(Newswire.net — April 6, 2020) — The legality of painting your vehicle at home has several variables to be considered, so there is no simple yes or no answer.
Vehicle Identification
As far as vehicle identification laws are concerned you can paint your car any color that you like. Even though your car title has the car listed as a specific color you can change the color as long as you do not interfere, change, or alter the vehicle identification number.
Your vehicle identification number is what is used to ultimately discern whether a vehicle is yours or not. The color of the vehicle is not.
EPA Regulations
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does regulate automobile painting. This agency regulate any spray application to anything that is made of metal or plastic if the paint or coating that is being used contains Chromium, manganese, lead, nickel, and cadmium.
When you are painting a vehicle and your paint substance contains any one or more of these substances then the EPA declares that you must do the work in a facility that has been inspected by the EPA and approved to use these items. EPA regulated and inspected equipment must be used to paint the vehicle and the individual who is using the equipment has to have attended training courses and have a certificate showing they passed their training course.
Paints you can use at Home
The EPA does allow you to paint your vehicle at home as long as the paint you use is water based or plastic bound. You have to apply this type of paint with a high volume, low pressure sprayer or an airless paint sprayer.
Warnings about Painting your Car at Home
When you paint a car at home you will want to establish a paint booth or enclosed area to paint in. The enclosed area stops external contaminants from being introduced to the paint while it is wet and marring the finish. Dirt, dust, pollen, and other particles are prevented from coming in contact with your vehicle until the paint is dry.
The enclosed area allows you to have a place for the paint to dry and keep rain, dew, or other external moistures from touching the car before the paint is cured and sealed with a finish coat.
Paints and lacquers that are used on automobile surfaces are extremely volatile and they can produce hazardous fumes. You must have a properly ventilated area to paint the vehicle, and you must take all of the precautions for fire safety very seriously.
To establish a paint booth that is safe you should use fire core drywall to build the walls from. This drywall should be placed on both sides of the wall for optimum protection. This drywall should also be used to create the ceiling of the paint booth.
A fan should be installed in a paint booth to provide air circulation and adequate ventilation during the painting process. Do not store paints, paint thinner, or any chemicals in the paint booth.
FAQs
Q. Do I have to notify anyone that I have painted my car?
A. You do not have to report that you have painted your car to any government agency or authority. If you sell the car the title will still have the original paint color that the manufacturer painted the car listed on it and that title will never be altered to reflect any other color that the car might be painted.
Q. Does the color of your car affect the insurance on the car?
A. The color of your car does affect how much an insurance company will charge you to insure your vehicle. A red car is said to be more likely to be stolen or stopped and ticketed so people who have red cars pay more for their insurance coverage than people with the same car that is blue or some other color.
Final Thought
You can paint your car a new and exciting color, but you must use the approved types of paints to do so.
Many people do their own paint jobs to save money, but you must have the right spray painter, and the best paint booth possible in order to achieve professional results.