Does the car color change registration require the owner to go in person?
2 Answers
For the color change registration, either the car owner or a friend can handle it on behalf of the owner. If a friend is handling it, they need to bring the owner's ID card, along with the "Motor Vehicle Change Registration Application Form", the agent's identity proof, the motor vehicle registration certificate, and the motor vehicle driving license. 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. On the contrary, if it exceeds 30%, registration is required, and it must be done within 10 days after the vehicle color change. Precautions for vehicle wrap color change: Before preparing to change the color of the vehicle wrap, it is necessary to consult the vehicle management office where the vehicle is registered to see if the region allows the use of wraps to change the vehicle color. If the region does not support this method, the registration procedure cannot be processed after the change, and the wrap must be completely removed to restore the original color of the vehicle. 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 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 changed to non-commercial vehicles or vice versa. The 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 emblem lights as required. Other motor vehicles are not allowed to paint, install, or use the emblem patterns, alarms, or emblem lights exclusive to the above-mentioned vehicles or similar to them. Article 56 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations" states that if the body color is changed without going through 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 restore the original body color.
I just had my car repainted last month and went through the registration process. You really don’t need to go in person—just delegate someone to take the required documents to the DMV. I had my brother handle it; he brought a copy of my ID, the original vehicle registration, and a handwritten authorization letter I signed. The process was smooth, mainly involving updating the registration photo, though it took half a day. If the color change is minor, like just going from light to dark, they might require a factory confirmation. I’d recommend doing it early—if you delay and get pulled over, the fine isn’t worth it. Registering the color change ensures your car is road-legal, so don’t cut corners. Having all the documents ready saves a lot of hassle.
