There are two ways to change the appearance of your car: repaint it or cover it with vinyl film. In any case, you cannot do without contacting the State Traffic Inspectorate. Despite the fact that the new color does not affect the design and technical parameters of the vehicle, changing the color of the car in the traffic police is strictly mandatory.
The owner of the car must re-register it, receiving a new registration certificate, and make changes to the registration certificate. If you ignore the rule, the motorist will be fined 500-800 rubles. If the law is violated again, the penalty is 5,000 rubles.
Not everyone knows how to properly register a change in the appearance of a vehicle. In the article we will look at the procedure, deadlines for applying to the State Traffic Inspectorate, the current set of documentation and state fees. We'll tell you how to go through the procedure faster and easier.
Deadlines for applying to the traffic police
Having repainted or covered the car body with vinyl, you should immediately write an application to the MREO. According to current laws, registration of a change in car color with the traffic police is carried out within the first 5 days. Violation of the established deadlines threatens the car owner with fines.
To avoid problems and unexpected expenses, you should choose a branch in advance, make an appointment, and also prepare a complete package of documents for re-registration of a car. You are allowed to undergo the procedure in any department of the city, regardless of your place of residence.
What color combinations should not be used for repainting?
There are rules that must be followed when painting a car. They are associated with the impossibility of using certain color combinations.
Thus, it is prohibited to paint a car in the colors of departments operating on the territory of the Russian Federation.
For quite objective reasons, the use of blue or gray horizontal stripes on a white background, and so on, is not allowed. Changing the color of a car by law implies compliance with car registration processes, and not their external similarity with state ones.
Nuances of changing the appearance of the body
Often, motorists repaint the body unnecessarily to update the appearance of the car. This is not prohibited - the main thing is to follow the established rules, and there will be no fines.
Another reason for changing the appearance of a car is obtaining a taxi license. In Moscow, taxi services can be provided using yellow transport. Therefore, many taxi drivers cover the car body with yellow vinyl film and also apply color markings in the form of black checkers.
What not to do:
- repaint vehicles in the colors of special services (police, ambulance, Ministry of Emergency Situations, gas service and others)
- paint over the part of the body where the VIN code of the vehicle is indicated
Important! The identification marking (VIN code) is applied to the vehicle once and cannot be restored even in factory conditions. If the number is painted over, traffic police inspectors may suspect the owner of such a vehicle of fraud and an attempt to hide the crossed numbers.
As a rule, body numbers are exchanged for stolen cars. In this case, the transport will not be re-registered; it will be detained for further inspection and forensic examination. The procedure takes up to 15 days and is paid by the owner of the vehicle.
Disagreements between the motorist and traffic police representatives may arise if the car is repainted or pasted in the same color as indicated in the title, and is not re-registered. It is the owner of the vehicle who will have to prove that he is right, and this does not always work out. The decision on the legality of the actions of the owner who has repainted or pasted over the body without subsequent re-registration of the STS will be made by traffic police officers. To avoid problems and fines, it is recommended to first consult with the State Traffic Inspectorate.
Algorithm for registering changes
It is difficult to say how difficult and long the procedure for changing the color of a car will be. Much depends on the workload of traffic police officers. But you can make an appointment in advance on the Public Services portal.
What documents are needed to register changes in a car?
The car owner must prepare the following documentation:
- your passport;
- OSAGO policy;
- vehicle passport;
- vehicle registration certificate;
- receipt of payment of state duty.
To change data, the car owner will have to pay the following state fees:
- issuance of a new registration certificate, since changes are not made to an existing document: 350 rubles;
- 350 rubles for making changes to the registration certificate.
The state duty can be paid with a 30 percent discount until January 1, 2021.
How to register repainting online and get a discount? To receive a discount you must:
- an application to the traffic police for changes (due to a change of color) is submitted through the State Services Portal;
- log in or enter your Personal Account on the website;
- the department issues an invoice for payment;
- choose non-cash payment (MasterCard, Visa, Mir card, Webmoney wallet or from a mobile phone (Federal operators).
If all conditions are met, the car owner will receive a discount. You can also use the service’s mobile application to pay.
The application must indicate “register due to color change.”
The car owner comes to the nearest traffic police department with a ready-made package of documentation. If the car is less than three years old (applies to domestic vehicles), it will be checked to see if it is wanted. Foreign cars under 15 years old are also checked.
