One of the first things car owners do when they first purchase a new vehicle is make it their own. One of the best ways to personalize and customize a vehicle is to get the windows tinted.
Window tinting is popular because of the benefits it provides everyone in the vehicle. Tinting makes vehicles safer by keeping glass together in the case of an accident. Window tints also help keep the vehicle cool, reducing the wear and tear to the air conditioning system. Not only does it greatly reduce the heat inside the car, but it also blocks harmful UV rays.
Unfortunately, state laws restrict a vehicle owner’s choice of tint.
The Strict States
Knowing if your window tinting laws put you in a strict state is very important. In these states, it’s essential that law enforcement can see the passengers in a vehicle for safety reasons.
These strict states are Alabama, Hawaii, Kansas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. The state laws here aren’t as forgiving, so vehicle owners need to be especially careful with their window tints.
These states are more concerned with the VLT% of the front and rear windows. The VLT% is the visible light transmission that gets through, as well as the film net VLT%.
The Middle States
Most states are caught somewhere in the middle. Some are a little more strict, and some are a little laxer.
The more strict states include Alaska, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Utah. These states are more prohibitive with front side window VLT%.
The more lax states include Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington, and West Virginia. They aren’t as prohibitive, but you still need to be careful of the VLT% requirements.
The Lax States
The best state for window tinting are the ones with less restrictive rules. Those include Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Mississippi, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Wyoming.
Some of these states have no VLT% restrictions at all on certain parts of the vehicle, others have very low VLT%. While it’s wonderful to have so much freedom, it’s still important to pay close attention to the specific numbers in each state.
The Confusing States
Some states are neither strict nor lax, but have tricky tint laws that confuse vehicle owners. These states are California, Delaware, New York, Rhode Island, Illinois, and Texas.
For example, California requires 70% VLT on the front side windows, despite the fact that no other windows are restricted. Be careful to follow these laws closely to avoid breaking them.
Find Window Tints
There’s one thing for certain – some tint is better than no tint. Even if your state has the most strict tinting laws, you can still feel the benefits of window tints.
Once you’re aware of the state laws, you can even save yourself a few bucks and apply the window tint yourself.
For more handy tips and tricks to keeping your car in tip-top shape, don’t forget to check out our auto repair service manuals.
