It's the question almost everyone asks before wrapping a car: "will it pass the test?", "do I need to tell anyone?". The good news: almost everything you can do with vinyl is perfectly legal and needs no paperwork. Four things do need your attention, though: a full colour change, the windows, the lights and mirror chrome.
This guide is for general information and covers the rules that apply across the EU, with notes for Ireland, Estonia and Bulgaria. Rules change and every test centre has its own view: if you have doubts about a specific case, check with your vehicle registration authority or your test centre before you start.
Changing the colour of the whole car
Changing the colour, by paint or by vinyl, is not a modification that needs a new approval or an extra test. But the colour appears on your vehicle's registration certificate, so if you wrap the whole car and its main colour changes, you should update it:
- Ireland: contact the Vehicle Registration Unit (VRU) of the Department of Transport to update the colour on your vehicle registration certificate.
- Estonia: register the change with the Transport Administration (Transpordiamet).
- Bulgaria: report the change to the traffic police vehicle registration office (KAT).
And in every country, tell your insurer: the car will be correctly identified in the event of theft or a claim, and many policies require you to report any change.
Partial changes, such as the roof, the bonnet, the wing mirrors or a chrome delete, don't change the main colour of the car and need no paperwork.
Will a wrapped car pass its test?
Yes. The roadworthiness test (the NCT in Ireland, the tehnoülevaatus in Estonia, the godishen tehnicheski pregled in Bulgaria) checks the safety of the vehicle. The tester may check that the film is well stuck down, with no loose pieces or lifting edges that could come off while driving, and that it doesn't cover the lights, the number plates or the chassis number (VIN) stamped on the body.
Mirror chrome
A few details in chrome are no problem at all. Wrapping the whole car in mirror chrome is another matter: in the sun it can dazzle other road users, and some testers will object. If you want a metallic look on the whole car, matte and satin chromes give a similar effect without the glare.
Window tint
Windows have specific rules:
- Rear side windows and rear window: they can be tinted with an approved film, marked on each window, as long as the car has two exterior wing mirrors.
- Windscreen and front side windows: they must let through a minimum percentage of light, set by each country, so in practice you can't tint them with a dark film. In Ireland the limit is checked at the NCT; if in doubt, ask your test centre.
Our window tint film kit is approved and includes the approval stickers and the certificate to show if you're checked.
Tinted headlights and lights
Lights must keep their colour and brightness: headlights must not be tinted. On rear lights and indicators, a dark tint or a change of colour can make the car fail its test. That's why headlight and light films are mostly used on show or track cars, or on the parts of the light unit that don't shine. The clear protection film, on the other hand, simply protects the headlights from stone chips without changing anything.
Other rules to follow
- Number plates: they must never be covered, tinted or altered in any way.
- Advertising livery: it's allowed, but must not imitate emergency, police or public service vehicles. We cover it in vehicle signage.
- Wing mirrors: wrap the housing, never the glass.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to register a car wrap?
Only if you wrap the whole car and its main colour changes: then update the colour on your registration certificate with your vehicle registration authority (the VRU in Ireland, the Transport Administration in Estonia, KAT in Bulgaria). Partial wraps need no paperwork. Always tell your insurer.
Will a wrapped car pass the roadworthiness test?
Yes. The tester only checks that the film is well stuck down, that it doesn't cover the lights, the plates or the chassis number, and that nothing could come off.
Is it legal to tint my car windows?
Yes, on the rear side windows and the rear window, with an approved film and two exterior wing mirrors. The windscreen and front side windows must let through a minimum amount of light, so in practice you cannot tint them.
Can I tint my headlights?
Headlights must not be tinted, because it changes the light they give out. On rear lights, a dark tint or a change of colour can make the car fail its test.