If you filled out an application using State Services, you can also make an appointment there and appear at the State Traffic Inspectorate at the time and date of your choice. If you go to the traffic police without an appointment, you can fill out an application on the spot.
The traffic police officer will check the car against the database and also check the documents. If there are no shortcomings, he puts a special mark on the application. Then he proceeds to inspect the vehicle in the parking lot. The compliance of the numbers indicated on the body and in the technical passport is checked.
If the outcome is successful, you need to contact your insurance company. There you also need to renew your insurance policy.
Video: How to change the color of a car in documents
VIN number
We remind you that it is better to leave the area with the embossed VIN unpainted.
Remember: it is prohibited to resort to changes in the design of the vehicle if the procedure damages or affects the vehicle markings (VIN number, body, engine, chassis numbers and other information).
The identification marking is applied to the car only once; it cannot be restored even at the factory. They may suspect that by repainting the VIN number you decided to disguise the fact that the number has been interrupted.
Then the car may be detained. Usually the body numbers are interrupted after the car is stolen.
But if the traffic police refuses to make changes for this reason, you need to complain to the Main Department of the Traffic Police.
How to register a change in car color in the traffic police?
The duration of re-registration of a vehicle is approximately the same as its registration. In the Moscow divisions of the State Traffic Inspectorate, the procedure takes about one to two hours. The procedure for changing the color of a car at the traffic police:
- Submitting an application and documentation
- Payment of state duty
- Inspection of the car and verification of identification marks by representatives of the MREO
- Registration and issuance of a new registration certificate, entering new data into the technical passport
Important! The application must indicate the reason for re-issuing the registration certificate. A sample application for changing the color of a traffic police car is presented on the information table in the department. We recommend using an approved template when filling out the form. Applications with errors will be rejected.
Before issuing new documents to the owner, representatives of the State Traffic Inspectorate inspect the vehicle and check whether the car is wanted. Inspectors check the vehicle’s VIN code with the technical passport data. Checking and inspecting the car takes about 20 minutes.
Important! Unlike a technical passport, into which new data can be entered, the registration certificate is reissued; the data in this document cannot be changed.
When all stages have been completed and new documents have been drawn up, the vehicle owner must contact the insurance company and issue a new MTPL insurance policy. You can obtain insurance in person at the office of the insurance company or on its official website. The policy in electronic format does not need to be printed; it can be stored on any mobile device.
Payment of state duty
Services of the State Traffic Inspectorate related to the replacement of documents are paid by the owner of the vehicle. Having repainted or covered the car body with vinyl film, the driver pays a fee of 850 rubles. The amount includes the cost of re-issuing the car registration certificate and entering new data into the registration certificate.
To pay the state fee, you need to go to the cash desk or use a payment terminal. You can also pay the fee in the following ways:
- bank cash desk
- Internet bank
- State Services portal
Regardless of the branch where the car owner applies, the amount of the state duty does not change.
| Issuance of STS | 500 rubles |
| Changing PTS data | 350 rubles |
| Replacement of PTS (if necessary) | 800 rubles |
What documents are needed to change the color of a car at the traffic police?
To re-register a vehicle that has been repainted or covered with vinyl film, the same package of documents is required as for registration. The standard list includes:
- application (form issued at the department)
- civil passport of the vehicle owner (or authorized representative)
- notarized power of attorney (if the document is submitted by the owner’s representative)
- technical passport of the vehicle
- certificate of registration
- purchase and sale agreement (donation agreement or other confirmation of ownership)
- OSAGO civil motor insurance policy
- receipt of payment of state duty
When visiting the State Traffic Inspectorate office, it is recommended to have receipts from the car dealership where the car was repainted or wrapped.
Please note that when re-registering transport owned by a legal entity, an extended set of documents is required. The list includes:
- statement
- passport of the person submitting the documents
- power of attorney to carry out the procedure (must be signed by the head of the company, certified by the official seal of the company)
- payment order for payment of state duty
- copy of extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities
- technical certificate
- certificate of registration
- sales agreement
- rental or leasing agreement (if the car does not belong to the applicant)
- receipt of payment of state duty
When do you need to change the color at the traffic police?
