My car, my personality, my choice.
A car is, by definition, a unique and personal item, and that precisely why most buyers spend a lot of time carefully choosing a vehicle that meets their expectations – both in terms of budget and personal preferences. In a world where each vehicle has its own personality and says a lot about its driver, it’s natural for car owners to look at the best ways to create an individual style. The choice of body colour and interior design are the most elementary steps one can take to make their car more personal. But even then the options are limited. As a consequence, more and more experienced owners have explored the possibilities of personalising their vehicles. When it comes to making a car feel more like an extension of your lifestyle, the choices are infinite, from adjusting the decor to boosting the engine.
However, cars are designed to drive on roads, and therefore need to comply with the regulations in force. This leaves one important question to answer for enthusiastic DIY-crafter: how far can you go when customising your vehicle?
The interior: There’s a lot you can do
Some basic elements need to be part of your interior to ensure that your vehicle is road legal. For modern vehicles, seat belts are essential, for instance. When it comes to your seats, however, you are free to customise them as you please. You can request a quote for tailored re-upholstering, which can ensure you get the seats you want in the colours you like. Similarly, your dashboard can also be modified to match your car seats, for example. If you’ve always dreamed of adding a cinema flip screen for your passengers, you can bring new in-car entertainment too.
The exterior: You’ve got room to improve within the legislation
When it comes to improving the exterior of your vehicle, you need to get in touch with a professional to ensure that all modifications are performed by someone who not only knows what they’re doing but also can provide the legal guidance you need. Indeed, modifications such as adding heavily tinted windows, for instance, are not permitted in the UK. The Road Traffic Act is a reference when it comes to deciding on what work you want to have done or not. You need to inform the DVLA about all transformations, from the body colour to a personalised number plate. Your insurance provider should also be notified – you can ask a quote ahead to find out how modifications affect your insurance cover.
The engine: Don’t modify it
Your car engine, however, can’t be actively modified to improve the vehicle performance. While you might be able to buy tools to increase horsepower from international retailer sites, professionals advise against it. Your best bet, when it comes to driving a power car is to buy a high-performance car from the start. Most engine modifications are not road legal in the UK even though they are common practice in the automotive sports.
When all cars are standardised vehicles, it can be tempting to turn an ordinary car into your very own vehicle. However, you need to be careful when you go down the road of modifications. Not all customised solutions are road legal, for a start, and most affect the cost of your car insurance cover. Personalise wisely!
