For US buyers of classic Land Rover Defenders
A dry, 25-year-legal Defender from Spain, inspected in person before you buy
Within 72 hours you get 3 real trucks for sale in Spain, each with an itemized estimate of the cost to your US port. That part is free. Our flat $3,000 fee applies only if you go ahead.
Get 3 trucks in 72 hoursRun by Aleksei Iakuban, based near Barcelona, Spain.
Why Spain, and why you need someone there
- Much of Spain is dry and its roads see little salt, so a lot of these trucks still have solid chassis, outriggers and floors. Many UK and northern European ones don't.
- The good ones are listed in Spanish, on Spanish sites, by sellers who rarely answer an email from abroad and have never shipped a truck to America.
- Listing photos hide rot and filler. Someone has to get under the truck and check the papers before you send money.
How it works
- Tell us the model, years, budget and your nearest US port. It takes two minutes.
- Within 72 hours you get 3 real trucks for sale. For each one: the listing, what we learned from the seller, and an itemized estimate of the cost to your port. Free, no obligation.
- Pick one and we go and see it in person. If it checks out, you pay the seller directly or through escrow, and we handle the export papers and book the shipping.
We are not a dealer. We never own the car and never hold your money for it.
Example: a real Defender listed in Spain, costed to Baltimore
| Asking price in Spain (€22,000) | $24,649 |
| Transport to the port of Valencia | $504 |
| Export paperwork in Spain | $280 |
| Marine insurance | $370 |
| Ocean freight to Baltimore (RoRo) | $2,190 |
| US port, customs broker and bond | $1,500 |
| US import duty (10%, passenger vehicle) | $2,465 |
| US customs processing and harbor fees | $116 |
| Our flat fee | $3,000 |
| Estimated total in Baltimore | $35,074 |
For comparison, a 1999 110 Td5 listed in Badajoz at €19,000 comes to about $31,400 worked out the same way. US dealers list similar 110 wagons at $42,000 to $57,000, and auction results swing more.
This is an estimate, not a quote. Freight and port charges are published starting rates, and we get a real quote for your truck. Not included: state title, registration, sales tax, trucking from the port to you (often $900 to $1,200) and any repairs.
One flat fee, only if you go ahead
- 3 real trucks with port estimates in 72 hours (free, before you decide anything)
- In-person inspection of the truck you pick, with photos and video of chassis, floors, bulkhead, engine, papers and VIN plate
- Help with the purchase paperwork and paying the seller directly or through escrow
- Export papers and shipping booked to your US port
Prices are estimates and exclude taxes. Nothing is paid on this site. Before any paid work we agree the terms in writing.
FAQ
Can I legally import a Defender from Spain into the US?
Yes, if it was built at least 25 years ago, counted to the month of manufacture shown on the VIN plate. The first registration date doesn't count, and a truck first registered in mid-2001 may have been built months earlier. As of October 2026 the cutoff is October 2001, and it moves forward one month every month. Trucks this old are exempt from US safety standards (DOT form HS-7). EPA exempts vehicles 21 years or older in original configuration, so an engine swap can cause trouble. We read the build date off the plate and match it to the Spanish papers before we recommend a truck.
How much is the import duty?
As of October 2026, 10% of the purchase price for passenger vehicles imported from the EU (tariff heading 8703), which covers Defender Station Wagons. Pickups and some hard tops are classed as trucks (heading 8704) and pay 25%. US Customs decides from the VIN and body type, so when it's unclear we show you both numbers. On top of duty come small customs processing and harbor fees, usually around $100 to $150. Rates change, which is why each estimate is dated.
I live in California. Can I register one?
Possibly not. California has its own emissions rules, and imported diesels like the Td5 and 300Tdi can be very hard to register there. We'd rather tell you that before you spend anything, so if you're in California, mention it in the form and we'll talk it through first. Other states have their own inspection rules too, so it's worth a call to your DMV.
Is it cheaper than buying in the US?
Compared with what US dealers ask for similar 110 wagons, usually yes, by several thousand dollars. Compared with a lucky auction result, it can come out about even. What you get is a truck from a dry region, checked in person, with every cost to your port written down before you commit.
Which models do you look for?
Land Rover Defender 90 and 110 Station Wagon, with the 200Tdi, 300Tdi or Td5, built in October 2001 or earlier. A Mercedes-Benz G-Class 300GD is possible on request. Pickups and hard tops are possible too, but they pay 25% duty.
How long does it take?
The shortlist takes 72 hours. The inspection is usually within one to two weeks of your pick. Shipping from Spain to the US East Coast is usually two to four weeks at sea, plus time in port and customs. Plan on roughly six to ten weeks from your decision to pickup. We can't promise a customs release date.
How do I pay for the truck?
You pay the seller directly, or through an escrow service such as Escrow.com that releases the money once the agreed conditions are met. We never hold money for the truck. Our $3,000 fee is invoiced separately and only after you decide to go ahead with a specific truck.
Who inspects the truck?
We inspect it in person before you commit. You get photos and video of the chassis, outriggers, floors, bulkhead, engine, papers and VIN plate, and we tell you the bad news too. An inspection is a careful look, not a warranty: it can miss hidden problems.
Can you guarantee a specific truck?
No. Until the truck is inspected and bought, the seller can sell it to someone else. If that happens, we find you another one.
Are you a dealer?
No. We don't buy or resell vehicles and we never take the title. You buy from the seller and you are the importer of record. Our job is to find, inspect and coordinate.
Who is behind this?
Iakuban Coaching Academy S.L., a company registered in Spain (CIF B22895676). Vehicle sourcing is a separate project of the company, run by Aleksei Iakuban near Barcelona.
Tell us what you're looking for
We reply within one business day and send 3 trucks within 72 hours. It's free, and you don't owe anything until you choose a truck and we agree terms in writing.