Vehicle modifications are subject to legal regulations and insurance considerations.
In the UK, car customisation is growing more popular than ever, including the surge in demand for personalised number plates and even car stickers. While popular, vehicle modifications are also subject to legal regulations and insurance considerations that drivers need to be aware of.
Motoring experts are now warning drivers that they may be unknowingly invalidating their car insurance with common accessories. From air fresheners to baby on board signs, drivers should be aware of the items that could impact their insurance claims.
New driver car insurance experts at Zego said: “Many of these popular accessories for your car pose not only an insurance risk but also could land you with hefty fines and points on your license.
“If it is deemed that your vision is obstructed, you could be given an on-the-spot fine of £100, which could increase to £1000 if taken to court, and you could be slapped with three points on your licence. So it is always important to seek guidance for car accessories before purchasing to avoid accidents, rejected insurance claims and penalties.”
Seven ways you could be unknowingly invalidating car insurance
1. ‘Baby on board’ and other signs
Often used to encourage safer driving by other road users, ‘baby on board’ and other signs like ‘anxious driver’and ‘elderly driver’ could actually cost you your cover.
If placed incorrectly, these safety signs can become a hazard by obstructing the vision of the driver, and if resulting in an accident, they could stand in the way of a payout.
2. Air fresheners on your rear-view mirror
Although fuzzy dice may have gone out of style for now, hanging objects like air fresheners, rosary beads and even dreamcatchers are often hung in British drivers’ cars.
If large enough, these accessories can pose a risk of obstructing vision, causing drivers to miss pedestrians, cyclists and even road signs.
3. Bumper stickers and decals
A common misconception about car insurance cover is that cosmetic modifications do not matter to insurance providers, as you aren’t altering the car’s performance or safety, but even small stickers need to be declared as modifications, as they can impact how insurers assess risks.
For example, if you have a business decal on your vehicle, it may indicate commercial use, which requires a different type of cover. Also, for some, it increases the risk of theft as you could have tools or equipment stored inside.
4. Football flags
Football team pride is very strong in the UK, and with football car flags selling for as little as 50p, the temptation to represent your team can be overwhelming. However, they carry the risk of up to a whopping £2,500 penalty.
Placement matters for flags, where if they are insecure, they risk an on-the-spot fine or court appearance, or if they obstruct vision, they also carry fine risks.
They can even increase the chances of vandalism and theft, all of which are likely to warrant a driver to make an insurance claim.
5. Dashboard ornaments and decorations
Dashboard ornaments from bobbleheads to Jellycats often cause risks from insecure fixing, to vision obstructions or distractions, all of which would lead to an accident.
Other dashboard decor, such as bedazzling dashboards, could exacerbate injury if airbags deploy.
6. Seasonal decorations
From spare wheel covers, number plate decals, to battery-powered Christmas lights or mini Christmas trees, seasonal accessories often spark joy for drivers and pedestrians.
However, these decorations can cause distractions for yourself and other drivers, as well as be fire hazards.
7. Steering wheel, gear shift and handbrake covers
Although they may increase visual impact or even comfort for the driver, adorning your car with covers, which is becoming an increasingly popular trend on TikTok, such as on the steering wheel, could result in up to 11 points on your licence.
If you lose control of your vehicle due to the cover, it could be deemed as dangerous driving, and if you need to claim, it may be rejected.
