If you’re thinking about modifying a car, then you can alter the performance and style in all kinds of interesting ways. Regardless of your personal tastes however, you also need to be careful not to change a car in a way which comprises its handling, safety or legality.
So, to help you avoid fines and other humiliations when driving your modified car, here’s our guide to five things to avoid.
DON’T fit parts that alter handling that aren’t manufacturer approved
For many, modifying a car means sprucing up the driving experience with new, sportier components like new tyres, new brakes and new suspension. Perhaps you’ve seen a cool-looking suspension or brake kit and you picture fitting it to your everyday motor and transforming it into a road-legal racing monster of a car.
It’s not a case though of just taking a new component and sticking it your car, as there’s all kinds of performance and safety issues to consider first.
If you’re fitting new wheels and tyres, check they are approved by the vehicle’s manufacturer and provide adequate clearance between tyre and bodywork. Also check for manufacturer approval when fitting new suspension or brakes. Fail to do so and you may end up not only making the ride atrocious, but also end up compromise handling and making your car illegal in the process.
DON’T fit headlights which aren’t white or yellow
Perhaps you’ve decided you want your car to really stand out after modifications and figure one way to do that is to fit wacky headlights that are a different colour to the norm. Fitting such headlights though will attract unwanted attention from any police officers you pass.
It’s a legal requirement for cars to have headlights which show a substantially white or yellow light, and the taillights have to show a steady red light at the rear. Any headlights or taillights of a different colour are illegal on UK public roads.
DON’T remove, hide or alter the number plate
No matter how much you may think it disrupts the aesthetics of your fancy new body kit, you should never remove or modify your car’s number plates, or move it to a place on the car where it’s difficult to read.
Cars have to follow the same number plate legislation whether they’re modified or not and they must therefore be in the correct position, with standard spacing and typeface. The safest bet is to keep the plates positioned where they were originally before modifications were fitted and ensure nothing is blocking others’ ability to read them.
DON’T fit an insanely loud exhaust
Fitting a big, sporty exhaust is a common feature of modified cars, but before you go fitting a mighty noise-maker that’ll startle all as you pass by, you should be wary of the noise regulations all cars have to follow.
If you’re looking to fit a third-party exhaust, it’s worth determining if it has been approved for use and complies with road noise regulations. Bear in mind as well that it’s illegal to remove the silencer from an exhaust. It’s also against the law to make any modifications to a factory-fitted exhaust to make it louder than intended.
DON’T insert a TV the driver can see
Perhaps you’re impressed by the in-built TV screens found in the back of modern day luxury cars and decide you want similar in-car entertainment of your own. If you have the budget for such modifications, it is an exciting prospect, but they shouldn’t be capable of distracting the driver.
A TV screen shouldn’t be put in front of the driver or in sight of the rear-view mirror. Any moving images within view of the driver are illegal while driving.