A DRIVER had their car seized after it was caught with no tax and a multitude of modifications that were not shared with their insurance company – including a handbrake designed for ‘drifting’.

Dorset Police No Excuse said that the car had also had its back seats removed, turbo added and had its steering wheel replaced but without the airbag. The purple 3-series BMW had not had road tax since 2018.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police No Excuse said: “Many vehicle modifications are fine, and many car enthusiasts do things the right way: notifying their insurance company of changes… unfortunately not the owner of this purple 3-series BMW.

Bournemouth Echo: Dorset Police seized this BMW after finding multiple modifications not known to the insurer and no tax. Picture: Dorset PoliceDorset Police seized this BMW after finding multiple modifications not known to the insurer and no tax. Picture: Dorset Police

"When we stopped it (due to a lack of road tax since 2018), we found many modifications that the insurance company would wish to know (but didn't), such as replacing the original handbrake with the one pictured, apparently designed specifically for 'drifting'; removing the rear seats altogether; replacing suspension components; adding turbo; and replacing his steering wheel, but without the airbag. The car was seized, both due to the lack of tax and for examination to confirm it was safe for the road.

“A modification we keep seeing is aftermarket window tints. Most window films added to the front driver's and front passenger side windows will result in insufficient light transmission. We carry a meter that measures how much light can pass through; the front side windows must allow 70% light transmission (windscreen =75%)

“FYI - most aftermarket tints will put you over this, and may result in a fine, as well as removing that film... 241.”