Experts have warned car owners of a practice that could see their car insurance become void.
TikTok trends have been blowing up since the app gained popularity and each year at Christmas it is brimming with ideas for decorating your home, workplace, and even your car.
Research shows that “car Christmas decorations” searches on Google have soared 209% in the past month, with people wanting to spread festive cheer wherever they travel.
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From simple décor such as winter-scented car air fresheners to over-the-top ornamentation involving LEDs wrapped around the exterior of a vehicle, Chill Insurance has discovered the most popular TikTok car décor trends for this Christmas.
But most importantly, the car insurance experts are warning of the trends to avoid…
Wrapping LED lights around the outside of your car
It may look fun and festive but these bright lights are not a trend you should partake in.
A video demonstrating how to wrap your car has amassed 2.4 million views and over 433k likes, from a TikTok creator known as @slickedandslow.
However, according to a spokesperson from Chill, “This trend should be avoided as having extra lights around your vehicle can be distracting to other drivers on the road which is very dangerous.
“Also, altering the exterior of your car can be classed as a modification which in some instances can void your insurance and invalidate your cover.”
Adding tinsel and lights around your windscreen
This is another trend that is taking TikTok by storm and involved adding tinsel and fairy lights to your front windowscreen, as seen in a video created by @idelettevanvuuren.
A Chill spokesperson warned: “It may look festive but adding anything to your car that can affect or restrict visibility can be incredibly dangerous.
“With 72k views and over 3800 likes, this video is clearly receiving a lot of attention, but it is important not to copy as driving with restricted vision can be classed as careless driving and result in a fine of up to €5,000.”
Adding fairy lights to your car interior
The third most popular festive car decor trend is adding fairy lights or LEDs to your vehicle’s interior, which is seen in a video by @emmyleesue.
This clip has amassed nearly 72k views and over 7600 likes. However, experts warn this is best to avoid as the lights can distract other drivers and impair your view of the rear windowscreen, potentially affecting your ability to drive safely.
The insurance experts advised: “You must always drive with the utmost care and vigilance, especially during the winter months when more adverse weather conditions are excepted.
“Adding anything to your vehicle that could hinder or block your line of sight or distract others on the road, can be very dangerous.
“If you are found with things such as added LEDs inside your car or large Christmas decorations added to your windscreens this could be classed as ‘careless driving’ an offence that could land you a fine of up to €5,000.
“Whilst every car insurance policy is different, most do not cover modifications, especially if you have not made your insurer aware.
“Adding various objects to your car exterior such as lights can count as a modification and therefore make your insurance void, which is not only illegal but will mean you are no longer covered if the worst was to happen.”
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