While conventional passenger cars are very rarely modified by their operators, special-purpose vehicles often need to be adapted by their operators or specialised companies. Some examples include emergency vehicles or ships that are modernised or repurposed after their initial manufacture. If a vehicle is improperly modified in a situation like this (e.g. by installing additional cables inappropriately), this can lead to considerable damage or even the total loss of the vehicle.

Other modifications can also impair the operational capability of vehicles. If, for example, an infotainment system is manipulated to enable new or blocked functions, it may no longer be possible to install manufacturer updates and thus close potential vulnerabilities.