Performance-focused upgrades can make cars more valuable, expensive to repair and potentially riskier to drive, with insurers seeing these modifications as an increased risk
UK car owners have been cautioned about making modifications to their motors that could lead to hefty hikes in their car insurance premiums.
According to new research by used car retailer cinch, modifying a car’s suspension incurs an average 15.93 per cent increase in the cost of insuring it. Altering a vehicle’s suspension affects its handling and performance.
While this may appeal to enthusiasts seeking improved control or a sportier look, insurers see such modifications as indicators of potential risk. As a result, drivers who make suspension changes should be prepared for a substantial spike in the price of their insurance. It comes after news anyone buying fuel next week given ‘£15 charge’ warning by The AA.
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As well as tweaking the suspension, a number of other modifications carry equally steep insurance costs. The study found that complete body kits, exhaust system changes and chipped or remapped engines also push premiums up by an average of 15.93 per cent — matching suspension alterations in being the most expensive mods to insure.
These performance-focused upgrades often make the car more valuable, expensive to repair, and potentially riskier to drive. Insurers see these modifications as increasing the likelihood of accidents, theft or damage, leading to higher premiums.
Other modifications that cause notable insurance increases include rear spoilers and tinted windows, both leading to an average 12.1 per cent insurance increase.
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Interestingly, even safety-related upgrades such as uprated brakes increase premiums by around 4.52 per cent, placing them in the same bracket as cosmetic changes like non-standard resprays and side skirts.
Conversely, some common modifications have minimal impact on insurance costs. Upgrades such as alloy wheels, wheel trims and driving lights each result in a modest average increase of only 0.79 per cent, as insurers perceive them as low-risk.
According cinch’s research, here’s how much each motor modification increases the average car insurance premium:
- Suspension changes: 15.93%
- Complete body kit: 15.93%
- Exhaust system changes: 15.93%
- Chipped or remapped engines: 15.93%
- Rear spoiler / aerofoil: 12.1%
- Tinted windows: 12.1%
- Non-standard respray: 4.52%
- Air filter: 4.52%
- Uprated brakes: 4.52%
- Side skirts: 4.52%
- Non-standard paintwork: 4.52%
- Alloy wheels: 0.79%
- Wheel trims: 0.79%
- Driving lights: 0.79%
Getting updated insurance quotes before making modifications can help avoid unexpected financial burdens, as even small changes like tinted windows can add over 12 per cent to annual premiums.
So motorists planning to modify their cars should always inform their insurance provider beforehand. Failure to do so could invalidate policies, leaving drivers uninsured in the event of an accident.
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