Window Tint Laws in California
The regulations for window tint use in California are relatively straightforward, with both net and front passenger windows subject to very specific limitations. The intent of these laws is to reduce the risk of automotive accidents in the event of a crash. The state window tint laws are as follows:
- When it comes to the color of your tint, darkness, reflectiveness and color hue are all covered by the law. Anemia, tunnel vision, albinism, ocular albinism and light sensitivity are all covered under the law preventing glass from having a reflective material that is more than 5% reflective.
- The front driver and passenger windows must allow a minimum of 70 percent visible light transmission. The tint cannot be more than 70% reflective. Any front or rear window that is tinted must allow at least 15% visible light transmission.
- Window tint must not be red, amber or yellow . Red, amber, blue and yellow tint is prohibited on the front windshield and the side and rear windows. Only clear or gray is permissible.
- Cars manufactured prior to 1987 do not have any window tint restrictions. Changes were made in the law in 1999, which require two side mirrors to provide a view of the roadway behind the vehicle for vehicles that have a mirror tint on the windshield.
- Special identification certificates approved by the California legislature are required to have tint on the windshield and front side windows. You must apply for the tinted windows certificate and provide a medical statement regarding your eye condition and your request to have the tint on your windows.
These regulations are designed to keep you safe on the road, while also providing a reasonable amount of privacy for those inside the vehicle.
Front Windshield and Front Side Windows
The regulations for tinting your windshield and driver and passenger window in California is pretty strict. For the front windshield, dark tint is illegal. Even if you get a doctor’s note saying that you need tint to protect your eyes, it has to cover no more than five inches of the windshield and it still has to be at least 70 percent light transmittance. Remember, the tint must be above the AS-1 line or within the manufacturer’s manufactured line which is usually about 5 inches from the top of the windshield.
You are allowed to tint the front side windows, but the tint has to allow more than 70 percent of light into the car via the front side windows. The tint must also be non-reflective. Some people think light tint on the front windshield and side windows make sense, but other people believe that its simply not cool enough.
If you’re planning on getting your front windshield tinted, you should consult a professional tint shop that is familiar with the laws in your state. There are plenty of people who have gotten tint and even after consulting with a professional, have still received a ticket because of an illegal tint. You don’t want to be one of those people.
Back Window and Back Side Windows
The rules regarding tinting the rear window and back side windows are different from the rules covering the front window and front side windows. While the allowable darkness level for tinting for the front windows is 70 percent, the level of tinting on the rear windows may be as little as 5 percent, although it can also be completely clear tinting. The California Code of Regulations states, "The tinting materials used as specified by the manufacturer in the uppermost six inches of the rear window are exempt." Vehicle code section 26708.5 (c) 2. The regulations regarding the tinting on the rear window and back side windows also apply to vehicles that do not have glass in the rear part of the vehicle – that is, for vehicles like vans and SUVs that have a panel in the rear of the vehicle in place of full glass in the rear window and window areas.
Unlike the restrictions on tinting for the front windows, there are no restrictions whatsoever on reflection on the rear windows and back side windows.
Medical Exceptions for Tinting
The only medical exemptions in the State of California, from the window tinting laws at this time, are for individuals who have certain specific medical issues which can ONLY be handled with a darker than normal tint and must be also signed off by a physician in California. All other exemptions must be registered with the California DMV.
Some possible medical exemptions:
There is no guarantee you will receive a pass for your vehicle until your medical exemption has been approved with the DMV , prior to installing vehicle dark window tint.
In many cases, where the medical sensitivity to sunlight is extremely high, then this exemption is the only one from the State of California to accommodate such individuals indefinitely.
Window Tint Penalties
The penalties for non-compliance with California’s tint laws are often enough to encourage individuals to tape a parking ticket to the dashboard instead of a failure to comply with window regulations. Many of the most serious consequences for non-compliance involve monetary obligations, which is important when you consider the lost time and money many people give up just commuting to work. Examples will illustrate how the kind of penalty varies with the area of non-compliance. In the example of windshield tint that extends more than four inches below the top AS-1 line or above the top of the windshield (whichever is closer to the roof), a minimum fine that can be levied on the vehicle owner is $25.00 on the first offense and $197 on the second and succeeding offenses. Since the tint film covering the entire windshield could be legal and pass inspection, the potential penalty for non-compliance is obvious.
On the other hand, an owner driving a vehicle who does not place the tint sticker about an inch from each window and tinted film on the rear side windows having a light transmittance of 35% plus a +5% tolerance would face a minimum fine of $25.00 on the first offense and $197 on the second and subsequent offenses. As is obvious from these examples, the type of violation determines the amount of the fine, which helps law enforcement officers (and tint installers) deal with offenders.
Other consequences, such as impoundment of the vehicle, may not apply to the windshield tinting violation of the first example, but they could apply to the second example if the tint sticker does not remain in the proper location.
There are other situations to consider with regard to the operation of tinting regulations. For example, a vehicle with a tint violation that is being repaired, and is left in the lot overnight, for the tinting film to cure cannot have the tint sticker placed in the proper position until the tint film has cured. It is therefore essential that tinting shops make arrangements to park the vehicles of their customers so they can be left overnight without violating the tinting regulations. Otherwise, the cost of the tint sticker might seem insignificant by comparison to the administrative costs involved in responding to complaints and conducting hearings concerning violations of the tinting regulations.
Choosing Legal Window Tint
When selecting legal tint for your vehicle windows, consider the following tips:
- Choose an established and reputable tinting company. One with a physical location, as opposed to operating out of their vehicle, is often a better choice. Established companies tend to have a number of employees rather than just a few people who are tinting the windows themselves. They have numerous specifications with their employees as well, including only using certain rolls of tint rather than using different types/colors/grades that they purchase from customers. They also tend to have more insurance and licenses to protect you.
- Compare prices. Remember that you get what you pay for. If the price appears "too good to be true" or significantly less than you have been quoted from other tinting services, there is generally a reason for it. If you have been quoted a price that seems high, but the tinting company can guarantee that they will remove the tinting if it is not legal or they will refund your money – that is often worth paying the higher price .
- Some tinting companies may tint your windows without using a License Plate Number ("LPN"), but are prohibited from doing so by the California Vehicle Code. Be aware when requesting this service. Don’t let a tinting company persuade you that it is completely legal to tint the front windshield without a LPN. It can only be done on limited vehicles in very rare circumstances.
- Request a receipt. When you pay for the tinting, have them include the make and model of the vehicle, the name of the tinted vehicle owner(s), and the LPN in addition to the tinting specifications. Although this may seem like an unnecessary use of paper, it could come in handy should you receive a citation for illegal tinting at some point in the future. In addition, some tinting companies, if caught installing illegal tinting on a customer’s vehicle, may be deemed to have helped the owner in committing the violation.