
For color change registration, either the vehicle owner or a friend can handle it on their behalf. If a friend is handling it, they need to bring the owner's ID card. Additionally, they must bring the "Motor Vehicle Change Registration Application Form", the agent's identity proof, the motor vehicle registration certificate, the motor vehicle driving license, and other required documents. 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%, registration is required, and it must be done within 10 days after the vehicle color change. Precautions for vehicle wrap color change: Before changing the color of a vehicle wrap, it is necessary to consult the vehicle management office where the vehicle is registered to check if the region allows changing vehicle color using wraps. If the region does not support this method, registration cannot be processed after the change, and the wrap must be completely removed to restore the vehicle's original color. Additionally, according to the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations", vehicle owners are no longer required to apply in advance to the vehicle management office. They can first change the vehicle color, install body kits, replace the engine, etc., and then apply for change registration with the vehicle management office. According to Article 10, registered motor vehicles must apply for change 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. Whole vehicle replacement due to quality issues. Change of use nature, such as commercial vehicles converted to non-commercial use 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 specified patterns and equipped with alarms and signal lights as required. Other motor vehicles are prohibited from painting, installing, or using patterns, alarms, or signal lights that are exclusive to or resemble those of the aforementioned vehicles. Article 56 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations" states that if the body color is changed without going through the required change registration, the public security traffic management department may issue a warning or impose a fine. The vehicle may also be impounded and required to revert to its original color.

I remember my experience of filing the record after changing my car paint to bright blue a few years ago. The car owner indeed needs to visit the vehicle management office in person. The reason is quite simple—mainly to verify identity and prevent fraud. Bring your ID card, vehicle registration certificate, and driving license, and it’s best to take photos of the car’s current condition in advance. I chose a weekday afternoon when there were fewer people, and it took about two hours to complete the inspection and license replacement. If you really can’t make it, you can entrust a relative or friend to handle it on your behalf, but they must bring a notarized power of attorney and valid IDs from both parties; otherwise, the trip will be in vain. Additional reminder: File the record within 10 days after the color change, or you may face fines from traffic police or issues during the annual inspection—don’t delay too long.

When filing for a color change registration at the DMV, it's usually mandatory for the vehicle owner to be present in person. You must bring your ID card, vehicle license, and vehicle registration certificate for verification, along with an on-site vehicle inspection and photo-taking. If the owner is unavailable, delegated processing is an option, but it requires a notarized power of attorney to confirm authorization. The process is relatively straightforward: visiting on a weekday morning speeds things up, and after completion, only the photo page of the vehicle license needs updating. Skipping this registration carries significant risks, such as failing the annual inspection or facing fines, so it's advisable to handle it promptly without skipping this step.

When it comes to registering a color change for your car, the owner must appear in person—there's no way around it. The DMV needs to see both the person and the car in person to prevent fraudulent activities. Just bring your documents, go there directly, and get the car inspected and photographed; if you're delegating the task, you'll have to deal with the hassle of notarizing a power of attorney. Don't skip this step out of laziness, or you might face bigger issues during a traffic stop—definitely not worth it. After all, one trip saves you a lot of trouble.


