Tinted Windows Laws 101: What’s Legal and What’s Not

Master installs a tint film for the car glass with a hairdryer and spatula with glare of light. Concept tinting car

Tinted windows can serve purposes like reducing sun glare. But there are tinted windows laws in every state that you have to follow when deciding.

If you’re like most people, you practically live in your car. That means you need all the privacy you can get.

After all, when you spend a lot of time sitting in traffic, you don’t want everyone to be able to peer inside your car. This is also an important safety issue.

Tinting your windows provides the perfect solution. Plus it will help keep the interior of your car as cool as possible.

This article takes a look at tinted window laws that you should be aware of. Keep reading to get the inside scoop about the amount of window tint permitted in your area.

Zero Percent Window Tint

Having zero percent tint on your car windows means exactly what it sounds like. In other words, you have no privacy tint at all. This means there’s absolutely no protection from the sun and people can freely see inside your car. 

Car windows that lack tint tend to get extremely hot inside on sunny days when the temperature is really cooking outside. This can also cause your upholstery to fade because there’s no protection. 

You’d also be wise to invest in good sunglasses so that you won’t have to squint in the bright sunlight as you drive.

Five Percent Window Tint

This type of tint allows 5% of outside sunlight to pass through the windows of your car. It’s popular for the aesthetic of providing a sleek obsidian black appearance, which is often used in luxurious environments like limousines and other high-end rental cars.

If you’ve been pulled over for too much window tint, this law firm can help.

Twenty Percent Window Tint

With this type of tint, your windows will typically allow anywhere from 15-20% of outside light into your car. 

It’s also commonly referred to as “factory tint”, although that term is actually a bit misleading. That’s due to the fact that the vast majority of factory windows are manufactured with non-tinted glass.

Thirty-Five Percent Window Tint

This degree of window tint is generally the legal limit in many parts of the country. This includes Indiana and Michigan. It allows 35% percent of sunlight to pass through the window glass.

Fifty Percent Window Tint

If your car has this type of window tint, it means that 50% of outside sunlight is able to pass through the glass. 50% tint also adds a cool-looking sunglasses-like appearance to the exterior of your car.

Knowing How Much Tint is Best for Your Car

When it comes to keeping your car legal, most areas require 35% tint or less. Be sure to check online in the community where you live just to be on the safe side and to avoid being pulled over or ticketed.

A Guide to Tinted Windows Laws

There are a number of benefits to getting your windows tinted. After all, it helps add privacy while also keeping the interior as cool as possible. While it’s important to be familiar with the tinted windows laws where you live, this article provides a basic overview of guidelines for staying legal.

Keep scrolling to learn more about the window tint law in your state.

Tom Brown
Tom Brown is an automotive market enthusiast living in the United States. He holds a diverse background in automotive marketing and enjoys utilizing that to produce insights into the inner workings of the industry.