What are the consequences of not filing a record for car color change?
2 Answers
Failure to file a record for changing the vehicle body color will result in a warning or fine penalty according to Article 56 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations", and the vehicle may be impounded to revert to its original color. 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 register the change. Conversely, if it exceeds 30%, it must be filed and recorded, and the change must be registered within 10 days after the vehicle color is altered. Precautions for vehicle color change: Before preparing to change the color of a motor vehicle, it is necessary to consult the vehicle management office where the vehicle is registered to determine whether the region allows motor vehicles to change colors. If the region does not support this method, the filing procedure cannot be processed after the modification, and the vehicle can only be restored to its original color. Documents required for applying to change the body color of a motor vehicle: "Application Form for Motor Vehicle Change Registration". Identity proof of the motor vehicle owner and agent. Motor vehicle registration certificate. Motor vehicle driving license. 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 converting a commercial vehicle to a non-commercial vehicle or vice versa. The motor 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 spray emblem patterns and install alarms and signal lights as required. Other motor vehicles are not allowed to spray, install, or use the emblem patterns, alarms, or signal lights exclusive to or similar to those of the aforementioned vehicles. Article 56 of the "Motor Vehicle Registration Regulations" states that if the body color is changed without registering the change as required, the public security traffic management department will issue a warning or impose a fine. The vehicle may also be impounded to revert to its original color.
I changed my car color from red to black a few days ago and thought it looked cool, so I didn't bother with the registration update. Last Friday on my way to work, I was stopped at a police checkpoint. The officers immediately issued a ticket when they found the color didn't match the license plate records: a 300 yuan fine and 2 points deducted from my driver's license. The bigger hassle came at the annual inspection station at month-end - the staff refused the inspection outright due to the color mismatch, saying I must first complete the modification registration at the DMV. I had to take half-day leave and spent an extra 50 yuan in processing fees. Had an accident occurred, the insurance company would have considered it illegal modification upon checking registration, leading to reduced or denied claims. This experience taught me that skipping color change registration not only costs money but wastes time and energy - it's just asking for trouble.
