THOUSANDS of drivers face losing their car insurance or paying much more on their premium over a £20 accessory.
Depending on what you do, modifications to your car can affect your car insurance positively or negatively.
This is because it can impact the risk profile of the vehicle, which could potentially increase the likelihood of accidents or theft.
As a result, insurance companies may adjust your premiums accordingly which, depending on the mod, could be up or down.
Modifying the side skirting on your car can increase the price of your insurance by a whopping 23 per cent.
Skirting increases the premium because it makes your motor less safe and increases the risk of damage on bumpy or uneven roads.
That’s because with your car now lower to the ground it has an increased chance of being dented and needing to be fixed.
That could see you make more claims.
So, if you modify your car with skirting its a necessity to tell the insurer.
If you don’t they could void your policy when you make a claim, or slap you with an extra fee.
If your claim is voided then you will end up paying a lot more cash on fixing the motor than you would have paid on the increase premium in the first place.
Car skirts are relatively cheap too – selling for only £20 on Amazon.
Potholes are all too common on Britain’s roads and can cause damage to your motor if the skirting if it is too low.
But there are things you can do to your car to save on insurance and offset the increase from your modified skirts.
First, if you’re looking to switch deals, doing so early could see you save hundreds.
New policies arranged two or three weeks before a renewal date can often be much cheaper than if you wait and switch on the day they end.
Martin Lewis has called this period the “21-day rule”.
Second, you don’t have to just accept your renewal quote, if you already have a car.
While it might seem easier to go with what your provider has offered you, you could save hundreds by shopping around for new deals.
Third, you could tweak your job title, as insurers see certain professions as riskier than others and more likely to result in claims.
Of course, you shouldn’t lie about your profession but a simple change could see you save money.
One money blogger revealed how it could save you hundreds a year.
Fourth and finally, you could save money by paying for your insurance annually.
Drivers can use Money Saving Expert’s Compare+ Car Insurance tool helps drivers to find a cheaper deal and potentially save hundreds or thousands of pounds.
When applying for car insurance you need to inform the insurer about your motor in as much detail as possible.
That’s so if you ever need to make a claim they can’t reject you on a technicality.
Here are five common modifications that people make to their car which you need to tell the insurer about.
1. Tinted windows
Many drivers do not realise that tinted windows can cause problems.
Tinting that restricts more than 70 per cent of light will void your insurance.
If it obstructs the driver’s view it can even result in a whopping fine of up to £1000.
2. Exhaust upgrades
While improving exhaust systems relieves more engine pressure, having bigger and louder exhausts can increase premiums.
3. Alloy wheels
Alloy wheels are seen as better than standard steel wheels, but if there is a history of alloy wheel theft in your area, this can increase your insurance premiums.
4. Bodywork
Adding upgrades including spoilers and flared wings as well as body kits can dramatically increase premiums. This is because they can be seen as unsafe in crashes as they break easily.
5. Reupholstery
This is something that may be surprising – but reupholstering or replacing the seats with ones that are different from the original can increase premiums depending on your policy.
