What procedures are required to change car paint color?

Many people tend to want to "customize" their cars to express their own style and changing the paint color is a simple way to make a difference at first sight. You can change the paint color as many times as you like in a car's life, as long as you have a new paint color, you need to re-register the car to legally circulate the car.

So what are the procedures? What is the penalty for not re-registering the new paint color?

Penalties prescribed for vehicle owners who change vehicle paint color but do not re-register the certificate

According to Clause 2, Article 30 of Decree 46/2016/ND-CP on administrative sanctions in the field of road traffic, a fine of VND 300,000 to VND 400,000 shall be imposed on individuals and VND 600,000 to VND 800,000 on organizations that are owners of cars, tractors, specialized motorbikes and similar vehicles that arbitrarily change the paint color of the vehicle to a color different from the paint color stated in the Vehicle Registration Certificate; install windshields and door glass that is not safety glass.

According to Circular No. 15/2014/TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security, if the vehicle color changes, the procedure for changing the Vehicle Registration Certificate is prescribed as follows:

1. Profile

a) Vehicle registration declaration (according to the form prescribed in the Circular).

b) Vehicle owner's documents as prescribed (if the vehicle owner is a Vietnamese citizen, present the Identity Card; in case the Identity Card has not been issued or the permanent residence registered in the Identity Card does not match the permanent residence registered in the vehicle registration declaration, present the Family Register).
c) Return vehicle registration certificate.

When completing the procedure to change the vehicle registration certificate and license plate, the vehicle owner does not have to bring the vehicle for inspection (except for modified vehicles or vehicles with changed paint color), but must submit a copy of the vehicle's engine number and chassis number according to regulations.

When changing the vehicle registration certificate and license plate, keep the license plate. In case the vehicle is using a 3-digit or 4-digit license plate or another license plate system, change to a 5-digit license plate according to regulations.

2. Vehicle registration agency

Traffic Police Department, Road and Railway Traffic Police Department of Provincial and Central City Police.

3. Fees

According to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 4 of Circular No. 127/2013/TT-BTC, the fee collection level is as follows: Re-issuance or change of registration certificate for cars in areas I, II, III is 150,000 VND (Except for cars with less than 10 seats (including driver) not operating passenger transport business moving from low-fee areas to high-fee areas, subject to points 4.2 and 4.3, Clause 4 of this Article).