window tinting - legal limit

thinking about getting my windows tinted slightly but not not too clued up on tinting

-whats the legal limit as dont want to be getting pulled every two seconds

-how much does it cost roughly? for film and getting done properly?

-is it legal to do the front two?

30% fronts and 18% windscreen. Your windows are tinted between 20% and 30% as standard.

pay between £25 to £50 a window.

Doing fronts is OK but limit is I believe that 70 % of light has to come through. The rest can be as dark as you want - recently had rear screen done for £150, so full lot probably £300 ish -

From the B pillar back there are no restrictions IIRR.

Front side windows must be capable of transmitting 70% of visible light through them.

All mine are tinted just put your windows down if you see the police!!

All mine are tinted just put your windows down if you see the police!!

Thats my tactic too

Although it has to be said front tints CAN incure fines or points.. something to consider!

There was something on TV last week where cops forced someone in a range rover to remove the front tints for being too dark, then get the car re-tested.

Thats my tactic too

 

Although it has to be said front tints CAN incure fines or points.. something to consider!

£60 fine and 3 points. Living proof

The police will not prosecute if tint is 46% or higher. Windscreens should not be touched other than manufacturers standard.

I have a letter from the police stating that.

The police will not prosecute if tint is 46% or higher. Windscreens should not be touched other than manufacturers standard.

 

I have a letter from the police stating that.

Did they give you the letter when you went through the red light?

Mate runs a tinting business, full details taken from his site http://www.auto-tint.co.uk

The Window tinting Regulation was amended from 1st January 2004.

 

* For more information please read this article (link to pdf download). Originally printed in Fast and Modified Scotland - reproduced with kind permission.

 

This Regulation amendment now clearly rules out any tinted films being applied to driver windows (Front doors).

 

The Regulation states 70% of visible light must pass through the drivers windows including any other substrate fitted to the glass. Many people misunderstand the regulation and presume that 70% allows a 30% tint - It doesn't! Glass does not let in 100% of light. Clear glass only allows approximately 86% of light to pass & the slight tint of standard manufactured glass varies from the 70% maximum limit up to approx 80% of light passing through, thus any film being applied to these windows will drop the light transmissions to below the regulation limit.

 

If your front windows are tinted to any level you do risk being stopped by either Traffic Police or VOSA (Vehicle & Operator Services Agency) they have light meters to test the light that passes through your glass. If you have a subtle tint fitted then you should just be asked for it to be removed, if you have dark front door windows you could be told you cant drive your car any further and face a fine and points on your licence!

 

Window tinting is classed as a vehicle modification so you should inform your vehicle insurer also. Do be aware that if you have your front door windows tinted and you have an accident, it could possibly be a get out clause for your insurance company?

Regulation in detail...

Window Tinting - Amendments to legislation

 

During the early part of 2004, Section 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations will be amended to include "Window Tint Films" where such materials attached to the glass are capable of reducing the visible light transmission of forward windows to below prescribed levels (70% VLT for front side windows). These changes will be back-dated to become applicable from 1st January 2004.

 

This will effectively ban the practice in future of applying virtually any tinted films to windows forward of the B-Post on any vehicle that is to be driven on UK roads.

 

The reasons for these changes is the recent proliferation of vehicles that are excessively tinted. Some vehicles may be so heavily tinted that they present a real danger when used on public roads. The action being taken by the Government follows a fatality that occurred recently where a heavily tinted car was involved in a collision with a motorcycle and the window tints were held to blame due to the vision of the driver being impaired.

 

There is, however, a recognized difference between "light window tints" which may be considered safe for road use and "excessively dark window tints" which are not.

 

There has also been a great deal of debate in recent years about the legitimacy of window tints that do not obscure the vision of the driver. A clear case has been argued that road-safe window tints do not actually conflict with existing regulations. The Department of Transport have argued however, that Section 32 was always intended to cover materials attached to the glass, despite the fact that no mention of this is made in the Regulation itself. The only solution remaining would be to amend the Legislation.

 

Consequently and in order to clarify the solution the Government have finally decided to up-date the Regulations to specifically include Tinted Films since, in the view of the Police and the Department of Transport, this is the only way in which the problems of excessive tints can be remedied.

 

Unfortunately however, even tint films that maybe considered to be safe for road use will now be viewed as in conflict with the Regulations, enabling the Police and Vehicle Inspectorate to take action against vehicle owners.

 

This has significant implications for the owners of vehicles that have window tints and also those that are responsible for installing or selling window tints.

Implications for the Installer and Motor Retailer.

 

From when the amendments to Section 32 come into force, any Motor Retailer that sells a vehicle that has window tint films applied which reduce visible light transmission levels to below prescribed levels forward of the B-Post is committing an offence and runs the risk of prosecution under Section 75 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act with reference to Section 41 (which defers to Construction and Use Regulations).

 

In a similar way, anyone responsible for the fitment of window tints which reduce visible light transmission level to below prescribed levels on windows forward of the B-Post is committing an offence and can also be prosecuted under Section 76 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act.

Implications for the vehicle owner.

 

After much discussion, a sympathetic Enforcement Policy has been agreed between the Department of Transport and The Glass and Glazing Federation to ensure that all vehicle owners that have had tints applied in the past may be dealt with fairly. This applies in particular where the infringement is with respect to tints that do not pose a significant threat to Road Safety, despite being in contravention with the amended Regulations.

