Drivers who have altered the appearance of their vehicles are facing a fast-approaching deadline to update their registration details—or risk penalties once a new law takes effect.
State officials are warning that failing to report certain vehicle color changes could lead to legal trouble, including a misdemeanor charge in specific circumstances.
Indiana’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) is urging residents to ensure the color listed on their vehicle registration accurately reflects what’s on the road before January 1, 2026. The law, signed earlier this year by Governor Mike Braun, officially goes into effect at the start of the new year.
The change comes under Senate Enrolled Act 331, which updates how drivers must report exterior modifications to passenger vehicles. Under the new requirements, owners are required to notify the BMV whenever a vehicle’s color is changed through repainting.
The rule also applies to the installation or removal of a partial or full vinyl wrap.
According to the BMV, drivers who fail to report a qualifying color change within 30 days may receive a warning from law enforcement. However, the consequences can be more serious in certain cases.
If a vehicle’s color was altered after being used in the commission of a crime and the change was not reported, the vehicle owner could face a Class C misdemeanor, the agency cautioned.
Drivers can update the color information on their registration by visiting a BMV branch. Those who are already due for registration renewal may also use a BMV Connect kiosk. Updates can additionally be completed online by logging into a myBMV account.
The vehicle color requirement is one of several Indiana laws set to take effect with the new year. Other changes include the state’s “Smart SNAP” policy limiting sugary drinks and candy purchases with SNAP benefits, as well as new consumer data privacy protections and tax updates, including a lower state income tax rate and revised property tax deductions.
