7 Tips for Customizing Your Car Without Future Regrets
I know some folks who just go to a shop, tell the guys how much they want to spend on customizing their ride and don’t get involved in the process.
Not me, tho’. And since you’re reading this, I’m sure you and I have this in common.
I love personalizing my cars. Picking the best mods and finding the right way to combine those excites me more than buying the vehicle.
It feels great when people give me thumbs up in traffic or compliments at car meets.
However, customizing your car can be a double-edged sword. It can become a nightmare if you don’t know what you’re doing.
So, I put together some tips to help you avoid common mistakes and get the best results when customizing your vehicle. But first, let’s look at why people have regrets.
Why Would You Regret Customizing Your Car?
There are so many ways to customize a car. It’s not uncommon for people to get carried away with upgrades and ruin their cars. This Benz is a perfect example…lol.
Online forums are full of people who have regrets about certain car modifications for various reasons. Let’s look at the more common ones:
Resale Value
Custom paint or high-end upholstery material is pricey, and not everyone will appreciate your choices. When it’s time to sell your car, you won’t be able to recoup the cost.
As discussed in one of my Tesla articles, many modifications will negatively impact what your vehicle is worth on the used car market.
Voided Warranty
Another reason to be cautious when customizing a car is the risk of voiding your warranty. Low-quality or not professionally installed tuning kits are a good example.
Those are often drilled on, and the manufacturer will deny a warranty claim if your bumper tears.
Legal Issues
Many customizations are not legal. Especially those that affect your car’s emissions. Even LED lights are illegal in some states.
Get familiar with local regulations if you need clarification on something you want to buy.
The Essential Car Customization Tips
Okay, enough of the regrets talk. Now, look at the essential tips that will help you build your dream car.
I won’t go in-depth on the different ways to customize your exterior or interior. I’ve covered those and the most common performance mods in my article How to Get a Street Car Modified.
Think about these tips as general guidelines that I and many other car nuts follow.
1. Do a Proper Research
Thanks, “Captain Obvious,” you may say, but give me a chance to explain what I mean by proper research. People often forget about some crucial things when doing it.
Check what customizations are available for your particular car and model.
Search online for photos of modded cars to see what looks good on your automobile.
Compare the prices of popular accessories like floor mats and seat covers to find the best deals.
- If you want aftermarket wheels and new tires, read a fitment guide to understand your wheel specs.
When considering custom upholstery or new paint, read customer reviews to find a reputable shop.
2. Think About the Car as a Whole
Make sure that each upgrade you make fits with the overall look and feel of the vehicle. Pick parts and accessories that complement the car’s design and style. Looking at these high-end custom interiors will help you get the point.
For example, when you customize a classic ride that has stylish leather seats, sports pedals or racing stripes won’t be a good match. Nice paint and wheels are enough for such vehicles to look cool.
3. Be Realistic with Your Goals
When I said to search online for some photos, I meant pictures of customized cars that spend time in traffic. Getting inspired by custom builds displayed at major car shows like SEMA is a bad idea.
These guys try as hard as possible to make their rides stand out in a very competitive scene. Interior, paint, wheels, everything they can access is over the top because they get sponsorship deals with different automotive brands.
Your goal should be to customize your car in a way that reflects your personality.
4. Set a Budget to Meet the Goals
Now that you know what you want to achieve with modding your car, it’s time to set a budget. Determine how much you want to spend and stick to that number.
I won’t lie to you. Not overspending when customizing a car is close to impossible. Here is what you can do to stay closer to your budget:
Create a list of all the mods you want.
Check the prices and do the math.
Add the cost of labor if necessary.
5. Don’t Be Cheap
Finding bargains is good. There are many low-cost interior upgrades and affordable exterior customizations, but buying low-quality performance mods will lead to big disappointments. If you’ve exceeded the amount you want to spend, remove or replace something from the list.
There is no point in trying to enhance your interior with $25 seat covers or buying a $75 steering wheel on eBay. Another example is cheap LED lights or headlight replacements that aren’t energy efficient.
6. Don’t Try to DIY Every Upgrade
Building your dream car all by yourself is something to be proud of. I love spending time on color combos and design. However, there are enhancements that you may pay to get done by a professional.
Adding a vinyl wrap or having your roof and windows tinted looks simple, but things can go wrong if you haven’t done it before. Not knowing how to get the right material might also be an issue.
7. Don’t Neglect Safety
When you’re ready to personalize your car, you need to keep safety in mind.
In the late 90s, we were cutting springs to lower our rides. I’m thankful nothing happened to me. I don’t think anyone does this today, but I still see people lowering their vehicles with cheap suspension parts or using poor-quality wheel spacers.
Another common situation, especially with young auto enthusiasts, is installing power adders without thinking about the stopping part. Remember that good brakes and tires can save your life.
In fact, suspension, tire, and brake-related issues cause the most accidents.
My Final Thoughts
The most important thing to focus on when you customize your car is to make it unique by matching your personality rather than other builds. My friend Bree’s Tesla Model 3 is a great example.
Choose each upgrade wisely, and don’t be afraid to pay a professional for specific jobs.
Not everyone will complement the mods you’ve done, but this is your ride.
Make it your own, and enjoy it. That's what it's all about!