The color change will have to be registered with the traffic police if you repainted the car in a completely different color, and not the same one (for example, it was white, now it is black).
Also, such changes need to be made if you have not completely repainted it, but in such a way that at first glance the car has become a different color. For example, the car was white, but it became black and white. A color change at the traffic police is needed here if the car can be identified as blue.
But there is a great subtlety - this identification is carried out by an inspector when checking documents, stopping you on the road. And he decides whether the car is blue or white. And if this inspector decides that the color has remained the same, then it is far from a fact that the next one at a certain stage of your road life will determine it as well. Therefore, in this case, it is better to change the color officially at the traffic police.
There is also no need to register a color change if the car will not be used but will remain stationary. It is prohibited to drive a vehicle without entering information about its color change.
Do I need to make changes if color film is applied?
Logically, in this case, there seems to be no need to re-register the color change, because the color of the car remains the same - just a film of a different color is glued to the car. However, the law in this case will not be on your side. In this case, it will also be necessary to change the color at the traffic police.
We have a special article with instructions on changing colors when covering with film.
How much does the procedure cost?
Registration actions at the State Traffic Inspectorate are paid. For re-registration of a vehicle for any reason, the owner pays a fixed state fee. The cost of changing the color of a car in the traffic police in 2020-2021 is 850 rubles. The amount includes two services:
- Registration of a new registration certificate – 500 rubles
- Making changes to the technical passport of a vehicle – 350 rubles
Attention! If there is no free space in the vehicle registration certificate for a new entry, you must issue a duplicate; it costs 800 rubles. It is also recommended to obtain a duplicate if the registration certificate is in unsatisfactory condition.
The owner of the vehicle can pay the state duty in any convenient way:
- at the branch cash desk
- via self-service terminal
- in the bank
- via internet banking
- on the State Services website
Re-registration deadline and late fee
For the absence of changes in technical documents on the fact of painting a car, an administrative fine of 800 rubles is provided. In case of repeated violation - up to deprivation of rights.
It is important to know! As a general rule, you need to register a car with a new color within 5 days after changing it. The proof will be the presence of a receipt from the auto repair shop. If it is not provided, the inspector regards this as a fact of evasion of registration.
Replacement of STS through the State Services service
The Public Services service is used by motorists to register with the Moscow traffic police. By registering on the website, you can submit an electronic application, select a suitable branch and time of visit, pay the fee online, avoiding queues at the bank. Registered users with a verified account can use the service. An account is considered confirmed if its data has been verified by the relevant government authorities. After registration, the user’s civil passport and SNILS data are checked by the Pension Fund and the Migration Service of the Russian Federation; confirmation may take several working days.
To change the color of a car in the traffic police through State Services, you need to perform the following steps:
- Log in to the service
- Login to “Personal Account”
- Select a service from the list
- Fill out an application in electronic format (indicate the reason for the application, transport details, owner)
- Select the department where the new STS will be issued, time of visit
- Confirm your application
To pay the state fee, the user will receive details; it can be paid from any bank card or electronic wallet. After payment, you should save the receipt and print it. You also need to print out the application filled out on the website. The owner of the car or his authorized representative must visit the MREO at the appointed time with the original documents. The following procedure is standard - traffic police officers will inspect the car, issue and issue a new STS, and enter new data into the PTS.
After submitting an application and paying the fee, the user receives a notification in the “Personal Account” with confirmation of the entry and instructions. It is recommended to visit the selected site on time, otherwise your registration will be cancelled.
Fines
Each change in vehicle color is accompanied by changes in the registration documentation. Painting is part of the information that is provided when registering a vehicle, and in importance it is on a par with the make of the car, license plates, and year of manufacture.
All information during the vehicle registration procedure is checked during an external inspection. The fine for an unregistered change in the color of a car is regulated by Article 12.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation:
- 500-800 rubles;
- repeated violation - 5,000 rubles or deprivation of rights.
You need to contact the traffic police within 5 days after the color change.
But paying the fine does not relieve you from the further need to make changes to the documents. If a traffic police inspector catches you repainting an unregistered car, you can try to say that you repainted the car just a couple of days ago and were already going to the traffic police to register the changes.
But if the inspector asks to show evidence (any documents from the car service center where the painting was done), you will have to pay a fine.
