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Primp your Ride: A Guide to Car Mods

Tuesday 17th October 2023

Whether you’re modding your car for pumped-up performance or simple style, you’ve got a whole range of options to look into. They won’t all drive your savings down, either. Just be sure you’ve thought through the mods you’re adding. It’s true, you can certainly boost your vehicle’s value with a few choice modifications. Depending on what you do to your car, though, you could end up jacking up your insurance premiums or even flat-out breaking the law. Here’s a quick guide to some of the more popular car mods to help you sort the power-ups from the pitfalls.

Cosmetic Car Mods
Looking to add some visual flair to your vehicle? Here are a few good options:
- Tinted windows (£150+)
  
  These mods are always popular. They look cool and can help filter out harmful UV rays from the sun. Depending on the kind of tint you use, they can even help make the glass more resistant to shattering. Just keep in mind that there are laws covering how tinted your windscreen and windows can be (see later).
- LED strip lighting (£10+)
  
  Fancy adding a sci-fi vibe to your vehicle? LED lighting’s a really simple and effective way to add some instant visual appeal to the interior of your car. Modern LEDs are super-bright and cheap to run. Watch out, though – there’s a big difference between a few decorative LEDs and those big external neon tubes. You can sometimes get away with adding a neon under-glow to a vehicle in the UK, but there are restrictions on everything from placement to colour.
- Stem valve caps (£10+)
  
  A simple, no-fuss cosmetic mod that you can pick up for a few quid and fit yourself. No, it’s not the flashiest alteration on the list, but there’s an extra upside to stem valve caps. They actually make the tyres more resistant to deflating. They look cool and your car gets safer on the road, so why not?

Performance Car Mods
With a few basic cosmetic options installed, now let’s look at mods that can make a real difference to your car:
- Bushings (£100+)
  
  Depending on where they’re installed, bushings can absorb shocks and vibrations, cut down noise and help the overall control of your car. If your bushings are worn, replacing them with durable polyurethane ones could be a smart investment.
- Wind deflectors (£20+)
  
  Sitting half-way between a cosmetic mod and a performance one, wind deflectors are a nice way of adding some low-key flash to your car while reducing your vehicle’s drag. Since they redirect the flow of air around your car, they can even help protect you from getting blasted in the face by wind or rain when you drive with your window open.
- Cold air intake (£20+)
  
  Your engine likes a breath of fresh air as much as you do, so why not fit a cold air intake to help boost your fuel economy? These mods can sharpen up your acceleration, and could boost your overall power by pumping oxygen into your combustion chamber.

When to steer clear
We’ve touched on the legal situation of car mods already, but it’s worth spelling out. Some modifications are just plain banned, while others are on dodgy ground if they’re not fitted just right. Here are a few key examples to watch out for:
- Neon lights
  
  We said it before, but neon lighting tubes aren’t always allowed on UK roads. If your tubes are safely out of sight under your vehicle and aren’t too bright or distracting, you might be okay. Just make sure you’re not using an illegal colour (red, blue and green are generally restricted to emergency vehicles).
- Window tints
  
  Another one we’re already talked about. Window tints are actually okay unless they restrict your view of the road. In legal terms, that generally means your windscreen needs to be no more than 25% tinted, while your side-windows need to be 30% tinted or less.
- Noisy exhausts
  
  There’s a limit of 74 decibels on how loud your exhaust can roar. If you try to boost that, the odds are you’re breaking the law. Keep in mind that other kinds of exhaust mods can also be illegal – particularly if they mess with your emissions control system.
- Nitrous Oxide
  
  Chances are, you’re not a Road Warrior and you’re not reading this article in the post-apocalyptic future. Using Nitrous Oxide to boost your cylinder pressure can damage your vehicle, blow up your engine and land you in trouble with the law or worse. Seriously, don’t even think about this.

Insurance and VED
There’s another cost to consider when you’re looking into car mods. Making the right changes to your vehicle can make it more efficient and cheaper to run. It could even qualify you for cheaper insurance. However, a mod can also make your insurance provider a little nervous about the kind of driver you are—and you’ll feel the impact of those nerves in your wallet.
- The good...
  
  Generally, insurers like mods that make cars safer or more efficient. Anti-theft mods, anti-roll bars and better brakes can all be good options for keeping your premiums under control.
- ...and the bad
  
  Performance-boosting mods like supercharged engines will tend to hike your insurance payments up, along with things like lowered suspension, spoilers and even custom paint jobs. Insurers like safe drivers with cars that aren’t begging to be stolen. Anything that makes you look like a risky option is likely to pump up your premiums.
Always talk any mods through with your insurance provider before you buy them. The same goes for the DVLA. Since modding your car can alter the VED you have to pay.

Keep checking back here for more money tips and updates. We’re experts at saving you cash and we’re always here to help. That’s the reason why you’re better off with RIFT.

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Primp your Ride: A Guide to Car Mods

Cosmetic Car Mods

Performance Car Mods

When to steer clear

Insurance and VED

Want more?Want to save some money?

Know someone who can make a tax refund claim?REFER THEM TO US

Want to know more...

More like thisKeep reading

Should you ask an expert OR DIY?

Where to find tax advice online?

How to choose a tax adviser

Want to know if you have a tax refund claim? Answer a few simple questions to find out if you're owed money from HMRC

Primp your Ride: A Guide to Car Mods​

Cosmetic Car Mods

Performance Car Mods

When to steer clear

Insurance and VED

Want more?Want to save some money?

Know someone who can make a tax refund claim?REFER THEM TO US

Want to know more...

More like thisKeep reading

Should you ask an expert OR DIY?

Where to find tax advice online?

How to choose a tax adviser

Want to know if you have a tax refund claim? Answer a few simple questions to find out if you're owed money from HMRC

Primp your Ride: A Guide to Car Mods