Does changing the color of a car's grille affect the annual inspection?
2 Answers
Changing the color of the grille before a new car is registered does not affect the annual inspection. However, if the grille is replaced after the new car is registered, it is necessary to go to the vehicle management office for re-registration and update the driving license; otherwise, it will affect the annual inspection. According to the relevant national regulations on car modifications, the following conditions will not be approved for modification registration: 1. Engine: Changing the brand, model, or engine type of the vehicle, except for engines that are permitted by the national automotive product authority. 2. Registration: Changing the registered appearance or technical data of the vehicle, unless otherwise stipulated by laws, regulations, or national mandatory standards. Decorative items such as rearview mirrors, small stickers, or small spoilers do not require registration, but color changes, wheel replacements, or full-body kits must be registered. Additionally, when modifying a car, it is essential not to damage the original body structure or electrical wiring to avoid potential safety hazards.
I learned my lesson the hard way when I changed the color of my grille last time—it got flagged during the annual inspection. The inspector compared it with the photo on my vehicle license and said changing the grille from silver to glossy black counted as an exterior modification, requiring restoration to original or official registration changes. Later, a friend at the DMV explained that any color change on the front face affects feature recognition, especially around the emblem area. He advised me to visit the DMV within ten days after recoloring, bringing my ID to update the vehicle license photo for a small fee. Now, whenever I see those online posts about red, yellow, blue, or green grille mods, I always warn: you might slip through in lenient inspection areas, but stricter regions will definitely enforce corrections.
