November 2023, 181,441 in November 2024, and 184,960 in November 2025. This equates to roughly 2,700 miles per year across the logged period, well below the 6,165 annual average implied by total distance. The consistent yearly testing with no gaps and zero advisories suggests disciplined upkeep by prior keepers, though the sparse entry set limits deep trend analysis on consumable wear. A buyer should still commission a physical inspection of chassis outriggers, bulkhead, and footwells for corrosion, as Defender structures of this era degrade even without MOT-flagged rust. The absence of recorded brake, suspension bush, or coil spring advisories is reassuring, yet age-related fatigue in steering joints and trailing arm mounts remains plausible given 184,960 miles of service. Verify the odometer reading against service stamps and confirm the 2025 test certificate shows no withdrawn or amended results. Pre-purchase checks on swivel housings, prop shaft UJs, and brake disc thickness will clarify true mechanical condition beyond the clean MOT trail.