Almost every car owner out there fancies their cars to be aesthetically pleasing as possible. There are a number of options that you can do such as getting a new paint job, installing new vent visor shades, upgrading headlights and taillights, or getting new wheels.
However, these are all so expensive. So for those looking for a more budget-friendly approach can opt for window tinting. Not only is it affordable, it can improve the looks of your car ten-fold!
If you happen to be at Orlando, Florida, we at Flying Window Tinting is your best bet for a window tinting job.
Practical Benefits of Tinting Your Car:
- Increased privacy inside your car.
- Can potentially lower the ambient temperature inside the car, especially during hot days.
- Gives extra protection from harmful ultraviolet rays.
- Can shield you from annoying glare of the sun.
- Offers your car a more striking and well-grounded look.
Because your car will be changed drastically, it’s bound by state laws on how much tint you can apply legally.
Why is there a Limit on Window Tinting?
Before considering tinting your car, there are prescribed limits of how much tint you can apply legally. The reason for this is mainly about security concerns.
Since most transgressions and criminal acts involve a moving car, authorities regulate everything that may obstruct vision inside the car. As responsible car owners, we are obliged to comply to avoid breaking the law.
Furthermore, the limits on window tinting also targets the safety of drivers. Drivers need enough light from the outside to drive safely. Unfortunately, this is not possible if you have dark tint.
As a general rule of thumb, the two front windows should be tinted lighter while the rear and passenger side windows can be tinted darker. This can be translated to the more common jargon among the car industry, the Visible Light Transmittance or VLT.
Basically, VLT is a rating indicating the amount of light that passes through the window tint film. This rating, shown in percentage, is the most common specification with regards to window tint films. The lower the rating, the darker the tint is.
Regardless, as a responsible car owner, it’s better to be familiar with the allowable tint levels just to be safe. You wouldn’t want paying hefty fines and a record on your driver’s license, right?
For a better hands-on experience in choosing the right tint shade for you, check out our tint simulator.
Allowable Tint Levels by Each State:
So how much tint can I apply legally? In this section, we will outline all the allowable tint levels by each state.
If you’re from Florida, you’re only allowed 28% VLT ratings or shade on the front side windows. Therefore, your window tint films intended for the front windows should have a VLT rating more than 28%.
- All percentages shown indicates the allowable VLT rating.
- Front side windows are the windows beside the driver and front passenger.
- Back side windows are the windows beside the rear passngers.
- Rear windows are the windows at the back.
- Windshield shade band refers to the line parallel at the top of the windshield. Commonly classified as AS-1, it’s usually rated as 70% VLT.
- Reflectivity refers to a strip of material, either a metal or film, that is reflective.
- Front Side Windows: 32%
- Back Side Windows: 32%
- Rear Windows: 32%
- Windshield Shade Band: 6 inches
- Reflectivity: no more than 20%
Alaska
- Front Side Windows: 70%
- Back Side Windows: 40%
- Rear Windows: 40%
- Windshield Shade Band: 5 inches
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
Arizona
- Front Side Windows: 33%
- Back Side Windows: any
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no more than 35%
Arkansas
- Front Side Windows: 25%
- Back Side Windows: 25%
- Rear Windows: 10%
- Windshield Shade Band: 5 inches
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
California
- Front Side Windows: 70%
- Back Side Windows: any
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: 4 inches
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
Colorado
- Front Side Windows: 27%
- Back Side Windows: 27%
- Rear Windows: 27%
- Windshield Shade Band: 4 inches
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
Connecticut
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: 35%
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no more than 21%
Delaware
- Front Side Windows: 70%
- Back Side Windows: any
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
Florida
- Front Side Windows: 28%
- Back Side Windows: 15%
- Rear Windows: 15%
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no more than 25%
Georgia
- Front Side Windows: 32%
- Back Side Windows: 32%
- Rear Windows: 32%
- Windshield Shade Band: 6 inches
- Reflectivity: no more than 20%
Hawaii
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: 35%
- Rear Windows: 35%
- Windshield Shade Band: no inch requirement, 70%
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
Idaho
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: 20%
- Rear Windows: 35%
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no more than 35%
Illinois
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: 35%
- Rear Windows: 35%
- Windshield Shade Band: 6 inches
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
Indiana
- Front Side Windows: 30%
- Back Side Windows: 30%
- Rear Windows: 30%
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no more than 25%
Iowa
- Front Side Windows: 70%
- Back Side Windows: any
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no excessive reflection, but not specified
Kansas
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: 35%
- Rear Windows: 35%
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
Kentucky
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: 18%
- Rear Windows: 18%
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no more than 25%
Louisiana
- Front Side Windows: 40%
