110 Defender HT additional rear seating?

[Anthony]

Hi,

I am considering buying a Defender 110 in the future. I am not sure whether to look at a Hard Top or the Station Wagon version at this stage. This is for 2 adults and one child mostly. It would be for every day use but also I would like to be able to do some off road camping within the vehicle and some long excursions.

What I would like to know is what is the legal situation these days when fitting additional seating into a Hard Top rear cargo area or ,and the middle front seat and when fitting side windows? It is many years since I owned a Defender and I am not sure if things might have changed. Does one need to inform the DVLA? I realise that the insurance company need to know about most changes to a vehicle. Are their Road Tax implications for instance? Or any mechanical concerns that I may not have thought about, like the consideration of forces that the seat mountings and safety belts might impose. Presumably additional strengthening might have to be added.

The Hard Top is attractive because they appear to be cheaper age for age by several £thousand which might allow a more recent lower mileage vehicle.

Thank you for any information and thoughts.

[scoobystu]

DISCO

[Anthony]

Absolutely no way It has to be a 110 HT or SW.

I just need some information regrading the legality of adding additional rear seating and carrying additional passengers in the HT. What the legal and Tax implications might be.