As reported on both mirror.co.uk and express.co.uk, failing to disclose basic car modifications could void an insurance policy in the event of an incident. This can include paint protection products, new alloy wheels and even stickers or decals.
According to Auto Express, stickers that declare allegiance to a football team or political party could potentially make your vehicle a target for vandalism.
The most important thing to remember is to declare any car mods you make to your insurer. They can then charge any extra policy fees and confirm you are fully covered.
What counts as a modification for car insurance?
Not all modifications affect the price of car insurance. Ones that increase your security can potentially lower your price while external modifications like a properly fitted roof rack also shouldn’t make too much difference.
Having said that, it’s still a good idea to let your insurance company know to ensure you’re properly covered.
The following add-ons – which are all designed to enhance the security of your car – can also help bring the price of your policy down:
- Speed limiters (these are now fitted in cars manufactured in the EU, but need to be activated)
- Alarms
- Trackers
- Immobilisers
Performance modifications (e.g. alloy wheels and suspension changes) and adding in-car entertainment systems can increase the cost as insurance companies are likely to consider these as changes that put you at higher risk.
Confused.com states that car modifications can increase your insurance premium because they can:
- Increase the value of your car, making it more desirable to thieves
- Make your car more powerful, meaning there’s more chance of an accident
If you want to make a modification (no matter how small) during your policy, you should contact the insurance company for confirmation of how much this will affect the price. You should do this before doing anything to your car, just in case it hugely increases your premium or means your insurer can no longer cover you.
Modifying vehicle emissions
The law
“Under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Regulations 61(7) and 61A(3)) and the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Section 42) it is an offence to use on a road a vehicle which has been modified in such a way that it no longer complies with the air pollutant emissions standards it was designed to meet.
The potential penalties are £1,000 for a car and £2,500 for a van, lorry or bus.
Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 (Section 75) it is an offence to alter a vehicle in such a way that the use of the vehicle on a road would be unlawful. A person altering the vehicle (if they knew or believed that the vehicle would be used on the road) could be found guilty of an offence under the Act.
Potential penalties are unlimited fines.”
As stated on gov.uk, all vehicles on public roads need to comply with the emissions standards they were originally designed to meet. Any modifications alter the risk of being insured – and it’s the driver who is responsible for ensuring compliance.
Removing a catalytic converter or re-mapping the engine is likely to result in non-compliant emissions and make a vehicle illegal to use on the road.
When should I tell my insurer about car modifications?
Whether you have annual or temporary car insurance, you need to at least let your insurer know if you’re planning any modifications, preferably ahead of making them. Make sure you’re prepared for the extra costs if you do decide to go ahead with them.
Sources and links
https://www.which.co.uk/money/insurance/car-insurance/modified-car-insurance-aXxO93e1FRWo
https://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/motoring/simple-car-modification-could-see-33176157
https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/107964/car-modification-impact-on-insurance-cover-revealed
https://www.tempcover.com/front-cover/car-industry-news/mandatory-speed-limiters-from-7-july-2024
