Tinted windows on cars - how dark can I go? How dark is the tint on your windows?

[greenmonster]

Thinking about tinting my car windows - I've heard the legal limit is 70% for driver and passenger side windows but that doesn't really do much in terms of reducing light into the car. I realize 5% limo black is out of the question (again, for driver/passenger windows) but what about 35%? or 50%?
I'm seeing more and more cars with tints well beyond the 70% limit so it has me wondering. Lots of Teslas with dark windows all the way around, and other expensive and not so expensive cars that are pretty dark.
How strictly is this being enforced? How dark are your windows?

 

[GAJ]

No a/c, no tint.

1994 Miata Convertible.

We got max legal tint on my wife's old TSX for the UV protection, not so much for the privacy.

 

[berth]

I'm seeing more and more cars with tints well beyond the 70% limit so it has me wondering...How strictly is this being enforced?

Is any of this stuff being enforced any more?

I mean, I imagine if you get pulled over for anything, they'll write up everything they can see. But does anyone actually get stopped for such a thing? Or is that something only done to pull over potential ne'erdowells in the inner city?

Years ago, my wife got stopped for it, but considering all of the expired tags and what not that I see (we're talking YEARS out of date), I just dunno if any of this stuff is being actioned anymore.

Probably depends on the community.

 

[Johndicezx9]

I've been seeing cars with the dark tint on the windshield... so f'n annoying when you can't see what a driver is doing.

 

[Johndicezx9]

No a/c, no tint.

1994 Miata Convertible.

We got max legal tint on my wife's old TSX for the UV protection, not so much for the privacy.

I can't get my transition lens eyeglasses to darken inside a car so I have ask; what UV rays?

 

[Sharxfan]

When I lived in Cali I had back and front side windows done. I have gotten tickets for it a few times but was able to get them all signed off or just paid the fine and kept it on. Most of the tickets were done because I was stopped for something else. Only one time did the CHP pull in behind me after I was in a parking lot and I got off because when he put his hand behind the glass it wasn't that dark and I told him I had bought it that way. I can't remember the exact grade of tint I got but be aware if you have a dark interior it will make whatever shade you get look darker and may increase your chances of being pulled over.

 

[greenmonster]

Is any of this stuff being enforced any more?

I mean, I imagine if you get pulled over for anything, they'll write up everything they can see. But does anyone actually get stopped for such a thing? Or is that something only done to pull over potential ne'erdowells in the inner city?

Years ago, my wife got stopped for it, but considering all of the expired tags and what not that I see (we're talking YEARS out of date), I just dunno if any of this stuff is being actioned anymore.

Probably depends on the community.

See, that's what I'm talking about. How could so many people be driving around with dark windows if this were being strictly enforced? Must be that Tesla/Porsche/Mercedes drivers are not seen as potential ne'erdwells?

 

[GAJ]

I can't get my transition lens eyeglasses to darken inside a car so I have ask; what UV rays?

Sure as hell damaged the door cards on the left side of that TSX, had to be replaced.

The left side is where the sun hit that car in the driveway as it was always outside.

To see whether car windows are protective, Boxer Wachler took a UV-A light meter to a number of Los Angeles car dealers on a cloudless May day in 2014.

He tested 29 cars from 15 different manufacturers, made between 1990 and 2014.

On average, car windshields blocked about 96 percent of UV-A rays. The protection afforded by individual cars ranged from 95 to 98 percent.

But side door windows were far less dependable. The percentage of UV-A rays blocked varied from 44 percent to 96 percent. Only four of the 29 cars had windows that blocked more than 90 percent of UV-A rays.

“It had no correlation at all with the cost of the car, high-end car or low-end car,” said Boxer Wachler.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...-door-windows-dont-stop-uv-rays-idUSKCN0Y32WI

 

[auntiebling]

it's still illegal and it isn't enforced for the same reason doing 80mph down 101 is unlikely to get you cited for speeding: cops have too many other things to do.

that said, i've had cars with dark tinted windows and kinda hate it. it's hard to see out as well as in.

there are fairly newly available (5 years or so?) ceramic tint film available now that have hardly any darkening effect but block the UV that the glass doesn't and keep heat WAY down and it can be used on the windshield as well without being scratched up by the wipers.

a freind put it on his 1964 suburban which is basically a greenhouse. it's pretty neato stuff.

