Can the color of a motor vehicle be changed?

[Nathaniel]

Motor vehicles can apply for a change in body color. According to Article 6 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law," the following documents need to be submitted: the "Motor Vehicle Change Registration Application Form," original and photocopies of the identity certificates of the motor vehicle owner and agent, the original motor vehicle registration certificate, the original motor vehicle driving license, and fines must be paid before changing the vehicle color. According to Article 6 of Chapter 2 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law," if the color change area of a motor vehicle does not exceed 30%, there is no need to go through the change registration process. Conversely, if it exceeds 30%, it must be filed and recorded, and registration must be completed within 10 days after the vehicle color is changed. Precautions for changing the color of a vehicle wrap: Before preparing to change the color of a motor vehicle wrap, it is necessary to consult the vehicle management office where the vehicle is registered to determine whether the region allows motor vehicles to change color using wraps. If the region does not support this method, the change cannot be filed after the color is changed, and the wrap must be completely removed to restore the vehicle's original color. Additionally, according to Article 10 of the "Motor 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 to the vehicle management office for change registration. According to Article 10, if a registered motor vehicle falls under any of the following circumstances, the owner must apply to the vehicle management office at the place of registration for change registration: Changing the body color. Replacing the engine. Replacing the body or frame. Replacing the entire vehicle due to quality issues. Changing the use nature, such as converting a commercial motor vehicle to a non-commercial one or vice versa. The motor 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 emblem patterns and equipped with alarms and signal lights as required. Other motor vehicles are not allowed to paint, install, or use emblem patterns, alarms, or signal lights that are exclusive to the aforementioned vehicles or similar to them.

[McConnor]

Yes, vehicles can be repainted, and I've personally handled several car color changes. You must follow traffic regulations, or you'll run into trouble. First, bring your ID card, vehicle license, and vehicle registration certificate to the local DMV to apply for a change of registration. They will check if the vehicle complies with regulations—for example, the color cannot mimic police cars or ambulances, otherwise it's illegal. After the repaint, they will update the photo on the vehicle license, costing a few hundred yuan, but the process may take half a day. Don’t forget to update your insurance information to avoid claim disputes. From my experience, a color change can make an old car look fresh, but don’t skip the registration to save hassle—the fines are worse. Overall, it’s a legal way to personalize your car, but you must follow the proper procedures to ensure everything is secure.