Truck License Plate Refurbishment: Legal or Illegal?

“A license plate is like a citizen’s ID card,” a common saying among truck drivers that holds much truth. But did you know that refurbishing your truck’s license plate could “accidentally” become a violation of the law?

New truck license plate

The Purpose of Truck License Plate Refurbishment

Truck license plate refurbishment often serves the following purposes:

• Renewing the license plate: After prolonged use, a truck’s license plate can become chipped or faded. Refurbishment helps restore its clarity and aesthetics.
• Improving Feng Shui: Many believe that a beautiful license plate with good Feng Shui will bring luck and prosperity in business.
• Personalization: Owners may want to add a personal touch to their vehicles.

However, it’s crucial to distinguish between “refurbishment” and “alteration” of a license plate.

Legally Refurbishing Your Truck’s License Plate

According to traffic laws, truck license plate refurbishment is permitted in the following cases:

• Cleaning the license plate: Keeping the license plate clean and legible.
• Repainting the license plate: When the license plate is chipped or faded, the owner can repaint it according to the prescribed colors and dimensions.
• Replacing the license plate: When the license plate is lost or damaged, the owner must contact the authorities for a replacement.

Conversely, the following actions are considered illegal:

• Intentionally obscuring the license plate: Using tape, paper, mud, etc., to cover part or all of the license plate.
• Using a fake license plate: Installing a counterfeit or another vehicle’s license plate on your truck.
• Bending or folding the license plate: Deforming the license plate, making it difficult to identify.
• Altering information on the license plate: Unauthorized modification, addition, or removal of characters or numbers on the license plate.

Traffic police inspecting a truck's license plate

Arguments & Evidence

Refurbishing a truck’s license plate to conceal information and hinder traffic control is a violation of the law. This is clearly stipulated in the Road Traffic Law and related legal documents.

Examples:

• Mr. Tuan, wanting a “unique” and “unusual” license plate, altered the font and size of the numbers on his truck’s plate. This violated regulations regarding license plate size and font.
• Ms. Lan, believing her truck’s license plate number was “unlucky,” used black tape to partially cover some numbers. Obscuring the license plate is a legal violation.

Consequences of Illegal License Plate Refurbishment

Illegal truck license plate refurbishment can lead to serious consequences:

• Administrative fines: Fines can reach tens of millions of VND, and may even result in driver’s license suspension.
• Obstacles to traffic management: License plates are crucial for authorities to monitor and manage vehicles. Obscured or counterfeit plates hinder patrols, inspections, and traffic violation processing.
• Threats to public safety: Vehicles with fake or obscured license plates can be used for illegal activities such as theft, robbery, hit-and-run accidents, etc.

What to Do When You Want to Refurbish Your Truck’s License Plate

To ensure legal license plate refurbishment, keep the following in mind:

• Only clean or repaint the license plate when necessary and in accordance with regulations.
• For license plate replacement, visit the vehicle registration office to complete the necessary procedures.
• Do not modify the structure or information on the license plate.
• Consult experienced individuals or legal professionals for specific advice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Truck License Plate Refurbishment:

• How much does it cost to repaint a truck license plate? Repainting usually isn’t expensive, ranging from a few tens to a few hundred thousand VND.
• How long does it take to replace a truck license plate? Depending on the specific case, it can take from a few days to a few weeks.
• What is the procedure for transferring ownership of a truck license plate? You can refer to the article “How much does it cost to register a license plate?” on our website for more details.

Related Truck Services

• Responsibilities of truck owners when leasing their vehicles.
• Regulations on truck bed modifications.
• Procedures for registering a new truck license plate.

Truck traveling on the highway

Conclusion

Refurbishing a truck’s license plate is a legitimate need for owners. However, understanding the legal regulations is crucial to avoid unnecessary trouble. Be a responsible owner, enhancing your “beloved vehicle” while complying with the law.

Do you have any questions about trucks or need service advice? Don’t hesitate to contact XE TẢI HÀ NỘI Dealership or call our Hotline: 0968 239 999 for 24/7 support.

We are always ready to accompany you on every road!