3 Car Window Tinting Laws that You Should Know About
All states and territories in the country have similar window-tinting laws—Northern Victoria has slightly different laws. Generally, you are allowed to tint your car windows to a certain level of darkness. The only slight differences in the laws are on how much the windshield, side and rear should be tinted. Most states and territories allow up to 35 per cent tinting on the side and between 20 and 35 per cent on the rear window. No state allows any kind of tinting on the windshield. Besides these basic rules, there are other crucial regulations you should understand about tinting before getting it.
1. Dealing with Factory-Made Tinted Windows
Factory-made tinted windows are a little different from the film which is added by auto-tuning experts. If you are thinking about installing these windows on your car, make sure that they have at least 70 per cent visible light transmission. Anything below this percentage will land you in problems with the law. Note that Total Light Transmittance value (VLT) also matters when determining whether a percentage of tint is legal or not. If your vehicle had 70 per cent VLT when coming out of the factory, and you add after-market film with 65 per cent VLT, the resulting tint will be illegal in all states.
2. The Penalties for Wrong Tinting Processes
Different states have specific penalties for anyone found tinting their windows wrongly. The basic penalty for illegal tinting is to remove the modification, which means removing the window film. Another thing you ought to consider is your insurance premium. If you are penalised for illegal tinting, the car insurance company might penalise you by raising your premium. It is also crucial to note that in case you contravene tinting laws, and you end up in an accident, the tint can be used as evidence against you in a law court.
3. Tinting and Night Driving
The other consideration to make is how the percentage of tint will affect your ability to see and drive at night. If the front windows you procure have more than 70 per cent VLT, they will make it hard to see at night, which could result in accidents and penalties. You can also use a tint tester before installation to see how each percentage appears on your vehicle.
Having the right percentage of tint on your car is a road safety precaution you should not ignore. Contact window tinting companies to learn more about achieving the perfect balance between privacy and safety.
Share