What procedures are required for vehicle color change?
3 Answers
To apply for a change in the color of a motor vehicle, the following documents must be submitted in accordance with the "Road Traffic Safety Law": "Application Form for Motor Vehicle Modification Registration." Proof of identity of the motor vehicle owner and agent. Motor vehicle registration certificate. Motor vehicle license. 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 modification registration is required. Conversely, if it exceeds 30%, it must be filed and recorded, and registration must be completed within 10 days after the vehicle color change. Precautions for vehicle color change: Before changing 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 the use of film wrapping to change the vehicle color. If the region does not support this method, the modification cannot be filed, and the film must be completely removed to restore the vehicle's original 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 modification registration with the vehicle management office. According to Article 10, registered motor vehicles must apply for modification 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. Replacement of the entire vehicle due to quality issues. Change of use, such as converting a commercial vehicle to a non-commercial vehicle or vice versa. Change of the motor vehicle owner's residence, moving in or out of 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 designated 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 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 completing the required modification 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've changed my car color a few times before, and the process isn't too complicated, but you have to follow the rules. First, check the local DMV website to download the modification registration form or fill it out on-site. Prepare these materials: the original and photocopy of the car owner's ID, vehicle registration certificate, driving license, and photos of the tax payment certificate. Don’t forget, you must complete the procedure within ten days after the color change, otherwise, you’ll be fined 200 yuan and receive penalty points if caught by traffic police. I recommend avoiding warning colors like police car blue or red to avoid trouble. The whole process takes about half an hour, including the staff inspecting the car to confirm the color compliance, and the fee is around 50 yuan. If you hire someone to paint the car, make sure to choose a qualified shop for quality assurance to avoid issues like fading or bubbling. Delaying the procedure will make driving on the road quite nerve-wracking.
Before changing your car's color, ensuring the legality of the procedure is crucial. I've seen cases where people didn't go through the proper channels and ended up with their cars impounded and fined. You need to apply for a color change at the vehicle management office, bringing basic documents like your ID card, vehicle registration certificate, and driving license. The process is quite safe, checking whether the color is too reflective to affect nighttime recognition; avoid fluorescent colors or excessive patterns, as they can easily cause trouble. If you're doing it yourself, park your car properly first and take front and rear photos as evidence to submit. The process can be as quick as ten minutes or take up to an hour at most, with minimal fees but saving you a lot of trouble. Note that color changes involving body advertisements require additional permits, otherwise, it's a violation. Every time I finish a color change, I check that all markings are intact—safety first.
