Legal Tint Limits on Auto Window Film

Installing tinted film on your vehicle isn’t only a matter of style – it gives your car a sleek and professional look, protects valuable hardware from theft, and also protects the interior from damaging UV exposure and excessive heat. There is every reason to tint your car windows, but some states are making it more difficult keep that custom film.

Depending on where you live, having auto window film can be a lesson learned the hard way in DMV politics.

The first thing to know is that car manufacturers are required to install windshields with a little bit of tinting – maybe 40 to 50% all around, or just that strip of blue on the top of your windshield to protect you from the sun. There is an industry recognition that tinted windows actually do protect drivers from UV exposure and glare, which can be dangerously blinding. This is like the FDA recommending that everybody wears SPF 15 sunscreen all the time to reduce the likelihood of developing skin cancer. SPF 15 is the bare minimum, and so it has the bare minimum protection.

In Oregon, for example, they have made it illegal to tint your windows darker than 35%. This level of tinting is the bare minimum protection against UV rays and glare. Of course, any tinting shop will offer this as an option, but usually the films start at 35% and get gradually darker from there.

North Carolina also requires tints with at least 35% of light permeability, but beware: this state has a reputation for cracking down on tinted cars. You are more likely to get pulled over and ticketed for dark windows, and you may even expect a home visit from the DMV if your windows don’t pass inspection!

Why are states so paranoid about tinted windows? The number one reason is police safety. When a police officer approaches a vehicle with tinted windows, they have to consider the possibility of concealed weapons. Whether your windows are legal or not, it is recommended that you roll down all your windows and turn on the cab light (especially at night) if you get pulled over.

Interestingly, local auto window film installers are not required to disclose the local laws to drivers seeking film installation, nor are they prohibited from installing a 5% limo tint on a sedan. However, if your tint exceeds the state limits your vehicle will not pass it’s next inspection, and you will either have to remove the tint or pay a hefty fine (and sometimes both)! That’s an expensive lesson that could have been avoided by simply doing some research. (Check out tintlaws.com for a breakdown of legal tint limits by state).

Scorpion Window Film gives your car a sleek and professional look, protects your valuables from theft, and protects you from heat, glare and UV exposure. There is every reason to choose Scorpion Window Film, not just for our style, but because we care about what you put on your car. We want your investment to last a lifetime, and we understand that you care about the health and safety of your passengers, too. Want to know more about how Scorpion cares? Contact us today!