CarVerify

Free Car Check

L981 COJ

1993 Land Rover Defender

Red Diesel 2495cc
Search another vehicle

MOT Status

Valid
Expires19 Feb 2027
Tests22 (20 pass, 2 fail)
Pass rate90.9%

Mileage

105,865 mi
Last recorded105,865 miles
Recorded on24 Jan 2026
Typical for 1993 Land Rover Defender118,574 mi

Below or average mileage for this year

4 checks still locked for this Land Rover
Stolen
Finance
Write-off
Keepers
Unlock full report — £4.99
Instant £30k guarantee
or single check £14.99

Not all car check providers offer a guarantee. Don't risk buying from services that can't back their data. CarVerify reports include a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

Vehicle Details

RegistrationL981 COJ
MakeLand Rover
ModelDefender
Year1993
ColourRed
Fuel typeDiesel
Engine2,495cc

All premium checks include

50+ data points
Finance Check (Experian) Insurance Write-off Salvage Auction Stolen Check Previous Owners Ex-Taxi, Police, NHS Mileage Anomaly Import / Export Scrapped Check Plate Changes

MOT History

20 pass 2 fail
Pass 24 Jan 2026 105,865 miles
Pass 15 Feb 2025 105,455 miles
Pass 13 Feb 2024 104,972 miles
Pass 11 Feb 2023 103,570 miles
Pass 12 Feb 2022 102,439 miles
Pass 5 Feb 2021 98,740 miles
Pass 20 Feb 2020 98,037 miles
Pass 31 Jan 2019 95,166 miles
Pass 3 Feb 2018 90,461 miles
Pass 1 Feb 2017 87,138 miles
Pass 29 Jan 2016 85,845 miles
Pass 6 Feb 2015 82,032 miles

Windscreen has damage to an area less than a 40mm circle outside zone 'A' (8.3.1d)

chassis has slight corrosion

slight leak steering box

Fail 3 Feb 2015 82,032 miles

Front Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases (7.1.2)

Nearside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Offside Front Steering component mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.2.C.1h)

Offside Front Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (8.2.2)

Nearside Front Track rod end ball joint has slight play (2.2.B.1f)

exhaust deteriorated

nearside front bumper mounting point has corrosion

slight leak steering box

Pass 5 Feb 2014 80,905 miles
Pass 8 Feb 2013 79,819 miles

Front registration plate deteriorated but not likely to be misread (6.3.1d)

offside rear bump stop missing

tyres rubbing slightly on full lock due to tyre size

Pass 26 Jan 2012 78,776 miles
Pass 7 Feb 2011 77,493 miles
Pass 22 Mar 2010 75,268 miles
Pass 12 Feb 2009 73,466 miles

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

front tyres perished

rear chassis & x member rott outside prescribed area

steering damper missing

Fail 5 Feb 2009 73,462 miles

Nearside Front Brake pipe excessively corroded (3.6.B.2c)

Nearside Front Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Nearside Headlamp not working on dipped beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Headlamp not working on main beam (1.7.5a)

Nearside Rear Coil spring mounting corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.C.3c)

Offside Front Suspension spring mounting prescribed area is excessively corroded (2.4.A.3)

Offside Rear Coil spring mounting corroded and seriously weakened (2.4.C.3c)

Offside Side repeater not working (1.4.A.2c)

Rear registration plate delaminated (6.3.1d)

Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin (3.5.1g)

Service brake: service brake efficiency only just met. It would appear that the braking system requires adjustment or repair. (3.7.B.7)

front tyres perished

rear chassis & x member rott outside prescribed area

Pass 6 Feb 2008 72,933 miles

assorted corrosion to chassis (no holes found)

Pass 24 Jan 2007 72,089 miles

How Reliable is the Land Rover Defender?

Based on 2,960,045 MOT tests across 181,953 vehicles.

72.3%
Pass Rate
3,550
Miles/Year
43
Year Lifespan
181,953
On UK Roads

Top MOT Failure Points

Shock absorber has an excessively worn bush 77,499
Brake pipe excessively corroded 77,229
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 57,749
position lamp(s) not working 53,914
Stop lamp not working 52,341
Full Land Rover Defender reliability report

Don't risk it. Know before you buy.

Not all vehicle check providers are the same. Some don't offer a data guarantee, which means if their information is wrong, you're on your own. Every CarVerify report is backed by a £30,000 finance data guarantee.

£30k guarantee Instant results Cancel anytime

L981 COJ is a 1993 Land Rover Defender in Red with a 2,495cc diesel engine. This vehicle has been through 22 MOT tests with a personal pass rate of 90.9%.

Across all 1993 Land Rover Defender models, the average MOT pass rate is 67.8% with a typical mileage of 118,574 miles. This particular vehicle has performed better than the average for its year.

The most common reason a Land Rover Defender fails its MOT is shock absorber has an excessively worn bush, accounting for 77,499 recorded failures. If you're considering buying L981 COJ, it's worth having these areas checked by a mechanic before committing.

The Land Rover Defender typically stays on UK roads for around 43 years. At 33 years old, this Land Rover Defender is well into its expected lifespan but still has years ahead.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check the history of L981 COJ?

You can check the full history of L981 COJ by running a full vehicle check. This shows you finance, stolen, write-off, MOT history, mileage records and more.

What year was L981 COJ registered?

L981 COJ is a 1993 Land Rover Defender, first registered on 19 August 1993.

Is L981 COJ safe to buy?

The MOT history for L981 COJ shows 22 tests with a 90.9% pass rate. To check for outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies, run a full vehicle check.

Does L981 COJ have outstanding finance?

Finance checks require a premium vehicle report. This checks against all major UK finance providers to see if there is any outstanding finance on L981 COJ. If you buy a car with outstanding finance, the finance company can repossess it.

No warranty or guarantee of accuracy is provided for any free data on this page. The data guarantee applies only to information obtained through the purchase of a full check.