The common car accessory that can land drivers a £1,000 fine and points
A motoring expert has urged drivers to make sure that a common car accessory is not distracting them from the road in a bid to avoid a £1,000 fine.
Drivers have been urged to make sure that a common accessory found in most cars does not distract them from the road in a bid to avoid insurance trouble.
Whilst many motorists like to add small items to their car to give it a personal touch, some of the most common accessories can lead to insurance companies refusing to pay out for a claim.
In particular, Pete Ridley, vehicle financing expert at Car Finance Saver, urged drivers to be careful with vehicle air fresheners hanging on the rear view mirror.
He advised: "Insurance companies are particular about what they consider 'safe' and 'risky,' and sometimes what we consider harmless falls into the latter category.
"It seems silly, but visibility is a priority for insurers so keep the decoration on your dashboard to a minimum so you don’t get caught out."
Air fresheners are one of the cheapest ways for a driver to customise the interior of their car, with many hanging them in pride of place on the rear view mirror.
However, doing so can cause a driver to have a restricted view of the road, increasing the risk of causing an accident involving other road users.
As a result, motorists behind the wheel of a car with a limited view can face a fine of up to £1,000, three licence points, and complications from their insurer, including an invalidation in extreme cases.
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Similarly, Pete recommended that drivers are particularly careful when adding external modifications to their vehicle, consulting their insurance company first.
He continued: "If it wasn't in the original vehicle design, insurers want to know.
"Otherwise, it could lead to claims being invalidated as even minor changes could be perceived as increasing risk."
Popular modifications to the way a car looks or drives, such as a new set of alloy wheels, lowered suspension, or a better exhaust, can completely change its status.
However, insurance companies all have a list of regulations that all motorists must comply to in order to reduce the risk of accidents, including the need to declare any modifications honestly to remain covered.
Those who fail to let an insurer know about a modification to their car risk their policy being invalidated and claims rejected after a collision.
