Whether you’ve just moved to Colorado for all its mountainous beauty, or you’ve lived here your entire life, there is one thing you have to be aware of when it comes to actually shopping for car insurance. A simple search for auto insurance in Colorado may yield significant search results, but you need to have a little bit more information to know what factors affect your rates. Take a look at a few of these vehicle modifications and see just what you could be doing (or avoiding) to get better rates.
Racing Stripes and Equipment
Any sort of decals, racing stripes, numbers, or even logos on your vehicle do one simple thing which is draw attention to the vehicle. Any time your vehicle stands out, it could potentially be the target for auto vandalism or theft. After all, if there are a handful of cars in a given area and one sticks out like a sore thumb due to a flashy body or vibrant paint job, guess which one is probably going to get targeted for a break-in or senseless act of vandalism? You may think you want your car to stick out for its beauty or edginess, but be careful what you wish for.
Tinted Windows and Street Modifications
Another thing that people try to do is to put in special modifications such as tinted windows. While this is a great way to have some privacy and make yourself look a little bit more like a celebrity, there are certain people – namely, the police – who will wonder what it is you are trying to hide, and can even give you a ticket if your tint grade is too dark.
Chains on Wheels
Tire chains are a big item that people will drive with when the roads are bad. They are supposed to increase safety and that is technically true, but they also act as a false piece of confidence. People who have chains on might be more tempted to drive when it is bad out. They could also have situations where the chain could snap causing significant damage to occur to the vehicle and any cars in the vicinity. While chains do present a practical solution to the snow and ice, it’s important to drive as cautious as you would without them. One safety feature in place doesn’t mean you can drive recklessly.
Lifted Body (Jeeps and Trucks)
Putting a lift on your truck or jeep is actually quite dangerous. The center of gravity for any given vehicle is already somewhat high up when you consider the weight of the people inside of the car and the possible equipment or items being hauled in addition to the whole body of the vehicle itself. Now if you continue to raise that body up with a lift, you’re actually taking the center of gravity and increasing its height. If you increase the center of gravity you’re actually increasing the potential roll rate of the vehicle. From an underwriting point of view, this is simply a dangerous modification, and you will pay more – if you are even allowed to do it according to the policy in the first place.
When you consider all of the potential vehicle modifications, the options are almost endless. However, just because you have a car and the liberty to spice it up, doesn’t mean you won’t face financial consequences in the form of your auto insurance. Weigh your options ahead of time and consider what modifications to your automobile are worth the potential modifications to your wallet.
