9 ways to personalize your car

Ever mistake someone else’s vehicle for your own? Like, literally standing next to the wrong one and wondering why your key won’t unlock the door. Or worse, it was unlocked and you climbed in before realizing that wasn’t your mug in the cupholder? Embarrassing. Protect your reputation by giving your four-door friend more personality — and distinction — with KSL Cars’ ideas for how to personalize your car.

1. License plate

In Utah, there are three standard issue license plates: In God We Trust, Life Elevated Skier and Life Elevated Arches. But if you want one that says a little more about you, you can opt for a specialty plate. There’s the vintage-looking black and white plate, as well as plates to support local colleges, sports teams, services and causes. Make yours even more unique by coming up with some personalized license plate ideas. Make it cryptic, make it obvious — whatever you want, just keep it clean. There are rules about that.

2. Wheels

When you buy a new vehicle, it looks exactly the same as everyone else’s: same color, same interior, same wheels. Nice, but kinda boring. If you have the cash, consider giving your ride a sharper look with new rims. This can be a big investment, so be sure to choose ones you’ll still be happy with in a few years. Major tire retailers often have renderings of popular makes and models, so you can decide if the wheels will actually look good on your sedan or truck before committing.

3. Seats

Black, gray and brown are not your only seat options! Seat covers come in loads of colors and designs, from boho to patriotic, tie-dye to starry sky, floral to stripes. If you’re daring, a more permanent choice is to paint your leather seats using a high quality acrylic paint. And if they really need help, consider having your seats reupholstered with a more luxurious or durable fabric than what came standard.

Find vehicles with brightly colored interiors

Bye-bye boring gray interior, there's a new color in town.

4. Steering wheel cover

Sure your minivan has a perfectly functional steering wheel, but why not have a fluffy, sassy, blingy or sleek one? Add a cover in poofy pink, sophisticated leather, cheeky animal print or fine suede — whatever makes you smile … or look fierce. Not only is it fun, it can be practical, too. A leather or padded steering wheel cover may be more comfortable on a cold winter morning or blistering summer day. Although driving with just the tips of your fingers is posh in its own way.

5. LED lights

Know what makes a spaceship look so cool? Interior lighting, baby. Use LED strip lights to make personalized car door lights. Also stick some to the console, the dashboard, the mirrors — wherever you could use a glow-up. Is that a mini starfighter you’re driving? Why yes, it is.

6. More covers

You’ve seen fuzzy dice, but what about a fuzzy emergency brake cover? Or maybe shiny aluminum? Remember the gear shift knob, too: cozy, corny or cool. Coordinate it with your steering wheel, or give it an attitude all its own.

Shop manual transmission vehicles on KSL Cars

7. Accessories

Maybe you just want a little more oomph; nothing permanent, nothing too extreme. Just a little extra that says, in the words of William Shakespeare, “I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it.” Time to accessorize. You could opt for the aforementioned dice, of course, or some colorful beads. Or, get creative; adding unique accessories is one of the easiest ways to personalize your car.

A scented pine tree dangling from the rearview mirror? Not when you can have a personalized air freshener. Add coasters to your cupholders — almost too cute to cover up. To the automobile’s exterior, stick on some window decals — you aren’t limited to your family size or relays you’ve run. And boost that license plate with a bedazzling frame. (Unless you like hearing the constant, gentle rattle as it flaps in the wind.)

8. Floor mats

Functional floor mats are definitely worthwhile — they keep your carpet cleaner and prevent wear. But why not make them a little more interesting? Go bold, with a bright color or a funky design.

Custom paint means never confusing your car with someone else's again.

9. Paint

To really stand out from the crowd, consider a custom paint job. It can get pricey — possibly thousands of dollars — but your car will be completely your own. Another option is a vinyl wrap — essentially, a giant sticker. When applied properly, it won’t damage the underlying paint and should last five to seven years. Hand washing is recommended, but you could probably use the exercise anyway.

Bonus: Name it

It doesn’t cost anything to give your vehicle a name, and you can’t get any more personalized than that. Sometimes, the moniker just lands naturally, perhaps due to its constitution (Old Ironsides), longevity (Rusty) or temperament (Moody Blue). Too bad you can’t go back and rename your kids. But we digress.

The fact is, you spend so much time in your vehicle, it tends to become an extension of yourself. So it deserves a little extra love, and maybe a new outfit. Find the one to make all your own on KSL Cars.