Are Tinted Windows Legal In California

When you think of California, what comes to mind? Hot summers, tinted car shades, tiresome drives forth the embankment…

Thanks to its sunny weather, window tints are a prevalent part of California motorist culture. Many people like to add together shades or tints to their car windows and windshields to help continue the sun'due south harsh rays at bay.

Every American country has a knack for making its own rules that are frequently strikingly unlike from neighboring states. As a effect, the California window tint police is unique and isn't found anywhere else.

Therefore, when purchasing a vehicle with tinted windows or adding new window film to an onetime car, information technology's essential to consider local rules and regulations commencement. You don't want to accidentally stop up with windows tinted darker than what'due south legally allowed.

This article can help you brand the right decision when selecting a new window tint. We've compiled everything you need to know about California state tint laws below.

If you're looking for tint laws for somewhere else, take a look at our commodity on tint laws past state.

Contents

Understanding Tint Law Lingo
Types of Windshield Tints
How Night Can Yous Tint Your Windows in California?
- California Tint Laws for Passenger Vehicles
- California Tint Laws for Multipurpose Vehicles
- Tint Reflection Limits for California Vehicles
Window Film Certificate
Window Pic Sticker
What the California Tint Law Prohibits
- Medical Exemptions
Penalties for Non-Compliance of Floridian Tint Laws
Conclusion

Understanding Tint Law Lingo

To better understand California's tint laws, you'll demand get-go to decode its unique lingo. Here are some key terms you should know nigh:

VLT Percentage (%): VLT is short for 'visible low-cal transmission.' It is measured in percentages. For example, a tinted window'south VLT explains how much light the tint allows in. Darker tints have depression VLT values considering they reduce the amount of visible light transmission within the tinted window.
Front-Side and Rear-Side Window Tint Level: 'Front-side window tint level' indicates a vehicle'due south forepart window VLT %. 'Rear-side window tint level' implies the same for the car's back windows.
Rear Window Tint Level: This is different from the 'rear-side window tint level,' referring to the VLT% of the single window at a auto's rear cease.
AS-i Line: This line lies 5 to 6 inches beneath your windshield'due south height edge. It is visibly drawn on windshields and is manually measurable on others.

Map of California State with Pin Location in Red

Types of Windshield Tints

The market place is brimming with all kinds of windshield tints. However, before selecting a windshield tint, be sure to cheque with local laws to see if it's immune. Some states, for example, accept laws against colored tints.

Popular options accepted within the California window tinting laws include smart tints and ceramic tints each of them providing different benefits to yous.

Don't forget to consider your wallet and affordability before investing in new auto window tints. Window darkness tints aren't something you supercede regularly. Hence, information technology's better to invest in a slightly pricey version, if you lot can, to proceeds a better long-term return.

How Dark Can You lot Tint Your Windows in California?

California is a sunny state, making tinted windows a common phenomenon. However, tinting your windows as well dark tin lead to trouble with the law.

Below is a collection of California tint laws for both passenger and multi-purpose vehicles:

California Tint Laws for Passenger Vehicles

Man Applying Window Tint to Passenger Side of Car

Rider vehicles, also known as sedans, must subscribe to the following tint darkness limits:

Minimum VLT for front side windows: lxx%
Minimum VLT for the backside and rear windows: Whatever %, every bit long as both side mirrors and dual side mirrors are present
Windshield tint: 4 inches below the windshield's pinnacle edge. Hence, the tint will probable lay to a higher place the Every bit-1 line in most cars

California Tint Laws for Multipurpose Vehicles

Rulings for multi-purpose vehicles are identical to those for rider sedans:

Minimum VLT for front side windows: 70%
Minimum VLT for the behind and rear windows: Any %, every bit long every bit both side mirrors are present
Windshield tint: 4 inches below the windshield's top edge.

Delight note: Up to 88% VLT is immune when using aftermarket film. This rule applies to both multi-purpose and passenger vehicles. However, this value is merely limited to 70% when factory-tinted windows are added to the mix.

Tint Reflection Limits for California Vehicles

Tinting laws country that reflectivity cannot exceed that of a standard window. This law is in place to help protect drivers from experiencing solar glare, which can cause roadside accidents. Excessively cogitating surfaces are the culprit behind solar glare and tin momentarily bullheaded motorists. Therefore, a non-reflective tint is what you should exist opting for.

Window Film Certificate

All window tints applied within California must take a window film certificate of authenticity. So, if you're planning on installing new window tints, cheque to meet if your mechanic can provide you with this certificate. If they can't, consider opting for a different mechanic.

An authenticity certificate must state the tint film'due south VLT% and acquit the manufacturer's proper name and accost. Motorists driving tinted cars must have this certificate on them at all times.

Window Film Sticker

Await to receive a window film sticker along with the window film certificate. Paste this simply on your windshield to allow local authorities know that you are installing the best window tint and that it is genuine and within the VLT% limit.

What the California Tint Police Prohibits

California window tint laws business organisation VLT%, reflectivity, and the following prohibitions:

Color-altering tint film is non allowed
Ruby-red, blueish, and amber tints are prohibited
Rear-cease windows cannot exist tinted if side mirrors are absent

Medical Exemptions

Individuals with unique medical weather worsened past sunlight exposure may apply for a special window tint exemption. Informing the state of California about your status will grant you access to a customized window tint VLT%. Even if the VLT% required by your status is lower than the legally allowed limit, you will be allowed to adopt information technology.

Tint darkness exceptions can be made for the following conditions:

Vitiligo
Albinism
Xeroderma pigmentosum
Dermatomyositis
Lupus and related light-sensitive auto-immune diseases

Remember, medical excuses just apply to motorists with chronic conditions. If you lot are experiencing temporary light sensitivity caused by an impermanent condition, like pink-eye, y'all won't be granted medical excuse.

Penalties for Non-Compliance of Floridian Tint Laws

Suppose you've been pulled over for having an illegal window tint on your vehicle. If this is your outset fourth dimension defenseless, the officeholder will hand y'all a 'fix-information technology' ticket. This is your get-go (and last) warning ticket. After receiving a gear up-information technology ticket, y'all must get your illegal tint removed. Later on that, you tin can choose to replace it with a legal alternative if you like.

However, if yous fail to exercise so and get pulled over again, y'all'll be charged a $25 fine. In addition, the officers volition once more inform yous to remove your tint. A tertiary-time violation can land you a hefty $197 fine. The police will likewise charge y'all with an infraction.

Determination

Californian laws are relatively lenient and allow fully darkened rear-side windows, unlike nearly states. Still, earlier installing new tint motion picture to darken your back windows, don't forget to ask your mechanic for a certificate of actuality. Doing so volition help show the legal validity of your new auto window tints.