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WHAT ARE THE WINDOW TINT LAWS IN CALIFORNIA?

Tinting your windows with the professionals at Sun Stoppers helps you stay in accordance with the law.

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Just The Facts

  • Tinting your car’s windows gives you protection from dangerous UV rays, improves your driving comfort and protects your belongings.

  • However, each state has different window tinting laws drivers must follow to avoid citations or “fix-it” tickets.

  • It’s important other drivers and pedestrians are able to make eye contact and see where you’re looking. Law enforcement also needs to be able to identify the driver in a vehicle.

HOW DOES LAW ENFORCEMENT MEASURE WINDOW TINT?

WHAT IS VISIBLE LIGHT TRANSMISSION (VLT)?

VLT = VISIBLE LIGHT TRANSMISSION

  • The higher the percentage of VLT, the more light passes through.
  • 100% VLT means your car’s windows are transparent, leaving you unprotected from damaging UV rays.
  • 5% VLT is the darkest and barely lets light pass through the tint film.

Most people want the darkest tint they can get away with.

We can give you the darkest look possible without violating your state’s window tint laws.

California Window Tint Laws

California

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Passenger Cars

Includes most 2-5 Door vehicles that seat 5 or fewer passengers.

Windshield: 

Non-reflective tint is allowed if the bottom edge of the material is at least 29 inches above the driver’s seat.

Front Side Windows:

Minimum 88% VLT for aftermarket film, or 70% VLT when combined with factory-tinted windows.

Back Side Windows:

Any tint darkness allowed

Rear Window:

Any tint darkness allowed

Multi-purpose Vehicles

Minivans, Pickups, SUVs, etc. that are designed to carry 10 or fewer passengers.

Windshield: 

Non-reflective tint is allowed if the bottom edge of the material is at least 29 inches above the driver’s seat.

Front Side Windows:

Minimum 88% VLT for aftermarket film, or 70% VLT when combined with factory-tinted windows.

Back Side Windows:

Any tint darkness allowed

Rear Window:

Any tint darkness allowed

Reflective Tint

Window tint with metallic particles to give glass a silver/mirror look. This reflects glare and rejects heat.

Windshield:

Reflective tint is not allowed

Front Side Windows:

Reflective tint is not allowed

Back Side Windows:

Reflective tint is not allowed

Rear Window:

Reflective tint is not allowed

Other

Other limits, restrictions, or allowances

Prohibited Tint Colors:

Red, Blue, and Amber tint is prohibited. Side windows must be colorless.

Mirrors:

Dual side mirrors are REQUIRED if rear window is tinted

Certification:

Vehicles with window tint are required to carry a certificate signed by the installing company or material’s manufacturer, declaring that the window tint complies with California law, and identifying the manufacturer of the window tint. 

VLT Stickers:

VLT stickers are not required.

READY TO GET YOUR WINDOWS TINTED IN CALIFORNIA?

As the blazing California sun heats up your car and glares in your eyes, you wish there was something you could do to block it. 

 

Have you considered getting your windows tinted?

 

At Sun Stoppers, we’d love to help you out by expertly applying a window tint that never bubbles or peels! We’ve been applying window tint and paint protection for more than twenty years, and we’re ready to help you with your tinting needs.

 

Feel free to call us, or stop by any of our California locations! We have locations in Campbell, CA, Carmichael, CA, Folsom, CA, Newark, CA, and Grand Terrace, CA.

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DISCLAIMER: Window tint laws in your state can change on a daily basis. These rules and regulations may be interpreted differently by city or county authorities. We recommend verifying this information with your local DMV or local law enforcement agencies for accuracy. This information relating to window tint laws was last updated on November 1, 2022. If you find any of this information to be inaccurate, please let us know so we can update it!