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What`s the Legal Limit for Window Tint in North Carolina

In North Carolina, window tint is determined by visible light transmission (VLT). In other words, the percentage of light allowed to pass through the window and into the vehicle. The CN colour laws vary depending on the type of vehicle and the position of the windows (windscreen, front, rear, rear). Certification: NC does not require certified tint According to the NC Tint Act, windows can have a reflective tint of 20% or less. Most modern vehicles come with a small amount of window tint, usually this number is about 75-85% VLT. So if you`re buying replacement glass film, make sure you compensate for the window tint that`s already in place when you choose your tint. Absolute Perfection`s car window tint department always checks these VLT values for you to ensure that the window film we use is legal. WARNING: Your state`s laws on window tint may change daily. These rules and regulations may be interpreted differently by city or district authorities. We recommend that you verify the accuracy of this information with your local VDD or local law enforcement authorities. This information on window tint laws was last updated on the day of 2021.

If you find any of this information to be inaccurate, please let us know so we can update it! Photosensitive individuals who require darker window colours may apply for a medical exemption from the CN Motor Vehicle Division Medical Examination Program. With over 20 years of experience in the window tinting and paint protection industry, we can help you find the perfect shade that will make your car stand out, give you extra protection and stay within the legal limits of your condition. Our friendly and knowledgeable technicians can answer any questions you may have about window tint laws in your state. North Carolina first enacted window tint laws for cars, trucks, SUVs, and other vehicles in 2001, and while North Carolina`s tint laws still apply to most modern window films, you know that tint laws can change from year to year, and some new types of tints didn`t exist when the North Carolina hue laws were created. To make sure your vehicle complies with North Carolina`s current window tint law, it`s a good idea to know the exact VLT% (or visible light transmission percentage, i.e. brightness and transparency or dark, private glass) and make sure you follow the VLT% rules for each window in your vehicle type. Car windshield film is a good investment for anyone thinking about both the short-term performance and appearance of a car and the long-term appreciation of the vehicle. In North Carolina, the automatic tint adds privacy and enhances same-day styling, lowering cabin temperatures even during the long, hot southern summer days, keeping the car cooler, more comfortable and more cost-effective, based on reduced battery and fuel savings through reduced air conditioning consumption. In the long run, window tint blocks 99% of the ultraviolet light that causes discoloration, bleaching and tearing of the interior on upholstery and hard surfaces, allowing a vehicle to retain its appearance and sale value inside. Car window tint is a great investment, but since illegal window tinting in North Carolina can result in hefty fines, you need to make sure your vehicle`s window tint complies with NC window film laws. Authorities consider window tint violations in North Carolina to be non-criminal, non-mobile traffic problems, but the cost may be high enough to avoid a problem. Window-tinted tickets can cost a $50 fine plus court fees that quickly add hundreds of dollars to the costs.

Similarly, if you`ve granted a dark shade through a medical exemption, but don`t have a sticker proving your legal medical tint exemption for windows, you can face a $200 coloring ticket, and that`s for window films you`re allowed to have but haven`t properly delineated. In North Carolina, passenger cars must have a 35% VLT on all windows. Windshields should only be tinted on the top 5 inches (AS1 line) and should not be reflective. Trucks, SUVs and vans must have a 35% VLT on the front windows and may have darkness on the rear and rear windows. North Carolina allows reflective tinting, but windows cannot be more than 20% reflective. The chances of being arrested just for your window movie are pretty slim unless you have some sort of outrageously illegal movie. So, if you have applied some sort of darker window tint than recommended to your vehicle, it would be prudent to follow traffic rules. However, if you are arrested, it would be advisable not to give the reason officer to bother you with a repair order.

As you can see in most states, laws regarding the tint of windshield glass in North Carolina are easy to follow: you can apply a non-reflective window film to the glass manufacturer`s AS-1 line, which is a line about a few inches below where the glass meets the roof. If you cannot determine the position of the AS-1 line, use five inches as a reference for the thickness of the color strip. The same rules apply to the colour of the windscreen for all types of vehicles. And keep in mind that most cars, trucks, and SUVs are advanced with a factory tint on the windshield, so it may not be necessary to apply that window tint anyway. (If your vehicle doesn`t have a factory tint, consider applying legal non-reflective window film, as this tint reduces glare from the sun, relieves eyes, and makes driving safer.) Visible light transmission (VLT) is determined by the percentage of light that passes from outside a window. The lower the percentage of VLT, the darker the window hue. For example, a car window with a 35% VLT blocks the passage of 65% of visible light. North Carolina is a state in the southeastern United States. The state is bordered to the south by South Carolina and Georgia, to the west by Tennessee, to the north by Virginia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. North Carolina is the 28th largest and 10th most populous of the 50 United States. We provide dyeing services throughout the state of North Carolina with our many locations including Burlington, NC, Concord, NC, East Charlotte, NC, Fayetteville, NC, Kernersville, NC, Lake Norman, NC, Marion, NC, Matthews, NC, Raleigh, NC, Southend Charlotte, NC, Southport, NC, Uptown Charlotte, NC and West Charlotte, NC. Rear-view mirrors: Double side mirrors are REQUIRED when the rear window is tinted.

North Carolina allows windshield tint with 70% VLT under medical exemptions. A licence may be issued by the Motor Vehicle Medical Examination Program Division of the CN for a period of 2 to 5 years. An exceptional medical sticker must be affixed to the lower left corner of the rear window. Failure to display the sticker is punishable by a $200 fine. The front side windows of vans, SUVs and trucks in North Carolina must meet the same standards as cars and have a window tint not exceeding 35% VLT. The rear side windows of minivans can have any darkness of the window film, including a blackout protective tint that offers no view of the interior of the automobile. Rear windows (also known as rear windshields) can be tinted even in the dark, according to North Carolina rules. As with cars, the tint of minivan windows in North Carolina should not exceed 20% reflection. Tinting your car windows protects you from dangerous UV rays, improves your driving comfort and protects your property. Window tint with metal particles to give the glass a silver/mirror look.

This reflects glare and repels heat. Illegal hue: red, amber, yellow. Reflective tint: On no window, the film can be more than 20% reflective. Side mirrors: If the rear windows are tinted, the vehicle must be equipped with two side mirrors. Medical exemption: If you have a medical condition that requires additional UV protection, you may be eligible for a medical exemption that exempts your vehicle from standard dyeing laws. You must have an authorized waiver form signed by a doctor in North Carolina. To obtain approval, an applicant must write to the Driver Medical Assessment Program and ask their physician to complete the required medical assessment form provided by VDD. In North Carolina, cars (i.e. sedans, coupes, and sedans) follow different laws on window tint than larger vehicles (such as trucks, SUVs, and vans, often collectively referred to as minivans or multi-purpose vehicles), so we break down regulations separately by vehicle type. Cars in North Carolina may have a tint of windows on the side windows and rear windshield that allows at least 35% or more of the visible sunlight in the car.

It`s more than a dark shade to create privacy and reduce glare from the sun, but a 35% VLT shade also allows you to look closely inside the car, which is important for police officers during roadside checks. This glass tint at 35% TLV must not be more than 20% reflective.