Car owners who decide to make changes to their vehicle often have a question: “What should I do with the documents if I want to repaint the car a different color?” Let's look at how to re-register the color of a car in the traffic police.
Urgent and affordable re-registration of vehicles after changing the color of the car at the traffic police
Carrying out registration actions at the Moscow State Traffic Inspectorate may be delayed due to queues. Experienced specialists of our company know how to register a change in the color of a car with the traffic police as quickly and correctly as possible. Contact us and get new documents for your car in just 40 minutes!
We offer motorists qualified assistance in MREO, we guarantee that the procedure is carried out officially, compliance with laws, and the absence of fines. By contacting us, you can choose a suitable department of the Moscow traffic police and make an appointment at the nearest convenient time. See the list of branches and work schedule on the website or check with the company consultants by phone.
What is included in the service:
- consultation
- registration in MREO
- filling out an application
- payment of state duty
- client support at MREO
In what cases is re-registration not required when painting?
This event is not considered necessary for motorists who repaint their vehicles by no more than 50%. In general, the main criterion for traffic police officers is the ability to identify a specific car based on technical documents. This must be remembered, as well as the fact that changing the color of a car is a serious matter.
The process of changing the color of a car begins with competent technical design during painting. It is advisable that it be carried out by a professional who will not allow the possibility of a civilian vehicle being turned into a departmental one. Then the driver will have to act, registering the car according to the law, submitting the necessary documents and receiving new ones.
Why should you contact the specialists of our company?
If you collect an incomplete set of documents, or make mistakes in the application, you will not be able to re-register the car quickly and easily. By using the services of professionals, you will complete the procedure of changing the color of your car at the traffic police without queues, spending a minimum of time and effort. Several reasons to contact us:
- qualified services at an affordable price
- no prepayment
- the opportunity to make an appointment at a convenient time in any department in Moscow
- no queues
Our website provides a complete list of services and prices. To make an appointment with the Moscow traffic police and clarify the details, leave a request online or call the phone number listed on the website, consult with a specialist, choose a convenient time for your visit.
Various color options
How is it possible to change the color of your favorite car? There are various painting options: both partial and complete, airbrushing.
There are difficult situations when it is impossible to describe the color, as an option when performing multi-colored airbrushing on the body. The term “painted”, which appeared in the law, has now been replaced by the synonym “applied”; the term describes drawn drawings, gluing parts of the body with film, and pasted symbols. When the driver has doubts about the color change, it would be useful to go to the MREO to clarify the situation and, if necessary, register the changes made in the existing passport of your four-wheeled friend.
Full coloring
Typically, full-body painting is used when the condition of the old paintwork is unsatisfactory and there are pockets of corrosion. If the color changes to a single color, there will be no difficult dispute with traffic police officers.
When changing the color of a car into three or four colors at once, it is prohibited to allow combinations of shades prohibited by law (colors associated with special vehicles). If the choice fell on paint of similar tones, for example, grass, emerald and pistachio, the tone is indicated as green.
Partial staining
According to inspectors, it is allowed to change the color of your iron horse, provided that it is no more than half of the main color of the car.
At the same time, in the database of regulatory documents there are no facts that confirm this position. And the opinion about the legality of the motorist’s actions regarding the changed part of the body color is not always objective on the part of the inspector.
Legal laws previously included the concept of “painted,” which meant a car that was partially or completely repainted. Now it has been replaced by the synonym “applied”, which refers to the application method when gluing any symbols using the sticker method, pasting body parts with colored film or airbrushing. Motorists, after changing the color of their car, are advised to go to the traffic police department to register these changes.
Performing airbrushing
Making drawings on the body of a car is not prohibited by law, so there is no need to go for permission. The procedure in which the re-registration of the color of a car in the traffic police with airbrushing applied to it will be exactly the same as with repainting.
As soon as the car is airbrushed, the color will be described as “combined.” It is necessary to register the application of airbrushing within 5 days, otherwise the motorist will face a fine.
Fine for car color
If a motorist buys a car, it must be registered and undergo a technical inspection.
This is not an easy path, but you cannot bypass it, you cannot refuse it. A vehicle becomes a legal participant in road traffic in precisely this way. The passport of the technical device includes the year of manufacture, its technical characteristics, as well as the color. After some time after using the car, the car owner may wonder whether it is possible to repaint the car in a different color in Russia if he wants to change the boring color.
