Can I Apply for a Color Change Without the Vehicle Registration Certificate?
2 Answers
It is not possible to register a color change for a vehicle without the registration certificate. According to Article 90 of the Road Traffic Safety Law, the following documents must be submitted: the Application Form for Vehicle Modification Registration, original and photocopies of the identity documents of the vehicle owner and agent, the original vehicle registration certificate, the original vehicle license, and payment of all fines before the color change. According to Article 6 of Chapter 2 of the Road Traffic Safety Law, if the color change area of a vehicle does not exceed 30%, there is no need to register the modification. Conversely, if it exceeds 30%, the change must be registered and filed within 10 days after the color change. Notes on Vehicle Color Change: Before changing the color of a vehicle, it is necessary to consult the local vehicle management office where the vehicle is registered to check if the area permits color changes using wraps. If the area does not support this method, the registration procedure cannot be completed after the color change, and the wrap must be completely removed to restore the vehicle's original color. Additionally, according to the Vehicle Registration Regulations, vehicle owners are no longer required to apply to the vehicle management office in advance. They can first change the vehicle color, install body kits, replace the engine, etc., and then apply for modification registration with the vehicle management office. According to Article 10, registered vehicles must apply for modification registration with the local vehicle management office under the following circumstances: Change of body color. Replacement of the engine. Replacement of the body or frame. Replacement of the entire vehicle due to quality issues. Change of use nature, such as converting a commercial vehicle to a non-commercial vehicle or vice versa. The vehicle owner's residence moves out of or into the jurisdiction of the vehicle management office. Furthermore, according to Article 15 of the Road Traffic Safety Law of the People's Republic of China: Police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, and engineering rescue vehicles must be painted with designated patterns and equipped with alarms and signal lights as required. Other vehicles are prohibited from painting, installing, or using patterns, alarms, or signal lights that are exclusive to or similar to those of the aforementioned vehicles.
I just went through this, and not having the green book is really a no-go! Last week, I asked at the DMV, and changing the color is considered a modification registration, which requires bringing the original green book for filing. The staff explained to me that it's like the vehicle's household registration—critical information like the engine number is recorded on it. Moreover, the process for replacing it is quite troublesome: you have to report it lost first, bring the original owner's ID and vehicle license, and have the VIN inspected on-site. For used cars, you need to be even more careful. If the previous owner didn't give you the green book, the car might still be under a lien. Don’t believe what you see online about wrapping the car without filing—my neighbor got caught by traffic police, fined 500 yuan, and had to remove the wrap to restore the original color. I recommend going directly to Window 23 at the DMV to inquire about the replacement process. In some cases, you can even authorize an agent to handle it for you.
