How to Change Vehicle Color When Away from Home?

[VanFelicity]

The newly revised "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations" by the Ministry of Public Security came into effect on May 1, 2022. If you want to change your vehicle's color while away from home, you no longer need to return to the original registration location. The color change registration can be processed at the local vehicle management office. For small and micro passenger vehicles applying for a registration change due to a color alteration, if the vehicle is not in its registered location, the application can be submitted to the vehicle management office at the vehicle's current location. The local vehicle management office will inspect the vehicle according to regulations, review the submitted documents and certificates, and electronically transfer the inspection data to the registration office, which will then review and issue a new driving license as per regulations. To apply for a vehicle color change, the following documents are required: "Motor Vehicle Change Registration Application Form," original and photocopy of the identity proofs of the vehicle owner and agent, original vehicle registration certificate (green book), original vehicle driving license, and payment of all fines incurred before the color change. 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%, no registration change is required. Conversely, if it exceeds 30%, the change must be recorded, and registration must be completed within 10 days after the color change. Precautions for changing vehicle wrap color: Before preparing to change the color of a vehicle wrap, consult the vehicle management office where the vehicle is registered to confirm whether the region permits changing vehicle color via wraps. If the region does not support this method, registration cannot be processed after the change, and the wrap must be entirely removed to restore the original vehicle 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 for a registration change. According to Article 10, registered motor vehicles must apply for a registration change 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 usage nature, such as converting a commercial vehicle to non-commercial 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 display designated patterns and install alarms and signal lights as required. Other motor vehicles are prohibited from using patterns, alarms, or signal lights exclusive to or resembling those of the aforementioned vehicles. According to Article 56 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations," if a vehicle color change is not registered as required, the traffic management department of the public security authority may issue a warning or impose a fine. The vehicle may also be impounded and required to revert to its original color.

[MarleyAnn]

I was on a business trip out of town when I suddenly wanted to change the color of my car. I was a bit hesitant, but the actual process turned out to be quite simple. First, I searched online for local car detailing shops or specialized color-changing chain stores and picked one with high ratings. I recommend calling ahead to confirm the price and the time required—most shops can finish the job within the same day. After the color change, you must immediately go to the local vehicle management office to complete the registration procedure, as the change in vehicle color needs to be documented. Otherwise, you could be fined if caught driving back without the update. Last time, I had mine done in Shanghai for a little over a thousand yuan, opting for a metallic gray that looked great. Remember to bring your vehicle license and ID card—the registration fee is just a few dozen yuan. The whole process was smooth. If you're unsure about the quality of the shop, check local forums or ask the hotel front desk for recommendations.