Tinting windows regulations

[nezz]

I was wanting to get my Scooby's windows tinted ready for the summer (cheaper than air con).

What are the laws on tints i.e what percentage for each window?
What about colured tints like silver/blue/orange etc?
Is there a registered/approved fitters register or something or can any company do it?


Nezz.

[IanW]

It is all to do with the percentage of the light that comes through the windows.

IIRC (If I am wrong, I am sure that one of the Feds will correct me) but:-

The Rear Screen and Rear Doors can be as dark as you want, while the front side windows must not be more than a 35% tint.

[GavB]

I've got 22% in the fronts and 33% in the rear. Will do a bit of digging to find out exactly what the legal tint is.

Off hand, you can have dark windows in the ones you do not use for driving I.e. rear passenger and rear windscreen. The front windows must be transparent to 35%, I think (not windscreen).

[nezz]

Thanks Gav

[Sonic]

Gav you got any pics of your motor so I can see the tints

Steve

[GavB]

I will try and find the camera and upload asap!

[IanW]

I have to say, that the tint on gavs car, does look darker up front than it actually is due to the rears being that bit darker.

I would/will probably go for something similar.

[GavB]

I have to say, that the tint on gavs car, does look darker up front than it actually is due to the rears being that bit darker.

I would/will probably go for something similar.

The windows in the back cut the light out inside and therefore the front is just as dark!

P.S. Ain't got the camera coz the old man's nicked it today! Will upload some pics tomorrow as got to go to work now!

[Nathan L]

AFAIK on the front side windows, as mentioned above you need a minimum of 70 % visual light transmission. On the windscreen I'm pretty sure it's upwards of 75%

All the below are 23% VLT rear 35% VLT sides except the 01 WRX which is 35% all round (ie lighter at the back).

http://members.aol.com/nathlang/lineup2.jpg

Hopefully that makes some sense.

Nathan..

[Sonic]

Nathan cant see the pics :)

[Nathan L]

Hopefully you can now.

First i used the wrong uploader then the picture came out with a line through it for some reason.

Damn me and technology :roll: ;)

[Sonic]

LOL

im considering having mine done, cos I cant afford air con :)

thanks for the pics

Steve

[IanW]

Seeing as it is getitng sunny again I am considering getting mine done, what is the act/law which covers the VLT limits for this?

[LB]

rear side and rear window have no limit as in effect you make it a 'van' if you black them out totally, AKAIK I thought it was 25% for the front?

[Sonic]

Did anyone read the story in the Daily Mail

They had a story on a family that had driven from the south (not sure where) to Manchester for the day (I think it was that way round ). Well they were driving what looked like a chryslar Neon, which had some serious tints on all the windows. They were pulled over by the police, they conducted the light test and declared the car unsafe for use on British roads. They were given an hour to get the car off the road. It was the first person to be pulled over due to the national clamp down on tinted windows.

They recited the reason being the 17 year old in a citreon that killed a motor cyclist and has hidden behind his tinted windows being the reason, not that he was listening to loud pounding music, didnt look, had his hand up a girls skirt.......

[IanW]

This a link to teh story in question :-

http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news/stories/Detail_LinkStory=61376.html

And it is also what has made me query the exact figures!


A spokesman for the Vehicle Inspectorate said: "The legal limits for visibility are 75 per cent light through the windscreen and 70 per cent on the front side windows for vehicles built after 1 April 1985.

[IanW]

rear side and rear window have no limit as in effect you make it a 'van' if you black them out totally, AKAIK I thought it was 25% for the front?

25% tint would work with the figures that were quoted in the article in teh post above.

I dont suppose you can find me a copy of the exact figures, and which law/act it comes under?

Ian

[zippy01]

:P Ian, i've just had my scooby tinted and the company what did mine told me 35% front driver / passenger window and as dark as u like at the back.
http://images.fotopic.net/?id=617600&outx=600&oq=0

[Flat Eric]

U.K. TINT REGS (http://www.roads.dft.gov.uk/vehicle/standards/consum/04.htm)

U.S. TINT REGS (http://www.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/tint/)

[Black Rat]

According to the Vehicle Inspectorate, the legal limits for visibility are 75% light through the windscreen and 70% on the front side windows for vehicles built after 1 April 1985

As far as I know, the the regulations do not apply to the rear passenger windows or the rear windscreen, as in effect you are for arguments sake making it into a van by blacking out the windows in effect ?

The legislation that covers the tinting of windows comes under the Construction and use Regulations

This is taken from the Department of Transport Web Site (http://www.dft.gov.uk/stellent/groups/dft_control/documents/homepage/dft_home_index.htm)

LIGHT TRANSMISSION OF GLAZING - Summary of requirements

Motor vehicles first used between 1/6/1978 and 31/3/1985 must have windows which allow at least 70% of light to pass through.

Motor vehicles first used on or after 1/4/1985 must have windscreens which allow at least 75% of light to pass through - all other windows must admit at least 70% of light.

These requirements do not apply to:

any part of the windscreen outside the vision reference zone (as defined in C&U# Regulation 32(13));

windows through which the driver is unable, at any time, to see the road;

windows in ambulances which are behind the drivers seat;

windows in buses, goods vehicles, locomotives or motor tractors which are behind the drivers seat (except those which face the rear - as defined by C&U# Regulation 32(12) - or which form all or part of an exterior door); and

windows in cars which are fitted behind the drivers seat and which bear an e mark indicating type approval to the European glazing Directive 92/22/EC.

Tinted film

C&U# Regulation 32 does not specifically prohibit any window from having a tinted film applied, but a window with a tinted film which takes light transmittance levels below those specified above could be interpreted as contravening the Regulation.

If a vehicle's windows were excessively tinted by the use of stick-on film or a spray, there may be a contravention of C&U# Regulation 30. This requires that all glass or other materials fitted must be maintained in such a condition that it does not obscure the vision of the driver. Again, it does not specifically prohibit those windows from having a tinted film applied, but doing so could be interpreted as contravening the Regulation.

I hope this clarifies the matter