The Ins And Outs Of Modifying Your Car

Modifying cars has been going for many years. In recent years people may have seen films and TV shows with radically different cars on screen compared to the model that rolls off the production line. A prime example is the supercharged exotic cars in the Fast and the Furious film series. The films centre on the subculture of racing drivers who modify their cars to look and perform way beyond expectations.

 The popularity of these films and the culture they've highlighted means more people are looking to alter their cars to get a unique look or an extra boost in performance. What many drivers are unaware of is that some of these modifications can be dangerous or even illegal to add to their vehicle and could invalidate their insurance.

 Performance modifications are often a key question when applying for car insurance and can add serious amounts to your premium. If you fail to declare any modifications you could invalidate your insurance agreement which would leave you seriously out of pocket should you have an accident or need to make a claim.

 Visual modifications can be cheaper than expensive after-market performance parts such as body kits or interior decoration such as floor mats and gear knobs. A large portion of these will not affect your insurance as they do not affect the safety features of the car. It is worth checking prior to any modification you have planned and keeping your insurer notified though.

 Another common modification is a new car radio or CD player; many modern car audio products have lots of features and so makes them pretty irresistible to car thieves. When choosing a car stereo make sure it has a removable face panel and take this with you whenever you are, not left in the car. This way the car thief will know that even if they stole the unit out of the car it would be useless.

 Modifying cars can be a fun and expressive medium and as long as you take care not to compromise your cars functionality and safety. This way you can achieve a unique looking car that is the envy of all your friends, but also be covered via valid insurance and protected from threat of theft at the same time.