Increasing the desirability of a car with modifications can result in higher insurance premiums, warns Direct Line Car Insurance .
Spokesperson Jennifer Culley said that changes made to a car that improved performance, value, or desirability to a thief would give rise to raised charges because they would increase the risk, value, or likelihood of a claim. However, she noted that motorists who made modifications to improve safety or security would not be penalised by most insurers .
Drivers should contact their insurers before carrying out any alterations to see how this will effect their premiums and to assess whether the risk is still acceptable. In March, the Insurance Daily revealed findings from confused.com which found that modifying a car could push up premiums by 139 per cent.
Bull bars were banned last year under EU law in order to try and reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries caused by the bars on some 4x4 vehicles .




