Do I need to tell the DVLA if I have vehicle graphics added to my car?
Adding graphics to a car is a useful form of promotion for businesses, but it can also simply be a creative way to customise it.
That said, it is not as simple as just designing some graphics and slapping them onto your car. There are legal issues to deal with; mostly involving the Driver Vehicle and Licensing Agency (DVLA). You will have to let this organisation know if you are adding graphics to your car.
Here’s why and what to do.
Why do you have to tell the DVLA?
The main reason why you have to inform them about vehicle graphics is that they are regarded as changing the colour of the vehicle. The information that the DVLA keeps about all cars in the UK – such as their colour, model and make – is referred to by the police when conducting investigations. If you give your car an all-body wrap that effectively changes its colour, this information will be inaccurate unless you inform the DVLA of the change. It became a legal requirement in 2017.
How to notify the DVLA
The process of letting the organisation know about your car graphics is straightforward, but has several steps. The first will involve updating the certificate known as V5C, which is the vehicle registration. It is section 7 of the V5C that you will have to fill out. There will be a part of the form that concerns vehicle colour changes.
The second step is to send the completed V5C certificate to the DVLA. The organisation is based in Swansea, so this is where you will need to send the paperwork. Once it has received the update, it will send out a replacement certificate. This usually takes between two and four weeks.
Notifying your insurance provider
The other remaining hurdle is informing your car insurance provider about the graphics. This should be done before they are added to the car, just in case it will invalidate your policy. Failure to let the insurance company know can mean they do not pay out on your claim.
For quality vehicle livery in Manchester, contact Ainsley Signs today.