Will changing car color without filing be penalized?
2 Answers
Altering the vehicle body color without filing 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 restore its original color. As stipulated in Article 6 of Chapter 2 of the "Road Traffic Safety Law", if the color change area of a motor vehicle does not exceed 30%, no change registration is required. Conversely, if it exceeds 30%, filing is necessary, and registration must be completed within 10 days after the color change. Precautions for vehicle color changes: Before changing the color of a motor vehicle, it is necessary to consult with the vehicle management office where the vehicle is registered to confirm whether color changes are permitted in the region. If the region does not support this method, filing procedures cannot be processed after the change, and the vehicle must be restored to its original color. Documents required for applying to change the vehicle body color: "Motor Vehicle Change Registration Application Form". Identity proofs 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 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 in the following cases: Changing the body color. Replacing the engine. Replacing the body or frame. Replacing the entire vehicle due to quality issues. Changing the use nature, such as converting a commercial vehicle to non-commercial 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 must not spray, install, or use 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 completing the change registration as required, the public security traffic management department will impose a warning or fine. The vehicle may also be impounded to restore its original color.
I previously changed my car's color to blue without filing the modification, and as a result, I was stopped by traffic police on the road, fined 200 yuan, and received penalty points. Later, I obediently went to the vehicle management office, and it only took half an hour to complete the registration without any issues. Actually, you must file the modification within ten days after changing the color; otherwise, if the police check, it can cause a lot of trouble, even affecting the vehicle's annual inspection or insurance claims. I learned my lesson—now, every time I modify something, I check the regulations first to avoid unnecessary expenses and hassle. The filing process is very simple; just bring your ID card and vehicle license. Don’t lose big for small gains.
