Is it possible to tint the numbers on a car yourself?

Over time, the state registration plates (numbers) of any car lose their original appearance. Under the influence of rain, snow, sand, dust, reagents and other factors, the black paint on the numbers gradually wears out and the numbers become unreadable.

Different drivers' license plates wear out differently. The degree of wear depends primarily on the operating conditions of the car, on the mileage of the car, as well as on the quality of manufacture of the plates themselves. For example, in the case of a low-quality batch, the numbers may be erased after the first rain. Such numbers are quite rare in practice. More often than not, numbers wear out, so to speak, from time to time.

Today we will talk about what to do if the license plates on your car have been erased . Let's get started.

Let's consider all possible options in turn.

Why is the license plate on a car erased?

After a few years, the paint on the license plate begins to fade and then disappears completely. The cause of wear is most often reagents, sand, salt and stones, which are found in abundance on the roads. Every day they come into contact with the coating of license plates, they gradually reduce the thickness of the paint layer. This happens especially quickly with the front signs, since they bear the brunt of the impact.

Other factors that may cause wear include:

• low quality materials;
• operation in the city;
• mileage;
• accident;
• climate: rain and moisture quickly destroy the paint layer;
• Frequently washing the car with chemicals.

Note! A faulty number must not be used. The traffic police fine for an administrative violation ranges from 500 rubles.

The license plate is considered unreadable provided that at a distance of 20 meters a person with normal vision cannot see at least one letter or number. If the white background is dirty, but the signs can still be read, then this is not considered a violation.

Is it possible to tint the license plate yourself?

You can tint the license plate yourself, but only if the requirements according to GOST are met. Here's what the law says:

• Numbers and letters must be the same height. When touching up, you must not allow the outline of one sign to go beyond the outlined limits.
• The white background should have a reflective coating and a protective hologram, so it is not recommended to touch it. A small scratch or chip can still be painted over. But if the damage is extensive, then it is better to order new numbers.
• Numbers and letters must be black and clearly outlined. This requirement is easy to fulfill if you take a permanent marker.

If you choose the right tools and a certain amount of accuracy, meeting all these conditions will not be difficult.

Where is the paint code indicated on different brands of cars?

The paint code is located in different places on the nameplate.

1. For German and Korean vehicles, this is the left side.

1. For French cars it is on the right.

1. For American and Japanese cars - in the lower part.

What can you tint with?

To restore a car license plate, only waterproof products can be used. The more stable they are, the better - this way the letters will remain visible longer.

Marker

The easiest and fastest way to tint the number is with a marker. Suitable for both waterproof and industrial use for greasy or dusty surfaces. Excess strokes can be removed using a cotton pad soaked in solvent. To avoid going beyond the contour, you can use a plastic card or ruler.

Price

Let's do a comparative analysis of the cost of all the considered methods of restoring license plates.

Naturally, the comparison will be approximate, since prices for the necessary materials vary depending on the volume of packaging, the manufacturer’s brand, the city and region of purchase.

Table 1. Comparison of costs of different methods.

In the case of producing a duplicate number, the cost of producing two license plates is indicated; if it is necessary to replace only one number, the cost will also be halved.

How to paint a number correctly

The sign restoration procedure will be successful if you properly prepare for it and do the following:

1. Rent a room. To do this, you need to bend the outer side of the plastic frame, pry the sign, and then pull it out.
2. Completely clear old symbols. This is necessary so that the new coat of paint lays down evenly. For work, you can use fine-grained sandpaper.
3. If there is rust on the metal, then a converter must be applied to the affected areas.
4. Wash the sign in warm water and soap. This solution best cleans the surface of foreign impurities.
5. Degrease the surface.
6. Cover the white part of the number with construction paper tape so that only the letters and numbers are exposed.
7. Spray paint from a can or touch up with a marker.
8. Wait until the first coat dries and then apply another one.
9. Carefully peel off the construction tape from the surface of the sign.

