Is Car Color Wrap Considered Illegal Modification?

[DiNora]

If a car's color wrap changes over 30% of the original color and is registered with the vehicle management office, it is not considered illegal modification. However, if it is not registered, it will be deemed illegal. If the color change is less than 30%, no registration is required, and it will not be considered illegal modification. Registration Process: Before registration, clear any traffic violations; call the vehicle management office to schedule a registration appointment; bring ID card, vehicle license, and vehicle registration certificate to the office for photos; collect the photos at the designated window and photocopy the ID card; fill out the 'Vehicle Modification Application Form,' then submit the photos and form to the review window and pay the fee; wait for traffic police to inspect the vehicle. If the inspection is passed, collect the new vehicle license at the designated window; registration is complete. Precautions for Car Color Change: Avoid unconventional colors like chrome or chameleon; do not choose colors identical or similar to special vehicles (ambulances, police cars, fire trucks, or SWAT vehicles), and the car body should not have more than three colors.

[SanLila]

I just had a matte gray color-changing film applied last month, and it's completely legal! The key is to remember to go to the vehicle management office within 10 days to update the registration certificate photo. I deliberately chose a common color scheme back then, and the update was approved in one go. Now when traffic police check the car and see the color matches the registration certificate, they let me pass directly. However, be careful not to choose high-reflectivity mirror films as they can easily dazzle others during night driving. Many people don't know about the regulation that full-vehicle color changes exceeding 30% must be registered - my neighbor got fined 200 yuan for not going promptly after application. Nowadays color-changing films also protect the original factory paint - when you peel it off after 3-5 years, the car still looks brand new, which is quite cost-effective.

[AdrielFitz]

A decade of experience in car modification tells you that applying color-changing films is completely compliant. Focus on two key points: avoid special colors like fire engine red or police car blue, and make sure to bring your ID card, vehicle license, and registration certificate to the DMV for record within 10 days after application. Nowadays, with approval documents, you don’t even need to remove the film—just retake the photo for the vehicle license. Last week, I helped a friend register a car with a chameleon purple film, and the entire process took only half an hour. A word of caution: never use cheap films. I’ve seen cases where low-quality films peeled off the entire paint when removed. Gradient color films are trending now, and as long as they don’t exceed three main colors, they’ll pass inspection.

[EvaFitz]

Color-changing wraps are not considered illegal modifications under traffic regulations. I've studied the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations": you just need to report the color change within ten days. There are three key points: avoid using colors exclusive to special vehicles (like police car blue), wraps covering over 30% of the body must be registered, and the wrap's reflectivity must not exceed 50%. My car has had a carbon fiber pattern wrap for five years and passes annual inspections smoothly. Recently, matte military green is trending, and such conventional colors get instant approval in the DMV registration system. Remember to keep the installation receipt as proof for random checks that the wrap is newly applied and within the time limit.