Popular in Mauritius, the practice of car wrapping is now being monitored by the National Land Transport Authority (NLTA). Indeed, colour shift vinyl (wrapping with nuanced colours) is no longer authorised. The reason for this, as stated by the NTLA is that the colour shifts make it harder to identify the colour of motor vehicles.

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Wrapping, which consists of changing the colour of a vehicle by applying a printed adhesive film to the bodywork, is also used for advertising purposes. While this activity is not prohibited in Mauritius, the NTLA points out that there was a dire need to regularise it. Among the reasons for this decision: the make-up of stolen vehicles, which is becoming more and more clever and effective. If done without informing the NTLA, a colour shift vinyl could hinder a police case, especially with hit & run crimes.

With this in mind, the NLTA has decided that in order to obtain the fitness certificate, the adhesive film should not cover the entire vehicle, unless it corresponds to the original colour of the vehicle.
Moreover, it should be noted that gold and sparkling coatings, applied partially or entirely to the vehicle, is prohibited: they can blind other drivers and cause accidents when they reflect light.
Finally, shaded colours, referred to as extravagant are also prohibited. We learn that wrappings in shades of colour make it difficult to identify vehicles.

“Any owner who intends to change the colour mentioned on the Registration Book (Horsepower) of a motor vehicle, shall seek the approval of the Road Transport Commissioner prior to any amendment. Failure to abide by the above may entail a prohibition order onto the vehicle and/or no allocation of a fitness certificate,” stipulates the communiqué of the NTLA.