After completing the work, you cannot immediately put the license plate back on - it needs to be allowed to dry for several hours. Otherwise, all the dirt and dust will collect on the freshly painted numbers.

Important! If paint accidentally gets outside the contour, it can be removed using a degreaser.

What to do if painting doesn't help

If you don’t neglect the situation and touch up the number on time, it can last for many more years. But in some cases, no restoration helps. A way out of the situation may be to make a duplicate or completely replace the plates. Private organizations have the right to reissue state license plates. Buying a copy will cost 900-1500 rubles per copy. This option has only one drawback - an unscrupulous company can make a sign from low-quality materials. This number will not last long, and the paint will peel off within a few months.

Replacement of state numbers

The most reliable way to replace license plates is to make new ones. To do this, you need to contact the traffic police and pay a fee of 2000 rubles for both signs. But the amount can be reduced if you pay the receipt through State Services.

License plates on cars should be clearly visible even in the dark - after all, this is one of the ways to recognize the owner of the car. If this rule is violated, the traffic police officer may issue a fine to the owner. To prevent this from happening, you can tint the sign with a marker or paint, make a duplicate of it, or make a new set.

Recommendations for recovery

When problems arise with the readability of the plate, motorists immediately have a question about how best to tint the license plate.

First, remember that you should only use paints with waterproof properties. Any other material will begin to flow upon slight contact with water or moisture. Choose quality paints so you don't have to touch up every week.

Typically, license plates on cars are repainted using:

• oil paints;
• alkyd enamels;
• nitro paints;
• markers with nitro enamel;
• permanent markers.

In practice, several popular and effective methods are used to restore numbers and letters on a registration number. Each of them has its own nuances and recommendations for use. So that you do not have unnecessary questions, we will consider the main techniques separately.

Use of aerosols

Automotive chemical stores have a huge assortment of paint in cans, which is designed to restore the paintwork on the body. These aerosols are perfect for solving our problem. They are inexpensive and available literally everywhere.

At first it may seem that using an aerosol is the simplest method of restoration. But don't rush to conclusions. This has its own difficulties and subtleties that are important to observe during recovery.

We will tell you in detail what needs to be done if the license plate on the car is erased and the letters wear out faster than the driver expected. First, buy a can of high-quality black paint. Then follow in a certain sequence.

1. The license plate must be cleaned of all existing dirt. Make sure the sign is completely dry before applying paint. Also be sure to use a degreaser. This will allow the paint to adhere better to the surface and allow you to create an even, neat layer.

   

2. Take masking tape. It is sold at any building materials store. Tape the white background very carefully so that paint does not get on it when using an aerosol. For letters, it is important to create smooth outlines according to their standard size.
3. Shake the can thoroughly to mix all the ingredients together. When paint sits for a long time, sediment may form. Now apply an equal layer of paint to the surface of the sign, partially covered with tape in advance. Even if only one letter or number is erased, it is better to update all the symbols at once.
4. Wait about 5 minutes. This will allow the paint to set. Therefore, you need to apply 1 more layer. In general, experienced motorists are confident that for the best effect, at least 3 layers should be applied.
5. Wait for the last coat of spray paint to dry completely. You can remove the masking tape.
6. Before driving your car anywhere from the garage, it is recommended to wait another 2-3 hours.

The main difficulty of the method is creating precise and even boundaries. Therefore, with such tinting, it often turns out that the symbols become different sizes and change their thickness. That is, this is how state standards are violated.

If you choose the spray painting method, be careful to cut out the outlines and do not let the paint get on the white background.

Dipping

If problems arise with the state plate of the car, you can also tint the state number using the dipping method. Here, unlike the previous option, you get clear and even boundaries. But working with a sign is even more difficult. Maximum concentration is required. If you do something wrong, the license plate will be completely damaged.

