Insider: Top Mistakes to Avoid When Modifying Your Vehicle

Customizing a vehicle is something that many people have been doing for years, from the good old days of men tinkering away in their garages to update new tires and exhausts to the modern modifications carried out by specialist repair shops passionate about the model and wanting to see it living its best life.

Your wheels, after all, are a hefty investment, and you want to enjoy every second spent driving around. If making aftermarket modifications is necessary to make your car purr like a kitten and give you a smoother, more enjoyable ride, then why not?

But before you go booking in for the latest and most expensive mods you can find, remember, this isn’t a Fast and Furious movie and any changes you make need to be legal and roadworthy. Plus, you want them carried out correctly so you’re not wasting money and doing more harm than good.

With this in mind, there are some mistakes you want to avoid when it comes to modifying your auto so you get the best results and don’t end up worse off than before you started.

Going With the Latest Trends

So you’ve seen a few people driving around with mods on their car, or you’ve heard people say they’re having X, Y, and Z carried out, and you want to be a part of this. But rushing into the latest trends because something looks cool on social media or you feel like you’re missing out is a big no-no.

You need to think logically about any modifications you make to your vehicle. Can you live with a new custom paint job for the rest of your car’s life or the time you own it? Or will you tire of it and then need to pay to have it changed? Sure, those oversized tires look cool, but will they actually improve your driving or just look good? Before you part with any cash, avoid upgrading simply because it’s fashionable right now.

Neglecting Safety

Making modifications for the sake of aesthetics over safety is a massive mistake. While removing certain parts, changing specs, or adding aspects to the car in any way might detract from the safety your car offers.

In the event of an accident, what will be the implications of your modifications, and will you still be safe? If there’s a likelihood that your car won’t offer you the safety it is designed to by you making changes, then is it worth risking your life? Modifications can be cool and trendy, but they should never be carried out if it will reduce how safe your vehicle is.

Not Buying The Right Parts

If you’re investing in aftermarket upgrades, the least you can do is to make sure you are buying parts that will work with the type of auto you have. Not all components are generic, and not all cars are built the same way. So, while it might be enticing to add certain features to your car, it’s worth checking that they’re actually compatible first, especially if you aren’t working with an experienced upgrade shop to fit the parts for you.

Always research the part and make sure it fits your car. For example, if you want a cold air intake for your Mustang, it’s better to work with experts who can advise you on the right part to choose and fit it for you rather than heading to eBay and buying a generic part that might not be suitable.

Buying Cheaper Parts

Listen, if you’re going to “upgrade” your motor, the last thing you should do is cut corners. Don’t just buy the part because it’s cheap; buy cheap, buy twice as they say. Chances are, it won’t give you the results you are looking for.

Regardless of whether you’re buying performance mods or aesthetic mods if you buy a cheaper part, they’re more likely to break faster or not give you the quality you expect, meaning you’re more than likely going to spend more money getting them fixed or removed for better quality alternatives.

Buying Because It’s Expensive

As with above, buying something for the price only isn’t always going to work out well for you. While you absolutely want to avoid buying parts because of how cheap they are, you also need to think carefully about splashing out on the most expensive version too.

This is because you’re likely to be paying for a brand name rather than quality, and expensive isn’t always a guarantee of better quality. Remember,rmodifications can only offer you so much in terms of improvement, and if the cost of the part is excessive compared to the benefits you’re looking to gain, it isn’t really worth it.

Not Checking The Law

Different states have different laws regarding modifications and the changes you can make to a vehicle.  If you’re going to be heavily investing in upgrades or even just adding tints to our windows, you need to know the law regarding this in your local area. Police officers have the right to stop any vehicle they wish and ask to check the papers and documentation to ensure everything is legal and above board.

If you have modifications, you need to be able to prove they are made in accordance with the law, and you have a right to drive around with these. If not, you can potentially land yourself in hot water legally and be required to revert back to factory standards.

Don’t waste your money, check regulations before making changes, and avoid any issues.

Power Not Performance

Many enthusiasts believe that power is the ultimate goal when making changes to their ride. But it’s pointless having all the power you can get from your engine if you can’t control it! Power isn’t everything, and it’s not worth squeezing every drop of power out of your car at the expense of other aspects. So think carefully about how reaching maximum power will affect control and handling yourself if it’s really worth just going a modicum faster than before.

Overestimating Your Mechanical Abilities

Cars are complex machines, and many moving and static parts are integral to their ability to drive you safely. If you’re carrying out the mods yourself, you need to be confident you know what you are doing and committed to remembering to put everything back in the right place once you have made the changes you want to make.

Regardless of the changes, failing to resemble your car correctly can be a recipe for disaster. Start small, don’t overestimate your abilities, and be diligent about remembering where everything goes and ensuring all required parts are reassembled correctly.

Not Using The Experts

Mechanics and performance upgrade shops exist for a reason. Much like the point above, if you aren’t using experts to help you make the suitable modifications correctly, you are simply wasting your time and money and leaving yourself open to a wide range of complications.

That’s not what you want from this experience, so knowing when to use the rocks or go alone is vital for your desired results. While you can and should carry out minor upgrades yourself, it’s best to work with the pros for any complex work.

Not Informing Your Insurance Company

Did you know that your insurance company needs to be informed of any aftermarket changes to your vehicle, even if you’re only changing the color? This is because your car needs to be insured for its capabilities on the road, and increasing its performance, for example, to give it more ownership, can make you a riskier investment than if you left it alone.

Some insurers won’t inspire modifications, meaning you have the car you want, but you can’t legally drive it. Others will impose higher premiums or exclusions to your policy to mitigate the risk the modifications present to other drivers.

If your modifications are made within the manufacturer’s recommended guidelines, then chances are you won’t be voiding your policy, but to enjoy changes, you need to talk to your insurance company properly to carry out the words to make sure you will still be able to drive legally.

Not Thinking About The Resale Value

If you’re not planning on keeping the car until it’s no longer fit for purpose, then you need to consider the car’s resale value. Are the changes you’re making ones that regular drivers want or will be looking for, or can you only sell to those who like specific changes? Will certain medications reduce the value of that car and make it unsellable should you need to sell it for any reason?

While this isn’t likely something at the forefront of your mind, after all, you wouldn’t be making them if you had immediate plans to sell, but you never know what the future will hold, and some changes can limit your resale potential.

Modifying your vehicle is a great way to unleash its true potential, but going about it incorrectly can lead to a whole host of issues. From legal trouble of being unable to get insurance to increased risk of repair and lowered safety. Think long and hard about the changes you want to make, how they will impact the vehicle, and if it’s really worth the gamble.