Donnerstag, 07.11.2024
Illegal car wrapping and repainting of vehicles
What is possible and what is not?
from
Dr. jur. Ingo E. FrommLawyer
Specialist in criminal law
Specialist in traffic law
Give me a call: 0261 - 404 99 25
E-Mail:
Car wrapping and painting is still very popular, especially among young drivers, and not just in the tuning scene. Car owners in Germany invest several million euros annually in such vehicle transformations. The possibilities are almost endless, both in terms of painting and wrapping. On the streets, you can increasingly see vehicles with full-surface foiling, such as matt paintwork or particularly eye-catching patterns. The media regularly reports on cases in which high-quality vehicle models in dazzling gold-colored paint and film have to be impounded.
Limits to the choice of vehicle color
The question arises as to what legal limits there are in this regard. Restrictions arise when choosing a film color. Vehicles may be built and equipped in such a way that their normal operation does not harm or endanger, obstruct or inconvenience anyone more than is unavoidable ( Section 30, paragraph 1, item 1 of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO)). In particular, colors that could impair road safety are not permitted. Reflective, luminous or highly shiny films that could dazzle other road users are not allowed. If a vehicle is completely covered with reflective, e.g. silver or gold chrome film, reflected sunlight or headlights can dazzle other road users. In addition, the reflection of the surroundings can make the vehicle difficult for other road users to see in certain situations. Even painting with"Vantablack", considered the "darkest black in the world", is not permitted in Germany as a car paint because it absorbs light almost completely and makes the car difficult to see in traffic. Impersonating police or emergency services is prohibited in Germany. Films that give a vehicle the appearance of being a police car are therefore not permitted on the road. The reason for this is that both police cars and emergency services must be clearly distinguishable in road traffic due to their special status. Therefore, the colors RAL 3000 or RAL 3020 are not permitted for private vehicles.
The legal consequences of violating the law
If changes are made to the vehicle that could be expected to endanger road users, the operating license according to § 19 para. 2 p. 2 StVZO expires. According to No. 214a BKat, a fine of EUR 90 and one point in the driver aptitude register may be imposed. As long as the operating license has expired, the vehicle may no longer be driven on public roads in accordance with Section 19 (5) sentence 1 StVZO. However, according to § 19 para. 5 p. 2 StVZO, trips that are directly related to the reissue of the operating license (e.g. to the technical inspection center) are still permitted. Incidentally, a color change is notifiable, see § 15 FZV. However, the change of color must first take place with the next notifiable change.
There is often a need for advice in this regard. In any case, if a fine is imposed, it is essential to seek the help of a Lawyer specializing in traffic law.
The statements represent initial information that was current for the law applicable in Germany at the time of initial publication. The legal situation may have changed since then. Furthermore, the information provided cannot replace individual advice on a specific matter. Please contact us for this purpose.