To work, you will need to take nitro enamel or other paint with waterproof properties. Everything looks like this step by step:

1. If you want to get a really high-quality result, take the time to first wash off all the dirt from the plate and run a degreaser over the surface. This preparation for application allows for excellent paint adhesion.
2. You will also need a flat board. Its dimensions must be at least slightly larger than the dimensions of the state registration plate itself.
3. Wrap the board with some fairly thick fabric. The material should be stretched to obtain an even coating. For fixation, it is most convenient to use a stapler. If you don't have one, use regular nails.
4. The fabric is wetted with the paint of your choice. And try to do it evenly, otherwise it may not work.
5. Now the license plate itself is taken. It is applied face down to the surface of the board. The secret here is that the stamping method is used in production. That’s why all the symbols on license plates are convex.
6. Hold the number over the fabric for a few seconds. Carefully, being careful not to mix the tablet, lift it.
7. Turn over and hold the number horizontally. Or place it on a flat surface to prevent the paint from dripping.
8. Wait for the first coat of paint to dry. After this, repeat the procedure 1-3 more times.

Be extremely careful. The board is actually chosen to be flat, and the fabric is stretched onto the surface of the board without any folds. If you apply too much pressure when dipping, you risk applying paint to the white surface. In such a situation, try to quickly remove the black paint with a solvent before it dries.

The result is of high quality, but for this you need to make some efforts, as well as show maximum concentration. Be careful.

Marker

Another option for what to do if the license plate on your car is suddenly erased. It wears off on everyone, so you shouldn’t be surprised. The only question is time. If the symbol is erased, there is no point in continuing to operate a car with poorly readable license plates. The problem with erasing characters cannot be ignored. You may be fined.

If you are looking for a simple, inexpensive and quick restoration method, then use a regular marker. But here a lot depends on the quality of the tool itself and the paint that is used in it.

A regular stationery marker will not last long on a surface. Therefore, it is better to take a car marker. It washes out worse. But many doubt whether it is possible to simply tint the license plate of your car with a marker. Yes. This option is allowed. And this is not the worst method, which has its own objective advantages.

The surface must be pre-prepared in the same way as in the case of previous methods of restoring the license plate number. Next, the paint marker restores the visibility of all the black symbols that have been erased and worn out. If, due to your carelessness, you missed it, touching the white background, just keep a rag soaked in solvent at hand.

To create perfectly even contours, take a plastic card or a small ruler. They will play the role of limiters. Simple and convenient. Although the effect is not the longest lasting, it does not require spending a lot of time and effort.

Duplicate

If you don’t want to do the restoration yourself by touching up the paint, then you can go a different route. There is a good option for making duplicates.

For residents of a large city, there will be no problem finding several companies that provide such services. By law, this is allowed to be done not only by government agencies. But at the same time, the company must have the appropriate permits to conduct such activities.

This is a convenient and fast method, which sometimes takes no more than 1-2 hours of the car owner’s time. As a counterargument, one can cite the fact of high cost. Yes, buying a regular marker is one thing, and paying for a duplicate is quite another. But here the driver benefits from the opportunity to do without repair and restoration work, and not waste his precious time on it.

The estimated cost of producing a duplicate is currently approximately 1,500 rubles per plate. If you need to make a complete set at once, then get ready to pay at least 2 thousand rubles.

In order for you to have a duplicate made according to all the rules and within the law, first find a company that provides such services. Next, you contact the office and give them a certificate of registration of your vehicle. Without it, no licensed company has the right to duplicate vehicle registration numbers.

Replacement

In some situations, when the license plate has become very worn out and its readability is gradually approaching zero, motorists go directly to the traffic police department.

To restore license plates through the Traffic Inspectorate, you need to visit the branch, write an application and pay the mandatory state fee. After this, you will be given completely new plates. As you understand, the traffic police do not deal with restoration. They simply stamp a new number on specialized equipment.

The disadvantage of this method is its cost. Among all the methods that were discussed in this article, the restoration method through the traffic police is the most expensive. This is due to the impressive size of the current state duty.

But there is also a downside. This way you get completely legal registration license plates made to all quality standards. All procedures are official, since they are carried out through a government agency.