These instructions apply to the Land Rover Range Rover Velar Mk1 (L560) 2017-Present.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
Disconnecting the 12 V battery on your Range Rover Velar (2017–present) catches a lot of owners out, because it isn’t under the bonnet where you might expect — it lives in the boot, under the luggage-compartment floor. Once you know where to look, the job is straightforward whether you are fitting a new battery, laying the car up for storage, or working near the airbags and seat-belt pretensioners. Like other modern Land Rover models the Velar has a battery monitoring system (BMS) that tracks the battery’s condition for the charging system and stop/start, so a few things behave differently afterwards. Work in the right order and the car relearns everything cleanly.
Where the 12 V Battery Is
The 12 V battery on the Velar is in the luggage compartment, under the boot floor trim — not under the bonnet. The terminals you can see in the engine bay are jump-start posts only; the battery itself is in the back. Lift the boot floor and remove the trim to reach it, and you will find the negative (−) terminal (usually a black lead) and the positive (+) terminal (usually red, often under a cap). The battery monitoring sensor (BMS) connector clips onto the negative clamp — note how it fits so you can put it back the same way.
First, a Few Checks
- Switch the ignition fully off, take the smart key well away from the car, and close the doors so the electrics settle.
- Turn off the lights, climate and accessories, and make sure no interior or boot lamp is left on — you’ll be working in the load area with the boot open.
- Note anything held in memory — radio presets, saved seat and mirror positions, and the clock — so you can restore it.
- Wait a couple of minutes after switching off for the modules to power down before touching a terminal.
- Have the right spanner ready (typically a 10 mm), plus gloves and eye protection, and remove any metal watch or bracelet.
Disconnecting
- Confirm the ignition is off and the key is away from the car.
- Lift the boot floor trim to expose the battery.
- Slacken the clamp on the negative (−) terminal first and lift it off the post, easing the BMS connector clear with it.
- Tuck the negative lead aside so it can’t spring back, then remove the positive (+) lead only if you are taking the battery out.
Working near airbags or pretensioners? Leave a minute or two after the negative is off before starting, so those circuits fully discharge.
Reconnecting
- Fit the positive (+) terminal first and tighten its clamp.
- Refit the negative (−) lead last, making sure the BMS connector clicks back onto the sensor exactly as it came off, then tighten.
- Check both clamps are firm, refit the boot floor trim, and switch the ignition on.
What You’ll Need to Reset Afterwards
With the battery disconnected the Velar loses its short-term memory, so a few things need attention once power returns:
- Clock and radio presets — re-enter the time and your saved stations.
- Power windows — one-touch and anti-pinch drop out; re-initialise each window so auto up/down works again.
- Panoramic roof — where fitted, re-initialise it if the auto function feels off.
- Seat and mirror memory — re-save your positions if they were stored.
- Stop/start and the BMS — a new battery ideally needs registering with Land Rover diagnostic equipment so it is charged to the correct profile; a like-for-like swap usually settles over a few drives, which is why stop/start can stay inactive for a while.
- Some warning lights may show briefly and clear themselves after a short drive.
If a Warning Light Stays On or the Car Feels Off
- Recheck that both clamps and the BMS connector are fully seated and tight in the boot.
- Take the car for a short drive with a few gentle turns so the windows, steering and stability systems relearn.
- Re-run the window re-initialisation if a window won’t auto-close or bounces back.
- If stop/start stays off for a long time, suspect a genuinely old or low battery rather than the BMS still learning.
- Anything that won’t clear stores a fault code — decode it on autodtcs.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the battery on a Range Rover Velar?
In the boot, under the luggage-compartment floor trim — not under the bonnet. The under-bonnet terminals are only for jump-starting; the battery itself is in the load area.
Which terminal do I disconnect first?
The negative (−) first when disconnecting, and reconnect it last. On reassembly the positive (+) goes on first, then the negative with its BMS connector.
Does a new battery need coding on the Velar?
Ideally yes — the BMS should be registered with Land Rover equipment so it charges the new battery correctly. A like-for-like swap usually runs fine and settles after a few drives, though stop/start may stay off in the meantime.
What do I have to reset afterwards?
The power windows re-initialise, and you re-enter the clock, radio presets and any saved seat or mirror positions. The BMS relearns the battery state as you drive.
Will disconnecting the battery clear fault codes or the service light?
It may clear some temporary codes, but it does not reset the service interval, and any live fault will simply log again. Fix the underlying cause rather than relying on a battery pull.
Can I jump-start it instead of disconnecting?
If you only need to get going after a flat battery, yes — use the under-bonnet jump posts, with no need to open up the boot. Disconnecting is only for renewal, storage or working near the airbags.
If a warning light stays on after reconnecting the battery, look up the stored code on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with Land Rover. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.