Tinted windows are more popular than ever these days, especially the dark or “blacked out” look. While our staff and many of you out there are fond of that look, there are limits on how dark you can go and where tint can be applied. If you exceed these limits, you may wind up facing a heavy fine. We receive many inquiries about applying tint film to windshields in addition to side and rear windows; we’ll explain the differences below.
The darkness of tint is measured by the VLT percentage (Visible Light Transmission). In simple terms, this means the percentage of light that is able to pass through the tint film and glass together. In North Carolina, the front side window tint for any vehicle must allow more than 35% of outside light in. For back side and rear windows on cars, the window tint must allow 35% of light in, while with SUVs, Vans, and trucks any darkness can be used. Non-reflective tint on all windshields may extend 5 inches from the top of the windshield, or down to the manufacturer’s AS-1 line (indicated by a marker in the upper corner of the glass), whichever is longer.
The law not only sets limits on the shade of the tint but also the reflectivity. Reflective tint helps in reflecting the incoming light to reduce glare for the driver. For front and back side windows on any vehicle, the tint must not be more than 20% reflective.
North Carolina has additional window tinting regulations besides shade and reflectivity, color restriction being one such law. Red, amber, or yellow tint film is not allowed.
If you are considering tinting the windows on your vehicle, or have questions regarding tint film that may not be covered here, please give us a call at (336) 851-1300, or contact us through our website.
