DRIVERS have been warned that they could face an MOT failure and even thousands in fines thanks to four common car mods.
Brits could find themselves caught out by little-known road laws when trying to customise their motors.
Chris Jevons, Commercial Director at JTape, urged motorists to exercise caution when making any changes.
Chris shared four ways that you could fall foul of the regulations, beginning with alterations to your headlights.
Changing the colour of your headlights is illegal, as all headlights are required to be either white or yellow.
Any other colours could be considered distracting to other road users and risk a fine.
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There is more flexibility when it comes to tinting headlights, with darkening of up to 50% allowed.
However, you should always inform your insurer first and mention that you have tinted lights before an MOT test.
On the subject of tinting, you are allowed to darken the windows of your motor, with varying degrees permitted depending on placement.
The windows at the rear can be fully tinted, including the rear windscreen, but the law allows no more than a 25% tint for the front windscreen and front side windows.
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Driving a vehicle with overly tinted windows is an offence, as is fitting or selling glass that breaks the rules.
This can cause an MOT failure and even see you up in court.
Thirdly, Chris warned against excessively lowering your car, as this can affect handling.
He told The Express: “When lowering the suspension of your vehicle, it’s also important to check that both the front and rear suspension can steer precisely.
“Additionally, the headlights of your vehicle should be positioned at least 50cm above the ground at their lowest point.
“If the steering is affected or the headlights aren’t positioned correctly, the vehicle could fail its MOT test.”
Just make sure to declare the change before your test and, as long as it’s within legal limits, all should be well.
What are the rules on underglow and car lights?
Brits looking to add a bit of sparkle to their car with some external lights need to be aware that it could land them in hot water with the law.
Rules about lights are explicitly set out in the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations of 1989.
Drivers are not allowed to make use of any red, green or blue lights on their cars, as these colours are reserved for emergency services.
This obviously comes with the exception of rear brake lights, which are required to be red.
You also may not fit lights of any colour that are visible from the rear of your motor beyond the standard tail lights, indicators etc.
Any violation of the regulations could result in a hefty fine.
Finally, Chris addressed the issue of spoilers – which are added to improve downforce and give cars a sportier look.
Many might not know that this has to be declared to your insurer and undergo an MOT test before being fitted.
Failure to do so could void your policy and see you fail your test.
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The expert added: “If you want your vehicle to look different and reflect your personality, you can make some modifications to it.
“However, it’s important to know the rules related to car modifications to avoid getting caught out.”
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Jacob Jaffa
