Land Rover Defender Cost to Own
By CarWhere Research · Updated
A 2026 Land Rover Defender costs about $76,342 over 5 years and 75,000 miles in depreciation, fuel and insurance. Depreciation is the biggest share at $48,440 (54.8% of the median new price); fuel $21,492 and national-average insurance $6,410 make up the rest. Scheduled maintenance, repairs and registration fees come on top.
5-year total
$76,342
depreciation + fuel + insurance
Depreciation
$48,440
54.8% of new price
Fuel
$21,492
$4,298/yr
Insurance
$6,410
national average
5-year cost-to-own breakdown
Assumptions: 5 years, 15,000 miles a year (75,000 total), bought new. Every line shows its formula and source.
| Line | 5 years | Per year | How it’s calculated | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | $48,440 | $9,688 | $88,394 median new price (2026) × 54.8% below new for 5-year-old (2021) listings | CarWhere depreciation study |
| Fuel | $21,492 | $4,298 | 75,000 mi ÷ 18 MPG × $5.158/gal premium (median of 12 EPA versions) | EPA × EIA November 2, 2026 |
| Insurance | $6,410 | $1,282 | U.S. average expenditure per insured car (2023) × 5 years. Not specific to the Defender. | NAIC, by state |
| Scheduled maintenance | Not priced | — | Intervals and items from the Land Rover schedule below. No manufacturer-published service prices. | Land Rover schedule |
| Registration and fees | Varies by state | — | State registration, title and taxes. | State title guides |
| Total | $76,342 | $15,268 | Depreciation + fuel + national-average insurance. Maintenance, repairs and fees not included. | |
Depreciation
New Defenders list for a median $88,394 (5,260 listings). In CarWhere’s used-market study, 2021 models (5 years old) list 54.8% below that, so a Defender loses about $48,440 in its first five years.
| Model year | Age | Median listing | Below new | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 5 | $39,995 | 54.8% | 191 |
Fuel
The EPA rates the 2026 Defender at 18 MPG combined; 16–20 MPG across 12 EPA-listed versions. At $5.158/gal premium (EIA, week of November 2, 2026), 75,000 miles cost about $21,492, or $4,298 a year.
EPA versions included: Defender 110, Defender 110 MHEV, Defender 110 Trophy MHEV, Defender 130, Defender 130 Outbound, Defender 130 P300 MHEV, Defender 130 P400 MHEV, Defender 90, Defender 90 MHEV.
Insurance
Insurance varies by driver, location and coverage. Across all insured cars, U.S. drivers spent an average of $1,282 a year in 2023 (NAIC); see car insurance cost by state for your state’s average.
Is the Defender expensive to maintain?
Land Rover's published oil-change interval: condition-based ('Flexible Service'): the vehicle calculates when service is due from driving style, conditions and distance, shown via the service interval indicator. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Land Rover doesn't publish service prices.
Oil changes
Normal: Condition-based ('Flexible Service'): the vehicle calculates when service is due from driving style, conditions and distance, shown via the service interval indicator. Land Rover USA says that in general this falls at 24 months or 21,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Oil: Land Rover-recommended oil and Genuine Parts (no grade/spec stated on the pages opened)
Source: Land Rover USA — Frequently Asked Questions ('How often do I need to get my Land Rover serviced?')
| Interval | Items | Source |
|---|---|---|
| At each service as called for by the service interval indicator (generally 24 months/21,000 miles) |
| Land Rover USA — Prepaid Maintenance Plan Coverage |
| At the specified maintenance interval (interval not published on the pages opened) |
| Land Rover USA — Prepaid Maintenance Plan Coverage |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to own a Land Rover Defender?
A 2026 Land Rover Defender costs about $76,342 over 5 years and 75,000 miles in depreciation, fuel and insurance. Depreciation is the biggest share at $48,440 (54.8% of the median new price); fuel $21,492 and national-average insurance $6,410 make up the rest. Scheduled maintenance, repairs and registration fees come on top.
Is the Defender expensive to maintain?
Land Rover's published oil-change interval: condition-based ('Flexible Service'): the vehicle calculates when service is due from driving style, conditions and distance, shown via the service interval indicator. We list the schedule rather than a dollar figure because Land Rover doesn't publish service prices.
Is the Defender expensive to insure?
Insurance varies by driver, location and coverage, and CarWhere doesn't publish model-specific premiums. Across all insured cars, U.S. drivers spent an average of $1,282 a year (NAIC, 2023), or $6,410 over 5 years; our state-by-state study shows the average where you live.
How much does a Defender depreciate in 5 years?
In CarWhere's used-market study, 5-year-old Defenders (model year 2021) list for 54.8% below the median new price of $88,394, about $48,440 of lost value.
How much does a Defender cost to fuel per year?
About $4,298 a year at 15,000 miles, based on the EPA rating of 18 MPG combined; 16–20 MPG across 12 EPA-listed versions and $5.158/gal premium (EIA, week of November 2, 2026).
Sources and method
Formula: 5-year total = depreciation (median new price × % below new at age 5) + fuel (75,000 mi ÷ EPA combined MPG × EIA national price, or kWh/100 mi × EIA residential rate for EVs) + insurance (NAIC national average expenditure × 5). Lines without a citable source are left blank.
- CarWhere car depreciation by model study — CarWhere Research (data as of 2026-10-25)
- Fuel economy data (vehicles.csv) — U.S. EPA / DOE, fueleconomy.gov
- Weekly U.S. retail gasoline and diesel prices — U.S. Energy Information Administration (week of November 2, 2026)
- Auto Insurance Database Report (average expenditure) — NAIC, via CarWhere state study (2023 data)
- Land Rover USA — Frequently Asked Questions ('How often do I need to get my Land Rover serviced?') — Land Rover (opened 2026-11-06)
- Land Rover USA — Land Rover Servicing (Flexible Service) — Land Rover (opened 2026-11-06)
- Land Rover USA — Prepaid Maintenance Plan Coverage — Land Rover (opened 2026-11-06)
- Land Rover USA — Warranties & Roadside Assistance — Land Rover (opened 2026-11-06)
- Land Rover USA — Vehicle Warranty and Service — Land Rover (opened 2026-11-06)