10 ‘hated’ features that are devaluing your car without realising it – and can cost you a whopping £3,500

BRITS are being urged not to modify their cars with the “hated” features that could cost them up to £3,500 down the road. Some modifications, including eyelashes on headlights and “wonky” wheels, can devalue cars without the owner even realising it. Novelty modifications such as eyelashes on headlights can put buyers off – and cost sellers a sale Research has found that certain modifications have the power to knock up to £3,500 off the cost of a vehicle when it comes to selling it. A recent survey found that nearly 67% of buyers wouldn’t even “entertain the possibility of buying a car” if it had wonky wheels – where the top of the wheels tilt inwards toward the car body, making them appear “wonky”. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Other “hated” modified features cited by buyers included lowered suspension, neon underbody lights and novelty additions, including stickers and car wraps. Michael Golson, motoring expert at Cazoo, said buyers shouldn’t be afraid to ask direct questions about modifications before purchasing a second-hand vehicle. “A little extra scrutiny before buying could save you from an expensive surprise further down the road,” said Michael. “The big risk is the cost of reversing it, as replacing tampered emissions equipment can easily run into four figures – with a replacement DPF [Diesel Particulate Filter] costing around £1,000 to £3,500.” The top 10 most common car modifications Aftermarket alarms, immobilisers, or GPS trackers Upgraded sound system or speaker installations Bulb replacement with brighter aftermarket lights Engine ECU remapping, chip tuning, or pedal boxes Installed towbars or roof racks Non-factory alloy wheels (pictured above) custom paint, or tinted windows Paint protection film (PPF), vinyl wraps, or body stickers/decals Unofficial Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, or touchscreen retrofits Major engine/body kit Non-factory parking sensors The research, conducted by Tempcover and Cazoo on more than 2,000 adults, also found that many motorists are unaware that certain modifications can invalidate insurance cover – and even result in a conviction for insurance fraud. Nine in 10 (91%) drivers are unaware that retrofitting aftermarket infotainment units like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto requires declaration to maintain full insurance cover. Most read in Motors Similarly, 88% of drivers do not realise that upgrading a car’s speaker system carries the exact same requirement, while 77% don’t know non-factory alloy wheels, custom paint or tinted windows must be disclosed. Researchers also discovered the top two cars most likely to be modified in the UK are a Volkswagen Golf GTi and the BMW 3 Series. Comment now