Selling a modified car - what you need to know

Cars can play a big part in a driver's everyday life. For most people, they are part of the daily commute, weekly shop or yearly road trip, so you can understand why drivers would want to make them suit their own individual tastes and preferences. That is where modification, personalisation or customisation comes in.

Car modifications take many different forms, some subtle and others not so much. Whether it's adding your favourite air freshener, a steering wheel cover or some stickers on your bumper, there are plenty of ways to personalise your ride.

However, some drivers like to go that step further. From flashy rims to custom paint jobs, some drivers will transform their cars to be completely unrecognisable compared to when it originally left the factory.

But what about when it comes to selling a modified car? And how do modifications impact a car's value? In this article, we explain everything you need to know about selling modified cars.

What are modified cars?

Let's start with the basic facts. Car modifications vary. Some will be subtle and hard to notice, while other car modifications are easily noticeable. There are two main types of vehicle modifications; these include cosmetic or performance modifications.

A car modification is determined by anything that makes the car look or drive differently compared to how it left the factory. Subsequently, modifications can impact the sales process and the price you get when it comes time to sell.

What car modifications are legal in the UK?

Examples of car modifications can be split into two types.

Cosmetic vehicle modification:

• Installing a sunroof
• The use of body kits
• Exterior paint jobs
• Adding or upgrading to alloy wheels
• Custom changes to the interior i.e. upholstery customisation or dash hardware customisations
• Tinted windscreens

Vehicle performance modification:

• Installing a supercharger/turbocharger
• Upgrading or modifying the exhaust
• Upgrading or modifying suspension or steering

It's worth noting that some modifications can be removed before selling your car, such as alloy wheels. Some modifications may increase the price you are offered, whereas others will decrease it.

For example, 'temporary modifications', such as car wraps, can be problematic if you plan to remove it before selling. When you try to remove a car wrap to return the car back to its original state, you need to be careful not to damage any of the paintwork underneath, which would impact the vehicle's sale price and value negatively.

What car modifications are illegal in the UK?

Before you decide to make any car modifications, you need to know that not all are legal or allowed on UK roads. Adding illegal modifications to your vehicle can deem your vehicle unroadworthy and further reduce the price you are offered for it when it's time to sell. Illegal car modifications include:

Windscreen and windows:

• More than 25% of your windscreen being tinted
• More than 30% of your front side windows being tinted

Headlight or bulb modifications:

• Headlight tints
• Lights which mimic blue lights used by emergency vehicles
• Neon lights unless they are non-visible on the bottom of your car and do not distract other road users

Exhaust and engine:

• Modifying your exhaust to be louder than 74 decibels
• The use of nitrous oxide in the engine

Body:

Insecurely fastened spoiler modifications or spoilers with sharp edges exposed

Things to consider before modifying your car

Before you make the decision to modify your car, you should consider what impact it will have when you're driving it and when you decide to sell it.

When you own a modified car:

Insurance

Firstly, the price of insurance is very likely to be increased due to vehicle modifications. For example, if a car has an expensive body kit put on it, this would likely increase the cost of insurance, as the value of the car has increased.

Similarly, if the car has undergone performance modifications, this will often put the car into a different insurance group, which can again lead to an increase in your policy price. In certain scenarios, your insurance provider may no longer be able to insure you based on the upgrades or modifications you have made to the vehicle.

Servicing

If a car has been modified with a specialist kit or has had certain performance or cosmetic upgrades, it could be harder to find a garage which can or will carry out the work for you. You may find that certain garages will refuse to carry out the work, or the work may be more expensive than if the car had not undergone modifications.

When you sell a modified car:

Warranty

Another big consideration is the impact modification can have on your vehicle warranty. Modifying your car can null and void any manufacturer warranty. In turn, this will mean you won't be covered by the warranty when it comes to fixing any needed repairs. Additionally, when it comes to selling, you may find that having a vehicle warranty which is still valid can increase the price you are offered for your car, meaning you may also miss out on this.

Individual preferences

It goes without saying that all car modifications won't be to everyone's taste. For example, certain changes to the body kit or exterior colours may make the car harder to sell when the time comes.

Are modified cars harder to sell?

By now, you're properly wondering, is it harder to sell a modified car? Well, there's no definitive answer to that. All car modifications are subjective, and while some people may like the changes, other won't. Ultimately, that means you may be reducing the potential sale value and/or the car's market value.

However, it can also be argued that some car modifications will improve sale price and make the vehicle more desirable to other drivers. For example, upgrades to improve things like onboard tech, alloys or tyres may make the car a more attractive option to buyers in the used car market.

Who buys modified cars?

The good news is that, even if your car is modified, you can sell it to Arnold Clark. However, it's at the discretion of the dealership you are selling to as to whether they will buy the car. Use our car valuation tool for a free online quote today.