What is the procedure for changing my car colour?
Changing your car colour needs to have some requirements filled. According to the law, The Motor Vehicles Act, Section 52, deals with vehicle modifications. You must follow some legal procedure, or police can detain your car for not informing your RTO and not following the legal process.
For changing your car colour to a similar shade
If you have a car in two shades, it can be changed to either colour. For example, if you have a car in black colour in white shade and want to change in complete white. You can do it, but you have to keep some black paint. For that, you don't need to follow any legal procedure. But you must leave a slight shade of another colour, or it won't be permitted.
For changing your car to a completely different colour
If you want to change your car to a different colour, you need to follow a legal procedure. Section 52 of the Motor vehicles Act deals with alterations made to the vehicle. Here are the simple steps you must follow to change your car colour in India.
Fill out the form NAMV
First, you need to fill the form NAMV. You can download this form easily from the internet or go to your local RTO office. You need to make a photocopy of the original document as it requires two forms for this procedure. You need to fill the form with your name, car model, and desired change in car colour. Remember to fill in the exact shade and colour. It can't be vague. Your local RTO office employees can help you with this.
Go to your local RTO office
After filling out the form, get to your local RTO office and pay the service charges. Then they will get the signature of the RTO and return one form to you. Taking your RC book and car with colour shade examples is also better. After that, you have to wait for their approval. Going to the RTO office where you got your RC book is better. Again, remember to fill in the exact colour you want in the form. Then the RTO officer will check your request and decide if they can accept this request or not. They will usually accept your request unless there is some problem with your form or car.
Getting approval
After your approval letter, you can change your car colour from any shop you desire. After that, you still need to go to the RTO office. Bring your RC book with you, as it will need an update. An RTO officer will check your modified car. The RTO officer needs to approve your changed colour. For that, you need to paint the exact colour you mentioned in your form, and it can't be even a different shade of the same colour, and they will update your RC book with your updated colour.
Inform the car insurance company about the colour change
If you have car insurance, you need to inform your car insurance company before getting a colour or else you can get a penalty charge, and your premiums can also be high. As you might change your car colour, it can damage the body, or good colour paint artwork can make your car more likely to be stolen, increasing your premium. Also, you might not get money from your car insurance for any future problems even if the insurance covers those problems fees because you didn't inform your insurance company about the change. And they can cancel or reject your insurance money for not telling them beforehand. So it's better to ask their permission and consult with them before the change.
Conclusion
In conclusion, changing your car colour is legal, but you need to have RTC permission. And after getting the RTC permission, you can change your car colour, and then your car needs to be rechecked by the RTC officer, and your RC book will be updated. Then you can legally drive your changer colour car.
But it's also essential to inform your car insurance company as it can change your monthly premium fees. And it can create problems in getting money for future needs if they know that you changed your car colour without informing them, so if you have car insurance consult them before changing the car colour.
