“It’s Only an Exhaust Tip…”
It starts innocently enough. You fit a shiny new exhaust, a custom spoiler, or those blacked-out alloys that make your hatchback look a bit more “Fast & Furious” and a bit less “school run.” You tell yourself it’s harmless ; it’s not like you’ve bolted on a jet engine. But here’s the truth no one wants to hear at the car meet: if you haven’t told your insurer, that tiny mod could blow up your cover faster than your turbocharger spools.
Every car enthusiast knows someone who’s been there. A mate of mine once fitted tinted headlights - subtle, sleek, harmless - until a claim assessor noticed and suddenly his “minor cosmetic upgrade” became a “non-disclosure issue.” His claim? Declined. His face? Priceless.
Why Insurers Care About Your Mods
Insurance companies see modifications differently from enthusiasts. Where you see “personality,” they see “risk.” Anything that changes your car from its factory state - performance upgrades, cosmetic tweaks, even fancy LED footwell lights ; can alter how they calculate your premium. More power means more speed. New wheels? Maybe more theft risk. Lowered suspension? Higher chance of scraping your bumper on speed bumps (and they know Britain has plenty of those).
So when you fail to declare a mod, you’re effectively giving your insurer an excuse ; and they love excuses when it comes to dodging payouts.
The Price of Keeping Quiet
Let’s get one thing straight: insurers don’t like surprises. Especially the kind that come in carbon fibre. Not declaring a modification could mean:
- Your claim gets rejected after an accident.
- Your policy gets cancelled - even retroactively.
- Your name lands on the industry’s naughty list (making future cover more expensive).
Even small tweaks can have big consequences. Change your alloys or add a remap and suddenly your “fully comp” policy isn’t so full. The irony? If you had just declared it, the premium increase might’ve been £40. Instead, you’re out £4,000 after a denied claim. Painful doesn’t cover it.
Stories from the Driveway
There’s a guy in Nottingham - let’s call him Mike ; who swapped his factory stereo for a touchscreen unit. Nothing wild, just Bluetooth and Spotify. Then someone broke into his car and nicked it. The insurer refused to pay, arguing the stereo counted as a modification. “Didn’t seem worth mentioning,” he said. Well, it was - to the tune of £600 and a shattered window.
Meanwhilst , a young driver in Cardiff got caught out after fitting cheap coilovers bought off Facebook Marketplace. The car looked great… right up until he clipped a kerb. The assessor spotted the suspension mods, and the insurer washed their hands of it. Cost him more than the car was worth.
How to Stay Out of Trouble
Here’s the golden rule: if you have to ask whether it’s a modification, it probably is. That includes:
- Alloy wheels (yes, even OEM upgrades).
- Performance chips and remaps.
- Aftermarket exhausts, lights, or spoilers.
- Body kits or tinted windows.
- Non-standard paintwork or wraps.
If in doubt, tell your insurer. Some even specialise in modified cars, meaning you might not pay much extra , and you’ll actually sleep at night.
The Psychology of Modding (and Misjudging)
For most drivers, it’s not dishonesty , it’s optimism. You think, “It’s minor, they’ll never notice.” Or worse: “It’s not like it makes the car faster.” But insurers notice. They have photos, VINs, and engineers who can spot a non-standard bolt from twenty paces. And in their world, omission equals deception. Doesn’t matter if it’s a spoiler or a sticker. If it’s not what you told them, it’s technically a lie , and that’s game over for your payout.
Modern Mods, Modern Problems
Modding isn’t what it used to be. It’s not all turbos and neon lights anymore - it’s tech. Dash cams, parking sensors, infotainment screens ; half the stuff you add today could count as a “modification.” The line between convenience and liability gets thinner every year. The rule of thumb? If it didn’t come with the car when you bought it, tell them about it.
Final Word
Let’s be honest ; most of us love a car with a bit of character. A little tweak here, a small upgrade there. It’s what makes driving fun. But fun ends the second an insurer starts sniffing around a claim you thought was rock-solid. So, before you order that new set of alloys or finally commit to that matte wrap, make one more click: call your insurer. Because whilst a mod might make your car look better, hiding it could make your bank account look a lot worse.