 

In any event, after the date of the amendment to Section 32, the owner of the vehicle that has window tints applied forward of the B-Post is liable to be challenged by either a Police Officer or by an Inspector from the Department of Transport Vehicle Inspectorate, where their vehicle is noticed being driven on Public Roads.

 

Where such a vehicle is stopped and the window tints applied are such that the visible light transmission level, when measured using an appropriate device, falls to below prescribed levels, the following enforcement guidelines have been agreed with and recommended by the Government.

Above 30% Visible Light Transmission (Less Severe Window Tints).

 

The owner or driver of such a vehicle will be required to have the tinted film removed from the windows under the direction of either a Rectification Notice or a Delayed Prohibition Notice, A period of grace will apply for a limited number of days (normally ten) during which time the vehicle may be driven whilst the rectification work is to be completed. In either case, the vehicle will need to be inspected by either a Police Officer or Vehicle Inspectorate Officer to confirm that the glass has been restored to a compliant condition. Prosecution is unlikely in such circumstances provided the vehicle owner complies fully.

Below 30% Visible Light Transmission (Excessively dark Window Tints)

 

The owner or driver of such a vehicle may be issued with an Immediate Prohibition Notice and immediately prevented from driving the vehicle on public roads until the tints have been removed and either a Police Officer or Vehicle Inspectorate Officer confirms that the glass has been restored to a compliant condition. It is also possible, depending on the severity of the offence, that the owner may be prosecuted for driving a vehicle in a non-roadworthy or even a dangerous condition with the potential for Penalty Points and a Fine.

 

Driving such a vehicle on public roads before the tints have been removed and before a Prohibition Notice has been lifted will be a serious offence and the owner or driver is likely to be prosecuted.

Action that needs to be taken by the Window Tint Installer and Motor Retailer.

 

Restrictions - From the beginning of 2004, all customers of a Window Tint Installer or a Motor Retailer that enquire about window tinting should be informed about the new Regulations. It will be unlawful to sell them a vehicle that has tints applied toward of the B-Post and may render the Tinter or Retailer liable to prosecution. The vehicle may also be deemed to be in a Non-Roadworthy condition leaving the owner liable to prosecution as well.

 

The owner of a vehicle that is in a non-roadworthy condition may find that they void their Insurance Cover if they continue to drive it on public roads. In the event of an accident, the Insurance Company may refuse to pay part or all of their claim.

 

Rectification - All Window Tint Installers and Motor Retailers that have supplied window tints toward of the B-Post are being asked by the Government and the Glass and Glazing Federation to contact all of their previous customers wherever possible, to inform them of the changes to Legislation and to offer them a chance to have their vehicle returned to have the front tints removed.

 

This is most important since this will give every customer a chance to become informed about the amendments to the Regulations whilst being able to change their vehicle into a compliant condition before they may be challenged in the future by a Policeman or an officer from the Vehicle Inspectorate.

 

Note: Tinted windows are not included in the MOT test (Yet), but the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) have started roadside checks to make sure tinted windows follow the Road Vehicle (Construction & Use) Regulations. This regulation, as detailed above, specifies the minimum levels of light that must pass through the windscreen and front side windows.

just so you are aware the limit is now 75% light to let through and they are trying to change it to 85%. Im currently waiting to start my window tinting business.

generally speaking, put anything on the front windows and you will fall foul of the law. I had 35% on the fronts of my old Starlet and i got buggered by the nice man from VOSA.

Ouch at QSC- £150 for rear sceen!!

just so you are aware the limit is now 75% light to let through

That's for the windscreen itself not the drivers & passengers window

From a traffic policeman on a local forum

Windscreen don't touch it must let 75% light through

Front windows must let 70 % light through.

Rear Windows do what you like.

If your front windows drop below 70 % you will be required to remove the tint.

If they drop below 46% i.e you cant see out them then a fine and points could come your way.

If they drop below 11% you will get reported for dangerous driving and may get a ban.

generally speaking, put anything on the front windows and you will fall foul of the law. I had 35% on the fronts of my old Starlet and i got buggered by the nice man from VOSA.

 

Ouch at QSC- £150 for rear sceen!!

which is especially true for newer cars. A tintman light testing device we used on a 2 year old car was on the legal limt for tinting and any film applied would have rendered the windows illegal.

Please bear in mind though that although tints may be aesthetically pleasing they are also dangerous. Would you drive around at night with dark shades on?

The consequences of pulling out on that motorcyclist, cyclist etc could be devastating. Especially if you failed to see them at night because of your tints.

We did a lovely tint on a Range Rover once, 5% tint on the back and fronts and 35% on the windscreen lol

Please bear in mind though that although tints may be aesthetically pleasing

Correct, I just had my car tinted yesterday

I have tints on the rear screen and back windows, they were on the car when it came from Japan. At night it can be a royal pain in the arse to see while reversing down the street where my garage is.

Nice car Add

Nice car Add

Cheers

i been stop few times in last year so... i know now its NEED to be sides 75% light to let through ..if they are less then 20% its 3 points and 60 pound ticket (f@ck) .....

ye, but if you put something like a 5% limo tint on your front windows you deserve to get rogered