Car Color Change: what you need to know before painting
Sometimes you want a change. And if you can't afford a new car yet, then changing the color of the old one is a very real way to refresh its appearance and add personality. Body painting can dramatically change the perception of a car, but it is a process that requires not only financial costs, but also compliance with certain rules.
Before deciding on such a step, it is worth weighing all the pros and cons, understanding the technology of the process and, importantly, understanding the legal side of the issue. After all, changing the color of the car is subject to mandatory registration.
Why repaint: the motives of the owners
There may be several reasons for completely repainting a car. The most obvious one is the desire to change the appearance, make the car more noticeable, unique, or simply update the annoying color. It's a way of expressing yourself and giving personality to your vehicle.
Another reason is necessity. For example, after an accident, when several body elements are damaged, a complete repainting may be more economically feasible than color matching and painting individual parts. Also, repainting is resorted to with severe wear of the old paintwork (chips, scratches, burnout).
Process technology: don't just wave a brush
A complete repainting of a car is a complex and time–consuming process that requires a professional approach and equipment. It includes several stages:
- Disassembly. Removal of attachments (bumpers, headlights, handles, moldings) for high-quality painting of all elements.
- Surface preparation. Removal of old paint (partially or completely), filling of irregularities, priming. This is the most important stage, which determines the quality and durability of the new coating.
- Painting. Applying a base coat of paint in several layers in a special paint chamber that eliminates dust ingress.
- Varnishing. Applying a protective layer of varnish to add gloss and protect the paint from external influences.
- Drying. Drying of the coating at a certain temperature.
- Polishing and assembly. Final polishing for a perfect shine and installation of the removed parts in place.
High-quality work takes time and is expensive.
The legal aspect: do not forget about the traffic police
The most important point to remember is that changing the color of the car requires re-registration with the traffic police. The color is one of the vehicle identification features specified in its registration documents (PTS and CTC).
After repainting, the owner has 10 days (the time may vary, it is better to clarify the current rules) to contact the traffic police with an application for changes to the registration data. You will need to provide a car for inspection, pay the state duty and get a new STS and a mark in the PTS. Ignoring this requirement can result in fines and problems during further registration or on-road inspections.
Alternatives to full repainting
If a complete repaint seems too difficult or expensive, there are alternative ways to change the color of the car. One of the most popular is vinyl film pasting. This allows you to quickly and relatively inexpensively change the color, and also protects the native paintwork. The film can be removed at any time.
Another option is to paint with liquid rubber. This is also a temporary coating that is applied by spray and creates a matte or glossy surface. Both options also require the re-registration of the color with the traffic police if the main body color changes. The choice between painting, film or liquid rubber depends on the budget, desired result and durability. Melbet stands out as one of the leading bookmakers thanks to its wide selection of sports markets and attractive bonuses. The key to getting the biggest welcome package is using a proven promo code. Right in the center of this excellent opportunity is the exclusive melbet promo code for free bet today when signing up and receive up to $130 as an increased sports welcome bonus on your first deposit. Use these funds on pre-match bets, live betting, accumulators, or virtual sports.