Warning drivers risk £1,000 fine and up to 11 points on licence for popular car accessories

All drivers who accessorise their cars have been warned they could face a £1,000 fine – don’t get caught.

While they may look fancier than standard engine trims, steering wheel and shifter covers are just two of the additions to consider.

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Not only can these accessories cause disagreements, but they can also get you in trouble with the law.

Consider the following to avoid a fine of up to £1,000 and the risk of 11 points on your driving licence.

MIRROR MALFUNCTIONS

Many drivers hang air fresheners on the mirror, be it because they throw sweaty sports gear on the front seat or leave food wrappers in the footwell.

Or maybe you just enjoy a fresh smelling vehicle – but these products could be illegal.

If the item is found to be obstructing your vision or distracting the driver, it is against the Highway Code.

Due to the #decoratemycar TikTok trends, some of these sweetly scented additions are becoming larger than life and could pose a risk.

“Windshields and windows must be kept clean and free from obstructions to view,” says the Road Traffic Act.

The penalty for this driving offense is a fine of up to £1,000 or three points on your driving licence.

DASHBOARD DECORATIONS

An increasingly popular car decoration is diamonds glued along the dashboard.

Drivers even stick them on air vents and steering wheels to jazz up the interior.

However, from a health and safety perspective, this trend is worrying.

Should the airbags deploy, gems could cause serious facial injuries.

This also makes it easy to locate the vehicle and many car thieves can tell that the vehicle belongs to a woman.

Unfortunately, this often makes criminals think they are an easier target.

The Highway Code states that blinding or modifying your car in this way may be considered “careless and reckless driving” in the eyes of the law.

This is because it could distract you or other drivers – and risk an unlimited fine and/or voluntary disqualification, or three to nine points on a driver’s license.

STYLISH STEERING

Other modifications that are now very popular are steering wheel, gearshift and handbrake covers.

They’re often cute and fluffy – but this material sparked controversy over safety concerns.

The question arose: Can drivers properly control the steering wheel, gear lever and handbrake in an emergency?

The Highway Code would classify driving as dangerous if you lose control due to slippery grip and could result in your driver’s license being reduced by a whopping 11 points.

STORAGE

Most of us have at some point been guilty of putting something in the car, forgetting to take it out, and taking the same item with us on the next trip.

And so the cycle continues until we have five hand creams, two bottles of sunscreen, and a rogue air freshener.

However, some Britons also consciously keep their beauty and cleaning products in the car at all times.

However, keeping these items in the car during the summer months could make them less effective.

Fluctuations in temperature and exposure to sunlight can degrade ingredients and alter a product’s chemical composition.

So if you want to keep them in the car, use the glove box.

It comes when a car mechanic reveals the life-saving feature parents forget about while driving.

Also, find out about UK child-driving laws – don’t get caught.

And a warning has been issued to motorists as new road regulations and driving laws could land them fines and penalty points this month.