Wrapping has become popular in recent years as a temporary way to change the colour and appearance of your car.
It’s less labour-intensive than a respray with paint, and thus much cheaper. The carefully-cut plastic wrap also protects the existing paint underneath.
However, your car insurance could be void if the vehicle has been wrapped and you don’t declare it. That’s because, like any change made to a car after the first registration, a wrap is classed as a modification – and all modifications must be declared when taking out an insurance policy.
More visibility, more cost
Companies have had their vans or business vehicles wrapped in corporate colours for years. However, firms that wrap private cars – such as Yianni Charalambous, star of the TV show Yianni: Supercar Customiser on Dave – have now shot to success.
A wrap doesn’t increase the performance of your car, and it shouldn’t inhibit the safety systems. So why the declaration? Well, it could be problematic for security. Covering your car in a lurid colour or pattern makes it stand out to friends and onlookers, but also makes it more visible to thieves.
According to Jardine Motors Group, a wrap could raise your insurance premium by 15 percent. And some companies won’t actually cover you, meaning you will have to consult a specialist.
Notify the DVLA
“We find a lot of [insurance] companies don’t even know what a wrap is, but there are specialist ones out there,” said Duncan Richards, spokesperson for Autoshine and Tinting.
“We’ve had customers say: ‘My current insurer won’t insure it, they’ve cancelled my policy’. We’ve also had others who haven’t charged extra, so each insurance company is different.”
As well as the declaration to your insurance company, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) also needs to be made aware. As a wrap is often a full colour change, the car’s V5C registration document must also be updated to match.
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