With so many regulations, the laws governing window coloring vary from state to state, and the nuances can be difficult to understand. While most state window tint color laws are relatively simple, some use ambiguous terms that leave room for interpretation by law enforcement and licensing authorities. Each state has a set of laws on how to dye windows, and some of them apply to more than one.
In some states, there are laws on tinting windows that dictate how much tinting is allowed on the windows of your vehicle. These laws allow motorists to use window paint to keep them safe. In many other states, tint laws ban windows that do not meet the 50 percent VLT for windshields or side windows.
Window Tint Features
Front and side windows are 35% tinted in saloons and 50% tinted in multi-purpose vehicles. In SUVs, pickups and vans, dark windows at the rear or at the side limit the reflection of the side windows.
Front and rear windows must not exceed 25 percent VLT, rear windows must not exceed 10 percent and side mirrors must not be tinted. Texas law allows the tinting of certain window reflections on limousines, SUVs and van windows. Side mirrors are not as reflective as normal windows.
The window behind the driver can be tinted to 30 VLT for light transmission and the side windows to 50 VLT. Vehicles ex works can be fitted with tinted rear windows as well as front and side windows up to 50% VLT. The windscreen above the driver and the windscreen with aftermarket tint are also allowed to rub off into the dark.
This applies regardless of how light or dark the tint of the rear window is. If your windows are untinted, you can choose a tint, or if you have a factory tint, you can choose whether your windows are dark tinted. You may also be able to obtain a medical exemption to reduce the tint of your windows.
The current law on tinted windows in Illinois regulates how dark the windshields can be. Illinois law dictates how much of your windshield you can cover with tinted foil.
There are limitations on the darkness of the tinted material and the overall light transmission of the top 6 inches of your windshield. In the top 5 inches of the windshield, non-reflective tinting is allowed, as long as it is not tinted above the line. A sticker indicating the legal colour must be affixed to the foil on the windscreen of the driver’s side.
The exact number of legal tints varies depending on the vehicle type and location of the windows. Each state or county has its own rules for the maximum percentage allowed for tinted windows. Tinted windows in New York, for example, suggest that no film greater than 30% should be applied between the windshield and the front or side windows.
Many new vehicles are equipped with a certain degree of tinted window. If the windows are too dark, law enforcement officers may not be able to detect the danger in the vehicle. Officers use a device known as a tinometer to determine how much light falls through a car’s windows.
Staining the windows of your car can help keep the interior cool, provide more privacy and protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Many new vehicles are equipped with a certain degree of tint in the window glass itself, and some with clear or untinted glass. You can also tint your side or rear windows to prevent certain light from penetrating.
Before investing in tinting, you need to know the legal tint number for your state before you invest money in it. There are legal and illegal shades, and they vary from state to state and by window type. Read our guide to learn how window staining laws in Illinois apply to any type of car window, what possible exceptions you can apply, and how to follow the laws to avoid penalties for non-compliance.
The tint (or darkness) of windows is regulated on the basis of visible light transmission, also known as VLT (percentage of permitted visible light) or a combination of foil and windows. The window color indicates the percentag of visible light transmission or the VLT value that flows through a window. Under Illinois law, the staining of windows is measured in VLT or visible light transmittance.
The minimum visible light transmission (VLT) for film tinting is 88. If your tint is too dark, you may be fined or required to remove or replace the film below the permitted limit. Ohio law requires no less than 50 percent VLT for driver and front passenger side windows and 70 percent VLD for windshields without requiring rear or rear seat windows.