Do I need to go to the DMV to complete procedures for a color change wrap?
3 Answers
"Motor Vehicle Change Registration Application Form", identification documents and copies for the motor vehicle owner and agent; Motor vehicle registration certificate; motor vehicle license is the required documentation for applying to change the body color of a motor vehicle. According to Article 6, 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's color change. Precautions for changing the color of a vehicle wrap: Before preparing to change the color of a vehicle wrap, you need to consult the vehicle management office where the vehicle is registered to see if the region permits changing the vehicle color using a wrap. If the region does not support this method, after the modification, it will not be possible to complete the filing procedure, and the only option will be to completely remove the wrap and restore the vehicle's original color. Additionally, according to the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations", 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, registered motor vehicles must apply for change registration at 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 commercial vehicles converted to non-commercial use 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 spray emblem patterns, install alarms, and marking lights as required. Other motor vehicles are not allowed to spray, install, or use emblem patterns, alarms, or marking lights that are specific to the aforementioned vehicles or similar to them. Article 56 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations" states that if the body color is changed without completing the change registration as required, the public security traffic management department will issue a warning or impose a fine. The vehicle may also be impounded and required to revert to its original color.
After a color change wrap, you really need to go to the DMV to complete the modification procedure. I speak from personal experience. My car was originally gray, and after wrapping it in blue, I didn’t take it seriously. As a result, I was pulled over by the police and fined. The DMV requires you to report the color change within ten days. Just bring your ID, vehicle registration certificate, and original driving license, then take a new photo of the car body. The fee is only a little over ten yuan, and the whole process takes about half an hour. If you delay, you might fail the annual inspection, and the insurance company could find excuses to deny claims. My advice is to act immediately after wrapping to avoid future troubles.
Car enthusiasts know that changing the vehicle's body color must be registered at the DMV, and this includes wraps. Otherwise, if the color doesn't match the vehicle's registration information, you'll get a ticket if caught by traffic cameras. I've done this a few times: book an appointment online in advance, bring all necessary documents like ID and vehicle registration, fill out a form on-site, get the car inspected, and pay a small fee of 30-50 yuan. The whole process is quick, and you can also ask if the wrap material complies with regulations. Remember not to choose fluorescent or camouflage colors, as they may trigger additional inspections. Reporting the change promptly after wrapping is a responsible practice for yourself and others.