- Back Side Windows: 25%
- Rear Windows: 12%
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no more than 20%
Maine
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: any
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: 4 inches
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
Maryland
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: 35%
- Rear Windows: 35%
- Windshield Shade Band: 5 inches
- Reflectivity: no law
Massachusetts
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: 35%
- Rear Windows: 35%
- Windshield Shade Band: 6 inches
- Reflectivity: no more than 35%
Michigan
- Front Side Windows: any percent but only 4 inches from the top window
- Back Side Windows: any
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: 4 inches
- Reflectivity: no more than 35%
Minnesota
- Front Side Windows: 50%
- Back Side Windows: 50%
- Rear Windows: 50%
- Windshield Shade Band: none allowed
- Reflectivity: no more than 20%
Mississippi
- Front Side Windows: 28%
- Back Side Windows: 28%
- Rear Windows: 28%
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no more than 20%
Missouri
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: any
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no more than 35%
Montana
- Front Side Windows: 24%
- Back Side Windows: 14%
- Rear Windows: 14%
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no more than 35%
Nebraska
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: 20%
- Rear Windows: 20%
- Windshield Shade Band: 5 inches or AS-1 marking, whichever comes first
- Reflectivity: no more than 35%
Nevada
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: any
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no law
New Hampshire
- Front Side Windows: non allowed
- Back Side Windows: 35%
- Rear Windows: 35%
- Windshield Shade Band: 6 inches
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
New Jersey
- Front Side Windows: non allowed
- Back Side Windows: any
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: 6 inches
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
New Mexico
- Front Side Windows: 20%
- Back Side Windows: 20%
- Rear Windows: 20%
- Windshield Shade Band: 5 inches or AS-1 marking, whichever comes first
- Reflectivity: no law
New York
- Front Side Windows: 70%
- Back Side Windows: 70%
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: 6 inches
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
North Carolina
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: 35%
- Rear Windows: 35%
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no more than 20%
North Dakota
- Front Side Windows: 50%
- Back Side Windows: any
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: no more than 70%
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
Ohio
- Front Side Windows: 50%
- Back Side Windows: any
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: no more than 70%
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
Oklahoma
- Front Side Windows: 25%
- Back Side Windows: 25%
- Rear Windows: 25%
- Windshield Shade Band: 5 inches or AS-1 marking, whichever comes first
- Reflectivity: no more than 20%
Oregon
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: 35%
- Rear Windows: 35%
- Windshield Shade Band: 6 inches
- Reflectivity: no more than 13%
Pennsylvania
- Front Side Windows: 70%
- Back Side Windows: 70%
- Rear Windows: 70%
- Windshield Shade Band: non allowed
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
Rhode Island
- Front Side Windows: 70%
- Back Side Windows: 70%
- Rear Windows: 70%
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no law
South Carolina
- Front Side Windows: 27%
- Back Side Windows: 27%
- Rear Windows: 27%
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: non-reflective
South Dakota
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: 20%
- Rear Windows: 20%
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
Tennessee
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: 35%
- Rear Windows: 35%
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
Texas
- Front Side Windows: 25%
- Back Side Windows: 25%
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: 5 inches or AS-1 marking, whichever comes first
- Reflectivity: no more than 25%
Utah
- Front Side Windows: 43%
- Back Side Windows: any
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
Vermont
- Front Side Windows: non allowed
- Back Side Windows: any
- Rear Windows: any
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no reflectivity
Virginia
- Front Side Windows: 50%
- Back Side Windows: 35%
- Rear Windows: 35%
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no more than 20%
Washington
- Front Side Windows: 24%
- Back Side Windows: 24%
- Rear Windows: 24%
- Windshield Shade Band: 6 inches
- Reflectivity: no more than 35%
Washington D.C.
- Front Side Windows: 70%
- Back Side Windows: 50%
- Rear Windows: 50%
- Windshield Shade Band: 5 inches or AS-1 marking, whichever comes first
- Reflectivity: no law
West Virginia
- Front Side Windows: 35%
- Back Side Windows: 35%
- Rear Windows: 35%
- Windshield Shade Band: 5 inches
- Reflectivity: 20%
Wisconsin
- Front Side Windows: 50%
- Back Side Windows: 35%
- Rear Windows: 35%
- Windshield Shade Band: AS-1 marking
- Reflectivity: no law
Wyoming
- Front Side Windows: 28%
- Back Side Windows: 28%
- Rear Windows: 28%
- Windshield Shade Band: 5 inches or AS-1 marking, whichever comes first
- Reflectivity: no more than 20%
About the Writer:
This was written by Steven Hopkinson owner/operator of Flying Window Tinting. We have been in business in Orlando, Florida in the same location for 20 years!
We Serve These Locations:
- Orlando, FL
- Winter Park, FL
- Alafaya, FL
- Azalea Park, FL
Services Offered:
- Window Tinting
- Window Tint Removal
- Headlight Cleaning
- Vinyl Graphics Installation
Contact us for free quotes on your vehicle
