Window tinting is one of the most appreciated aesthetic practices many California car owners value. It provides privacy protection from glare through light and shields the interior against the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays. Window tinting is highly appreciated because sunlight constantly falls in a place like California.
Even though window tinting has various benefits, owners should know the state’s legal limits. California has strict laws concerning how dark the tint can be and what windows can be tinted, all in the interest of promoting driver safety and visibility. California’s window tint law aims to balance personal preferences with public safety concerns.
Excessive window tinting can reduce driver visibility, making it more difficult for law enforcement to see into vehicles and for emergency responders to assess situations quickly. This article delves into California’s window tint regulations, medical exemptions, penalties for violations, and tips on ensuring your window tint remains legal.
What Is Window Tinting, And Why Do People Get It?
Window tinting involves putting a thin film on cars’ windows to reduce light intensity going into the vehicle’s cabin. The applied film minimizes the impact of:
- Light glares coming from the sun
- Allow passengers privacy
- Guard the car’s interior with its UV-damaging rays
- Cooler the car’s interior for hotter temperatures
While tinting has many benefits, it is essential to ensure that it meets California’s standards to avoid fines and possible removal costs.
California Window Tint Law
California law determines how dark the tint can be and which windows can be tinted. The rules are based on the Visible Light Transmission (VLT) percentage, the amount of light allowed to pass through the tinted windows.
Read also: Is 15 Tint Legal in Kansas? A Comprehensive Overview
VLT Passenger Vehicle Limits
For most passenger vehicles in California, VLT limits are as follows:
Front Windshield
- Only the top 4 inches of the windshield can be tinted. This is usually known as the AS-1 line.
- The tint must not lower the VLT to below 70% in this area.
- Tinting is not permitted on the remaining windshield.
- Front Side Windows (Driver and Passenger Side)
- VLT must be 70% or higher for front-side windows.
- This means that only 30% of light or less must be blocked from entering through the window.
Rear Side Windows and Back Window (SUVs and Vans)
There are no VLT restrictions for rear-side or back windows in SUVs and vans. These windows can be tinted as dark as possible, provided they do not impair your driving ability.
Darker tints are also acceptable with sedans, but side rear and back windows must still be at least 70% light transmissible.
Rear Window (Sedans)
Rear window VLT is 70% or better unless side mirrors are on the vehicle, in which case darker tints may be applied.
Medical Exemptions to Window Tinting Laws
California law provides medical exemptions to individuals who require a darker tint for health reasons. These exemptions are granted to people with conditions like:
- Photosensitivity
- Skin disorders that worsen with sun exposure
- Eye conditions that make driving without tinted windows dangerous
An individual must submit a written statement from a licensed physician or optometrist to apply for a medical exemption. This exemption permits darker tints beyond the standard limits, but other safety requirements must be met.
Penalties for Violating California Window Tint Law
Failure to comply with California’s window tint law will get you penalties. Some of them are:
Fines:
Depending on the offense, fines can range from $25 to $200.
Sometimes, a vehicle must be compliant at the owner’s expense.
Vehicle Inspections:
When a car is pulled over for a window tint infraction, law enforcement officers can ask the driver to drive the vehicle to an authorized inspection station. The car must pass a tint test to comply with the law.
Possible Removal Expenses:
If the tint is too dark, you might be forced to remove it. This can be expensive and inconvenient, especially if the tint is professionally installed.
How to Ensure Your Window Tint Is Legal
To avoid fines and the hassle of removing illegal tint, here’s what you should do:
Check the VLT Percentage:
Check your window tint against the mandatory VLT set by your local law. You could obtain a tint meter to do just that, but most places that sell window tints often check your windows for that purpose.
Hire only a Certified Installer:
To be safe, have a certified technician install your window tint. For one, good installers are knowledgeable of the updates in the laws and help you stay within the acceptable limits of your window’s tint.
Get a Medical Exemption:
If you need a darker tint for medical reasons, obtain a written statement from your doctor or optometrist. Keep the exemption filed and always keep it in the car.
Regular Inspections
After tinting, consider taking your car for inspection with a professional, ensuring that it meets California standards for tinting. This way, you will never be caught in a bad situation while driving.
Can you be pulled over for illegal window tint in California?
Yes, a police officer in California may pull you over for illegal window tint. If the police suspect that your window film is too dark, the officer can ask you to inspect the windows at an authorized inspection station. When your vehicle fails, you will be charged to remove or replace it.
While window tint infractions usually do not get a person hauled into jail, they can cause an awful inconvenience and financial expense.
Facts About California Window Tint Law
Here are a few misconceptions about the California window tint law. Let’s clear a few things up:
Myth 1: You Can Tint Your Front Windshield as Dark as You Want
False! You can tint only the first 4 inches of your windshield, and the tinted portion cannot block more than 30% of the light. Tints higher than this are prohibited.
Myth 2: Rear Window Tint Isn’t Restricted
Rear windows have fewer restrictions, but any vehicle must still satisfy the VLT requirements for rear-side windows, especially for sedans. SUVs and vans will have more leeway, but safety will be the primary focus.
My 3rd myth: Tints are ok for cars fitted with rear-view mirrors on the side
Lie! Rear window tints for sedans’ side windows and back windows should not be tinted at a lesser value than 70% VLT, although the medical exemption allows it if they have those.
Conclusion
Anyone interested in tinting their vehicle’s windows needs to know and comply with California window tint law. While tinting may help to reduce glare, enhance privacy, and block the UV rays of the sun, it is necessary to know the VLT standards set by the state in order not to be penalized, inspected, or to pay for removal. Of course, medical exemptions are provided for those needing darker tints for health purposes, but again, you need to have documentation.
Some of the significant ways people assure compliance involve measuring the percentage of VLT, using certified installation only, and upgrading law changes. It means being enlightened helps someone who enjoys tinting windows keep themselves from unwanted legal hassles.
