13 Coolest Car Customizations Anyone Can Do on a Budget

Ever since the first cars rolled off the assembly line, humans have been customizing them. Whether bootleggers enhance engines or hippies paint murals on their vans, no car is immune to modification.

However, these mods often come with hefty price tags. Many car enthusiasts want to make their cars their own but lack the funds to do so. Luckily, there are some cheap options to help make your ride stand out. These are some of the trending additions for vehicles that won't break the bank.

1. Headlight Tint

Many people think tinting the headlights on your car is illegal. However, if it's done correctly, it's fine in the eyes of the law. The darker layer adds protection from fading and chips, as well as some stealth styling.

It can be done quickly at home in your garage, making it a quick modification that keeps people looking your way.

2. Wing Mirror Wrap

If you want to add some color to your car but are not trying to break the bank, look into a wing mirror wrap. These add a touch of flair without wrapping the entire vehicle.

The contrast between the body and mirrors can match your local sports team or just blend together two of your favorite colors. Either way, it's a cheap way to add some personality to your ride.

3. Interior Lighting Kit

Adding neon lights along your car's interior can instantly make it more appealing. A well-lit foot-well and backlit trim can turn a basic Honda Civic into a futuristic spaceship.

These kits cost less than $50. Anyone who has a basic knowledge of everyday tools can install a lighting kit in most cars.

4. Seat Covers

It can be expensive to restore and customize interior trim and upholstery. But, some companies are making car seat covers that will make people think they have been re-done.

You can customize these covers in your favorite colors and fonts and have them fitted for your car. Whether you add your initials, the name of your car, or just the branding, your vehicle will look completely different after this $200 upgrade.

5. Interior Trim Wrap

Have you ever looked for a car but hated the interior? Some new vehicles add fake wood trim or gaudy color schemes to the base models that just look terrible. Fortunately, some companies make customizable interior trim wraps in leather, carbon fiber, or high gloss.

After you choose your style, a professional will remove the trim and wrap it in the new style. This shows off your creativity but still provides extra protection from scratches and stains.

6. Rim Protection

One of the newest trends is auto enthusiasts modifying the ring around their rims. These not only provide protection from the dings and dents of parking lot curbs, but they also add some attitude to your ride.

Choose a matching or contrasting color, and make your wheels stand out. For less than $100 per set, they're much more practical than replacing expensive rims.

7. Floor Mats

Most people don't think twice about their car's floor mats, but a fresh set can transform a basic interior into a luxury cabin. For less than $200, you can get fully customizable floor mats in your choice of color, texture, and stitching.

As with many other modifications, custom floor mats offer unique styling, as well as protection from the elements sticking to your shoes.

8. Shift Knobs

A stock shifter head can be simple and boring. Swapping it out for a custom racing shifter can make you feel like you've added some extra horsepower under the hood.

Not only is this a cheap car modification, but some car owners are also starting to use 3D printers to add their own personality to their car's interior. How cool would it be to design your own shifter?

9. Grill Inserts

Grill inserts are popular among Jeep and truck drivers. These designs fit behind the original grill, offering a custom look without being too flashy. They often come in chrome or carbon fiber for different looks to suit any taste.

Jeep lovers also add neon colors to their trademark grills to add a little flash.

10. Window Tints

The window tint's main job is to keep the car's interior cool when parked in the sun, but they also look cool. Adding some black-out tint can add a hint of mystery and intrigue to your ride.

The sharp color contrast with the black tint makes any car go from a dud to a stud. Plus, you get the added benefit of privacy for wandering eyes in the parking lot.

11. Neon Ground FX

Since The Fast and the Furious came out, car fans have added neon lights to their cars' underbelly. There's no quicker and cheaper way to make your car stand out from the crowd than with these lights.

You choose from various colors, and after a quick install, you're ready to show off to your car friends. While it's technically illegal to drive with them turned on, you can keep them lit when you're attending a car show or showing your friends in your driveway.

12. Spoilers

Turn your basic car into a sports car with an aftermarket rear spoiler. Spoilers are attached to your trunk, allowing airflow to reduce drag and increase speed. It also adds more downforce to the car's back end to keep you stable while driving at high speeds.

They also make your ride look pretty rad. Other drivers might second guess how much work you've done under the hood and avoid the invitation to test you on the race track.

13. Decals and Stickers

Not every sticker or decal has to be a stick-figure family or one bragging about their kids being honor students. Decals can be an extension of your personality. They can be big or small, flashy or subtle.

These decals might list the national parks you have traveled to or logos of the aftermarket products you've added to your hot rod. Whatever they are, they add some finesse to your ride and make it stand out among the crowd.