Trying to give your car a little bit more personality without breaking the bank? There are plenty of things you can do to jazz up your motor without having to raid the savings account.
Some changes are simple cosmetic adjustments, while others will change the whole feel of your ride. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Add a car decal
Car stickers are a fantastic way to add an interesting detail to any vehicle. There are car stickers available for every taste – so whether you want something classy and tasteful or totally outlandish, there will be something out there for you. Decals can come in an array of designs, anything from patterns and artistic designs to a catchy slogan or a shout-out for your favourite sports team. You can get stickers to apply to the body of your vehicle or to the windows.
Some of the smaller stickers are available for less than a tenner, making this perhaps the cheapest option for changing your car’s appearance. Just make sure that you use ones that have been specifically designed to use on cars and that you know how to properly place decals on to a car. Otherwise, the decal might not stick on properly and you risk damaging the paintwork.
Replace the hubcaps/wheel trims
Wheels may not be the most obvious thing to customise, but you’d be surprised by just how much they can change a car’s overall look. New hubcaps and wheel trims are a very stylish way to update your car’s appearance. There are also plenty of tutorials available online, showing you how to change them yourself – so you won’t even need to spring for the cost of a mechanic.
Most hubcaps are interchangeable between cars, but you’ll need to check the size and specifications before you go spending any hard-earned cash. Hubcaps also serve a practical purpose, protecting your wheels from damage, which is a great way to justify the cost of a slightly fancier set.
Refresh the interior
Making sure that your car looks good from the outside is important, but also spare a thought for the vehicle’s interior. After all, this is where you’ll be when you’re out on the road, and it feels good to drive in style as well as comfort. The obvious options here are seat covers and steering wheel covers, but if you want to do something a little different then there are also dashboard stickers and covers for the gearstick.
For the more extravagant drivers, you could also think about adding LED floor lights or changing the headliner. The headliner is the material used on the roof of the car, and we’ve seen some incredible results achieved by reupholstering this area. Consider a luxurious leather or suede option, or the dramatic impact of a starry night design. It’s possible to make these changes yourself, but if you don’t have the expertise then we would recommend paying for a professional. Doing something right the first time will ensure you get the look that you’re going for, and trends to pay off in the long run.
Personalise your number plates
Saving the best for last, personal number plates are probably our favourite option for motorists looking to improve their car. Nothing gives you the same sense of unique ownership over your vehicle as having your own initials or a favourite word/phrase displayed for the world to see. Custom number plates are also surprisingly good value. We recommend finding a reputable dealer such as CarReg, who offer number plates to suit a range of different budgets and can help you find something at the right price point.
Personal number plates also tend to hold their value, and can sometimes even increase in value substantially over the years. This makes them a savvy purchase for anybody who thinks that they may want to resell their licence plates in years to come.
Once you’ve chosen your new plates, you’ll need to wait for the paperwork to arrive in the post. Then it’s simply a case of registering your new licence number with the government and having the plates manufactured by a local mechanic. Companies like Halfords should be able to do this for you at a very reasonable rate.
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