A motorist wants to refresh the appearance of their car, for example, by applying some design to the body. Immediately, the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 1388 of September 7, 1998, which regulates the procedure for registering vehicles, comes to mind. In particular, it states:
33. Re-registration of a car is mandatory when replacing a lost or damaged registration certificate, when changing the owner or parking location, when changing the name or address of the owning company, as well as when changing the place of residence or personal data of the individual owner. In addition, the procedure is required when changing the color, converting the car, replacing the body or other parts with identification numbers.
So, does it mean that after painting a couple of flowers on the hood and fender, you need to go to the traffic police? Fortunately, this is not the case.
Since the wording of resolution No. 1388 was not clear either for drivers or for the inspectors themselves, by order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine No. 379 of August 11, 2010, a new version of the instruction on registration and accounting of vehicles was introduced. In this document, the issue of color is spelled out more clearly:
7.7. In the "Color" field, the main color of the vehicle is indicated according to the color classifier.
Pay attention to the term "main color." Neither in the traffic rules nor in the mentioned "Registration Procedure" is there a clear definition of this concept. But now we can confidently say that designs on the fenders or a hood repainted in a different color do not require re-registration of the car.
The most specific clarification regarding permissible painting can be found in the order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine No. 12 of January 11, 2005, concerning the accounting of stolen license plates and documents:
3.6. In the "Color" field, the color code is entered according to the reference classifier. If the paint is combined, then the color code of the lower part of the passenger car is recorded. For trucks, the color of the cab is indicated.
It follows from this that the upper part of the car — the roof, hood, trunk lid — can be painted in any color the owner likes, and this will not be a reason for re-registration.
In addition, it is allowed to use various shades of the main color almost without restrictions.
Difficulties may arise when crossing the border: for example, in Russia there is a requirement that at least 70% of the car must be painted in the "original" color.
Advertising on a car
Special attention should be paid to the issue of placing advertising on vehicles.
From July 23, 2001 to October 25, 2004, the order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine No. 583 was in effect, which established requirements for advertising on cars. According to this document:
2.4.1. It was prohibited to place advertising on glass (except for a transparent roof) and rear-view mirrors, as well as on the front and rear surfaces of the car, unless it was about the hood, engine, or trunk with an angle of inclination of no more than 45 degrees from the vertical.
2.4.2. The advertising area could not exceed half the area of the painted external surfaces on which it was placed. In addition, it should not hide the actual color of the car specified in the registration documents.
Also, to install advertising, it was necessary to obtain approvals from various authorities.
However, as already mentioned, order No. 583 was canceled in 2004 due to changes in legislation and the contradictions that arose in connection with this. It was canceled completely, including the points concerning color standards.
Moreover, the new Law of Ukraine on Advertising establishes the following:
Article 18. Advertising on transport
1. Placement of advertising on transport is coordinated only with the owners of vehicles or persons authorized by them. At the same time, it is prohibited to interfere with the form and content of advertising.
2. Advertising on transport must comply with safety requirements and traffic rules.
3. Subject to these requirements, it is prohibited to require vehicle owners to obtain any permits or approvals for placing advertising.
4. On vehicles, it is prohibited to place:
- advertising that imitates the color schemes of special or operational vehicles;
- advertising using reflective materials;
- advertising accompanied by sound or light signals.
It is prohibited to place advertising on glass (transparent) surfaces, except when materials are used that do not obstruct the view from the interior.
Thus, now there is no need for any approvals from the traffic police to place advertising on a car. The only condition is that the advertising must not impair the driver's view.
Summary
- If, as a result of painting or stickers, the main color of the car changes, it must be re-registered. The main color is considered to be the color of the lower part of the car.
- Now you can place advertising on transport without approvals from the traffic police, the main thing is not to block the view from the interior.
- There is still no clear definition of at what degree of partial color change re-registration is required. Even significant changes in registration rules adopted this year have not brought clarity to this issue. However, just as the "color standards" were canceled in 2004, they can be returned at any time.