 

[bojangle]

it's still illegal and it isn't enforced for the same reason doing 80mph down 101 is unlikely to get you cited for speeding: cops have too many other things to do.

This. ^^^

Well, both examples do get enforced. Just not strictly/heavily/constantly most of the time.

When I'm working traffic on the motor, I tend to cite the darkest front window tint. Bonus toaster points if the windshield is also blacked out.

 

[bikeama]

it's still illegal and it isn't enforced for the same reason doing 80mph down 101 is unlikely to get you cited for speeding: cops have too many other things to do.

that said, i've had cars with dark tinted windows and kinda hate it. it's hard to see out as well as in.

there are fairly newly available (5 years or so?) ceramic tint film available now that have hardly any darkening effect but block the UV that the glass doesn't and keep heat WAY down and it can be used on the windshield as well without being scratched up by the wipers.

a freind put it on his 1964 suburban which is basically a greenhouse. it's pretty neato stuff.

I have a 2020 Ford Transit. The front is a greenhouse. Had ceramic done in TX last summer. The clear ceramic inside the windshield and very light ceramic on the drivers and passengers side. BIG difference in heat.

 

[bojangle]

I have a 2020 Ford Transit. The front is a greenhouse. Had ceramic done in TX last summer. The clear ceramic inside the windshield and very light ceramic on the drivers and passengers side. BIG difference in heat.

If it's for UV protection, clear, and colorless, it is California legal.

 

[greenmonster]

If I were an LEO I'd hate stopping a car with dark windows if I can't tell if there's a gun on the other side of that glass being pointed at me.
But I get the point about too many other things to do that are more important.
You LEO guys can correct me on this but I imagine if I spend all day writing tickets for dark tints then I can't respond to calls about robberies and shootings that are kinda more important. Added to that is the manpower (ok staff) shortages that a lot of departments are experiencing.

 

[Kornholio]

Had 20% front tint on everything I ever drove in California. Never got stopped for it once. I did always run a front plate though, so...

 

[mrmarklin]

Thinking about tinting my car windows - I've heard the legal limit is 70% for driver and passenger side windows but that doesn't really do much in terms of reducing light into the car. I realize 5% limo black is out of the question (again, for driver/passenger windows) but what about 35%? or 50%?
I'm seeing more and more cars with tints well beyond the 70% limit so it has me wondering. Lots of Teslas with dark windows all the way around, and other expensive and not so expensive cars that are pretty dark.
How strictly is this being enforced? How dark are your windows?

The legit tint guys know what to do. Technically, it's all illegal in CA.

BUT darkest in back window and rear windows, lighter up front and nothing for windshield.

 

[CABilly]

This issue really grinds my gears. Somehow the rest of the southwest US survives the lawless Mad Max dystopia we are led to believe front window tint leads to.

 

[greenmonster]

Personally I don’t understand tinting the front windshield. I don’t have personal experience but if I’m looking for an address at night wouldn’t a tinted windshield make that difficult?
At least with side windows I can roll those down if I need to see better.

 

[Kornholio]

This issue really grinds my gears. Somehow the rest of the southwest US survives the lawless Mad Max dystopia we are led to believe front window tint leads to.

Many states survive without front plates too! The horror!

 

[Grissom]

I have been seeing with more frequency vehicles with a tinted front windshield along with the sides - can't tell who is inside

 

[greenmonster]

I have been seeing with more frequency vehicles with a tinted front windshield along with the sides - can't tell who is inside

I’ve seen those a lot in the Philippines where my wife is from. Over there, the idea is to hide from potential kidnappers while out and about if you’re wealthy. Of course the mere fact that you’re riding in a car with tinted windows is a pretty good giveaway.