Rear bench seats

Ok, I'm a novice and I can't find a clear answer. I've got a 90 pickup with a new hard top on. The front has three seat. I want to put a cubby box in the front but still need to Chuck the misses in the back every now and then so need another seat. I'm thinking a fold down bench seat.
Is this acceptable, legal ? Do I need seat belt will it / do I have to notify insurers or change my v5(?) Or should I avoid like the plague.

Thanks guys.

Alex

May have info, links useful.

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/children-and-seatbelts-in-the-back.316282/

Cheers

neilly said:

May have info, links useful.

https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/children-and-seatbelts-in-the-back.316282/

Cheers

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Thanks, that would be a steer Lear. Thanks for info. Cheers.

Although side facing seats were used for years, it is generally accepted that they are not the safest option.
I don't think a centre seat with just a lap strap is any safer either.
I have the same "two seat" issue that you describe, I have found that by far the best option is to leave the wife at home.

I would recomoned fitting the individual side facing fold down seat rather than the cheap benches. Especially if you are planning on carrying an adult. The diferance in comfort us huge. You also have the advantage that if you only need one you only fit one so have more space in the rear and do not need to infrom the dvla of number of seat changes as you have removed one from the front it is still only a three seater.

As people have stated side facing seats may not be the safest but nothing about a defender is particularly safe by modern standards. Side facing seats do not require seat belts to be fitted but if they are fitted they are required to be work and are testable on the MOT. There are only really issues and restriction with side facing seats if you plan on carrying children. if it is adults only in the back then it is very straight forward.

dag019 said:

Side facing seats do not require seat belts to be fitted but if they are fitted they are required to be work and are testable on the MOT.

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Various MOT testers never even looked at the rear lap belts on my 90. They're not a testable item, same as the reverse light.

Just thought- it also depends on the age of the vehicle. Pre-2007, side-facing seats (individual seats or benches) were a factory option, whereas after that they weren't available and station wagons just got the inferior pair of forward-facing seats instead. If yours is a later vehicle there may be insurance/legal problems with retrofitting benches.