Adding personal decorations to cars is putting Britons at risk as well as raising insurance prices, according to the latest research by Diamond Insurance.
The research revealed that the average UK motorist spends nearly £100 personalising their car with accessories such as seat covers, soft toys and window stickers.
The study worryingly found that 70 per cent of drivers with a rear window sticker found it obscured their view from the window.
57 per cent of Brits have accessorised their cars, with floor mats (35%), novelty air fresheners (15%) and humorous window stickers (14%) being the most popular. Only 4 per cent admitted to having fluffy dice hanging from their rear view mirror.
Diamond managing director, Sian Lewis said, “While only one in ten motorists have added expensive performance enhancing modifications to their car, five times more are choosing to decorate their vehicle with mats, stickers and even fluffy toys.
“When you think how much time we can spend in our cars each week, you can understand why so many of us want to make them more comfortable or individual, but car accessories should never impede the driver’s vision in any way. If you are going to adorn your rear window with stickers or soft toys, make sure they don’t obscure your view.”
The average amount of money motorists spend on personalising their car is £99, but some take it much further. 11% spend over £200 and one in a hundred have spent more than £1,000.
Lewis continued, “A car can say a lot about a person’s lifestyle and perhaps even more so if the driver has chosen to jazz it up. Some might choose simple things like a novelty tax disc holders or air fresheners, but others choose to spend a lot more with graphics, tints and wraps.
“If you do have some of the more expensive accessories, it’s always worth checking with your insurer to see if they’ll make a difference to your premium.”
