Drivers warned of potential £5,000 fine for 'failing to report' certain changes

Drivers across the country have been warned they could be at risk of thousands of pounds worth of fines for failing to report certain vehicle changes to the DVLA.

Making modifications to your vehicle is very common, and many drivers may choose to do things like tint their windows or add a suspension. However, there's a chance that you could be heavily prosecuted if you don't declare these to the driving agency.

Three popular changes could carry a combined fine of more than £5,000 and nine licence points - and thousands of drivers are at risk, according to research from Compare the Market.

Birmingham Live reports that 67,796 vehicles have suspension changes, meaning they're at risk if they fail to report these. Illegal suspension can risk a £2,500 financial penalty, and three penalty points, while spoiler changes can also mean motorists are fined £2,500 with three points too.

Tinted windows can also carry a fine of £60 and a further three licence points if the change is not declared.

For your car's tax and road safety purposes, the DVLA must have accurate records of all of its details. These records can be obtained by insurance companies and the police in order to get information about your vehicle should it be needed, such as the engine size, model and colour.

If you decide to make any modifications, you must accordingly update your car's V5C, also known as a log book. This is the paperwork you receive from the DVLA that proves you're the registered keeper.

Julie Daniels from the car insurance team at Compare the Market said: “No matter how minor the modifications are, any alterations to a car can potentially impact the cost of your car insurance. Often it will cost more to insure a modified car because of factors such as: greater possibility of theft, higher risk of speed-related accidents, or simply because your car has increased in value and repairs may now cost more.

"If you decide to modify your car while you have an existing insurance policy, you need to notify your provider about the change. Ideally, you should check with your provider before altering your vehicle to find out how it might affect your premium or if there will be any amendment fees involved."

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