Govt warns against illegal vehicle colour changes, orders crackdown

The Government has raised concern over the rising number of motorists illegally changing the colour of their vehicles—commonly through “vehicle wrapping”—without updating official registration records. Ministry of Transport and Logistics Principal Public Relations Officer, Enerst Chanda, said the practice was unlawful and posed a serious security risk, as it could be used by criminals to conceal the identity of vehicles involved in illegal activities. In a statement issued in Lusaka on Monday, Chanda warned that authorities would not allow the vice to persist.

“The Minister of Transport and Logistics hereby directs the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA), working jointly with the Zambia Police Service, to immediately step up enforcement to curb this vice across the country,” he said. He said enforcement measures would include intensified vehicle inspections during fitness certification, real-time roadside verification of vehicle details, and the use of smart enforcement tools such as digital systems and artificial intelligence to detect non-compliance. Chanda reminded vehicle owners that any change in vehicle colour must first be declared to the police and subsequently reported to RTSA for updating of registration records.

He cited provisions in the Road Traffic laws, noting that a vehicle’s colour was a legally recognised identifying feature, just like the chassis number, engine number, or body type. “The Road Traffic Regulations… provide for the colour of a motor vehicle as a registered particular,” he said. Chanda added that failure to notify authorities of such changes constituted an offence under the law and attracted penalties, including fines of up to 3,000 penalty units for repeat offenders.

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He warned that non-compliant motorists risked having their vehicles impounded. Chanda urged the public to comply with regulations and avoid altering vehicle colours without following the prescribed legal procedures. “The Ministry will also continue to enhance public awareness to ensure citizens understand and comply with vehicle registration requirements,” he said. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.

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