A color change may be necessary if the vehicle is damaged and the owner decides to tint the damaged areas and at the same time change the color. Let's find out the procedure for registering a car color change with the traffic police in 2021.
What is needed for this? The law prohibits the painting of private cars in the colors of certain government services:
- law enforcement;
- firefighters;
- Ambulance.
Other shades are used without restrictions, one or many. When painting, you need to leave part of the body untouched (where the VIN number is stamped).
This measure will help avoid further problems in the traffic police. If the car is repainted in one color, there should be no problems.
But if there are several colors, and you want to make a small drawing or airbrush, the process can turn into a complex procedure. The regulations of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate list the main colors allowed for use in repainting a car. But when combining several colors, the documents list
Fine for mismatching car color
If a motorist buys a car, it must be registered and undergo a technical inspection. This is not an easy path, but it cannot be avoided, it cannot be abandoned. A vehicle becomes a legal participant in road traffic in precisely this way. The year of manufacture, its technical characteristics, as well as color are entered into the passport of the technical device. Some time after using the car, the car owner may wonder whether it is possible to repaint the car in a different color in Russia if he wants to change the boring color. A color change may be necessary , if the vehicle is damaged and the owner decides to tint the damaged areas and at the same time change the color.
Let's find out the procedure for registering a car color change with the traffic police in 2021.
The law prohibits painting private cars in the colors of some government services: Other shades are used without restrictions, one or many. When painting, you need to leave part of the body untouched (where the VIN number is stamped). This measure will help avoid further problems in the traffic police.
If the car is repainted in one color, there should be no problems. But if there are several colors, and you want to make a small drawing or airbrush, the process can turn into a complex procedure. The traffic police regulations list the main colors allowed for use in repainting a car. But when combining several colors, the documents list all the colors, as well as the method , which was used for painting. Appendix 1 “Regulations on PTS” to the Order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the city.
What is the fine if you don’t change the color at the traffic police?
The issue of a fine for failure to make changes due to a change in the color of the car is very controversial. In practice, on the one hand, inspectors most often issue a fine in the amount of 500 to 800 rubles under Part 1 of Article 12.1 of the Code of Administrative Violations. But if you are caught again driving an unregistered car, then you will be deprived of your license for a period of 1-3 months under Part 1.1 of the same article.
Meanwhile, there is also Article 19.22, part 1 of which also provides for a fine for this in the amount of 1,500 to 2,000 rubles for citizens, from 2,000 to 3,500 rubles for officials and from 5,000 to 10,000 rubles for legal entities.
Both articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses provide for punishment for violations of vehicle registration rules: 12.1 - for driving a car that is not registered in the prescribed manner, and 19.22 - for violating vehicle registration rules. If you are charged under Article 19.22, then it makes no difference whether you are driving a car or whether it is stationary.
There is also one loophole in the issue of fines or deprivation of rights for violations of the registration rules when changing the color of a car. As we wrote above, you were previously given 10 days to make changes. But the inspector who stopped you on the road and discovered that the color in the registration certificate does not match the real color of the car does not know exactly when the car was repainted. Only you could tell him about this. Therefore, the indicated 10 days could flow endlessly.
According to the new law, you immediately do not have the right to drive a car until you make changes to the documents. But there is a loophole here too. In this case, you are required to show the car for inspection at the traffic police MREO. On the one hand, many courts and even traffic police inspectors can meet halfway by not issuing a fine in such a hopeless situation when the car needs to go to the traffic police, but cannot go. On the other hand, this situation is not so hopeless if there is an evacuation service in your city or other locality.
However, you shouldn’t abuse this position and take the traffic police officer for a fool, because if you drive without re-registering your car for years, he will see that the paint has already faded, there are chips and/or scratches. But the question that this will be proof for him that you are not moving right now to register the car is, of course, rhetorical - in practice, it all depends on who you are appealing the inspector’s decision on the fine to. But be prepared for the fact that the presumption of innocence in this case may not work in practice in 2021 - the person who will consider your complaint will ask you as evidence to confirm that you went to the traffic police to register a new color. And if the color of your car according to the documents is the same at this moment, then the complaint will most likely not be satisfied.
