customised car

[flump1]

 my friend has bought her daughter a small car (her first one) and its back seats have been removed to make way for some kind of stereo system. It has extra big exhaust pipes and blacked out windows,very much a young persons car.I am just concerned about the legality of doing this without declaring it , is she going to be breaking any laws ,is there a body you have to tell if you change the layout of the car . Any help greatly appreciated.

[d0gsb0dy]

I think her insurance company should be told of any radical modifications. Very important.

[flump1]

thanks dogsbody I will pass that on

[hedgehog661]

Yes absolutly correct, the insurance need to know of any modification from the standard car including replacement stereo, all can effect the disirebility to theft even if no power increase so the risk is higher. The exhast may be too noisey and break sound regulations and few exhaust system do little more than increase niose on there own some even slow the car down. It is also possibe that the seats removed would cause injury in a crash as items from the boot could come crashing through to the passenger compartment, it is often a good idea to do rear seat belts up when not being used in the rear as the added strength can sometimes stop stuff in the boot meeting occcupants heads.

[flump1]

thanks hedgehog 661 great help I was thinking it was so but not sure. I just dont want her falling foul of the law before she starts!

[sod_the_m25]

Seems an odd sort of first car to buy your daughter, will attract police like a magnet.

[flump1]

sod_the_m25 I thought the very same thing and I am worried about it all. It appears to be a toy rather than a mode of transport. It is so out of character for her mum who is usually level headed!.It is like a boy racer car and I can't help think it will bring trouble. I'm just waiting for her to ask me to sit by her while she practises!!.

[hedgehog661]

SHES STILL A LEARNER, oh heck what a great way to obtain the proper attitude to responsible driving (NOT)

[BreenM]

Blacked out windows as nice as they are, are definitely a no no as far as the police go.  you can black out the back windows but the front 2 windows and windscreen must be left clear.  i'm not sure how the police measure this but there must be a ceratin amount of light that is allowed to pass through.  So perhaps a very light tint on the front 2 windows is allowed but ceratinly not blacked out.  Might want to check this out with the police.

[flump1]

hedgehog 661 yes she is a learner or will be later this month! and I am really worried about this blessed car. Young people tend to get their cars together where we live and 'cruise' what ever that means, I have a feeling it is not as sedate as the word implies.I think I will leave all tuition to her qualified instructor.

BreenM thanks very much for you comments about the windows, I think the young people around here 'bait' the police if bait is the right word they all stay on the right side of the law but just. I would rather she had a runaround but there i'm not her Mum!