HOW CAR MODIFICATIONS AFFECT TEMPORARY CAR INSURANCE PREMIUMS

How Car Modifications Affect Temporary Car Insurance Premiums

How Car Modifications Affect Temporary Car Insurance Premiums

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Car modifications have become increasingly popular in the UK. Auto enthusiasts customize their vehicles whether it is for aesthetic improvements or performance enhancements. As appealing as it may sound, modified cars undoubtedly affect the insurance premiums regardless of the type of car insurance.


 From illegal modifications to higher insurance premiums, Quick Insure Cover will help you discover all the key factors affecting your car insurance premiums in no time.

What is Car Modification?


Car modification is basically the change or changes made to your motor distinguishing it from the original configuration.

Many UK residents, particularly young drivers modify their vehicles to make them more appealing. However, there’s a rising concern as to what degree these modifications affect their temp car insurance policy and cost.

This article will help you determine car modifications that don’t affect insurance and how you can personalize your motor without impacting premiums.

Types of Car Modifications


There are two main types of car modifications i.e. performance-related modifications and appearance or aesthetic modifications. As the name suggests, aesthetic modifications are done to enhance the visual appeal of the car while the other enhances overall performance. Others may include entertainment-based modifications.

Appearance-based Modifications


Appearance modifications have a direct impact on car insurance premiums. Visually modified cars tend to increase the insurance cost as they are categorized into high-risk motors more prone to theft and vandalism. Here are some appearance-based modifications:





          • Body kits






 

 





          • Window tinting






 

 





          • Rims






 

 





          • Paint jobs or decals






 

 

Whether you are someone looking for daily car insurance or monthly car insurance quotes, aesthetic modifications will compel insurers to calculate higher premiums certainly.



Performance-based Modifications


These modifications are usually done by drivers with high-performance vehicles like sports cars or heavy bikes. Most auto enthusiasts enhance engines by auto modification shop before hitting race tracks. Here are some performance enhancements that increase insurance rates.





          • Turbochargers & Superchargers






 

 





          • Tuning






 

 





          • Exhaust system






 

 





          • Brakes






 

 





          • Cold air intake






 

 





          • Suspension






 

 





          • Aerodynamic mods






 

 

Moreover, lightweight components like wheel alloys and performance tires significantly increase the short-term car insurance rates. If you are a biking enthusiast and keep enhancing engines or overall aesthetics, then your modified motorbike insurance premiums will increase as well.



Entertainment-based Modifications


These modifications include high-end audio systems like amplifiers, subwoofers or custom speakers. These mighty car mods make your motor vulnerable to theft incidents. Here are a few other entertainment modifications that result in higher premiums.





          • Large custom screens






 

 





          • Headrest monitors






 

 





          • Ambient lighting






 

 





          • Gaming systems






 

 





          • Mini projectors






 

 

Modifications that alter the originality of a vehicle tend to affect the resale value regardless of the type of motor. If you want to sell modified car, then maintaining the originality of the vehicle will positively impact resale of the car.



Types of Modifications That Increases & Decreases Insurance Cost


 

We are going to enlist car modifications that increase car insurance cost and the ones that lowers your premium. If you are someone finding the right car insurance policy that is unaffected by right modifications, here’s a list for you.



 







































 

Modifications decreasing insurance cost


 		  

Modifications increasing insurance cost


 
 

Sway bars


 		  

Paintwork and stickers


 
 

Engine downsizing


 		  

Wheel Modifications


 
 

High-performance brakes


 		  

Seat & Car lights modifications


 
 

Dash Cams


 		  

Cold air intake changes


 
 

Water cooling system


 		  

Engine Modifications


 
 

Parking sensors


 		  

Lowering suspension


 
 

Tow bars


 		  

Nitrous oxide systems


 
 

Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS)


 		  

Bodywork Modifications


 

 

 

If you are looking for cheap auto insurance for young drivers then you must adhere to modifications that lowers the premium. You will not only get cheaper car insurance but resale value of your motor won’t depreciate drastically.



Illegal Car Modifications


Your car insurance policy will automatically invalidate the moment you opt for illegal vehicle modifications even if it is unintentional. To ensure that doesn’t happen, we have curated a list of illegal car modifications in the UK so you can purchase an affordable motor insurance policy without any hassle.

Mechanical Modifications


Changes like injecting nitrous oxide in the combustion chamber, removal of catalytic converters and engine tuning certainly boosts the car engine but can be harmful for pedestrians.

Exceeding Noise Level


If you are a UK resident buying auto policy insurance then you must be aware of the legal noise limit i.e. 74 decibels and 72 dB for cars manufactured after 2016. Your audio-based modifications like removing the silencer certainly impacts car insurance premiums.

Tinted Windows


 

If your motor’s tinted windows are blocking 70% of the light making road signs, vehicles and pedestrians difficult to spot at night, you are most likely to face penalty points. If you want very cheap auto insurance quotes, then you must have:








          • Front windscreen-75% of light passing through






 

 





          • Front side windows-70% of light passing through






 

Wheel & Light Modifications

Unsafe wheel modifications like oversized wheels and stretched tyres increases the chances of accidents. If you want to insure 2 cars and one of them is modified with exterior and interior LED lights, flashing undercar lights, try going for the less flashy one as visually enhanced motor increases the likelihood of theft and accidents.

Conclusion


Installing security features like immobilizer, car alarms, dash cam and tracking devices reduces the chances of theft. The average auto insurance cost relies on the type of car modifications. If you own a modified vintage but upgrade security modifications, this can positively impact modified classic car insurance policy reducing your premiums.

Buy Our Weekly Car Insurance Policy for Your Modified Cars with Quick Insure Cover Today!

 

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