Window Tint Question

[Cherokeekid88]

Will a place tint your windows as dark as you want them even if it won't pass inspection? I am hoping to get my windows tinted on my Xj for my birthday and I wanted to go maybe 15% all the way around....My jetta that I had was tinted around 10-15% and the place I took it to get inspected passed it with no problem....

 

[rabb11d]

All the places I have been to will. My wife got a ticket for tint being to dark on her accord, so inspection isn't your only worry.

 

[Tom@Hilltop_Machine]

Just go with 35% and stay legal.

 

[Cherokeekid88]

to me, 35% isn't worth it....if I can pay the same price for 35% vs. 20% or 15%...Ive always had my windows tinted on all my vehicles and never had any problems with the po-po (not to say that I never would) or inspecitions..if I take it to the right place.

 

[mysterync]

Its the same price regardless of light transmission in most places. And most places will tint as dark as you like regardless of state law. But you will get a ticket, Mike (clear choice in boone) strips as many cars as he tints. And if you don't get a ticket it won't pass inspection. Don't reply that "you've got a buddy" lol
Asking someone to pass a vehicle that shouldn't be passed is nothing short of disrespectful. Between fines, tickets and licensing issues you could cost you're buddy or his employer a lot of problems.
If you don't like 35% move to Florida or petition the laws, don't ask someone to break the law with you.

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[drkelly]

to me, 35% isn't worth it....if I can pay the same price for 35% vs. 20% or 15%...Ive always had my windows tinted on all my vehicles and never had any problems with the po-po (not to say that I never would) or inspecitions..if I take it to the right place.

Things have changed recently. They are cracking down on dark tint. My Ram had VERY dark tint, and it passed inspection every year until about 1.5-2 years ago.

 

[mysterync]

Things have changed recently. They are cracking down on dark tint. My Ram had VERY dark tint, and it passed inspection every year until about 1.5-2 years ago.

X2 we didn't see any enforcement until 2 years ago when 1 trooper really made a stink about it to the DMV and legislative branch. I'm not sure if that's the cause for the additional enforcement state wide or not.

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[Croatan_Kid]

The only windows they'd be concerned with would be your front two and the AS1 line. The back two and the back glass can be as dark as you want them, right? I know that's how a truck is looked at. Perhaps they classify the XJ differently. I thought the limit was 32%...or is it 35% +/- 3?

 

[mysterync]

The only windows they'd be concerned with would be your front two and the AS1 line. The back two and the back glass can be as dark as you want them, right? I know that's how a truck is looked at. Perhaps they classify the XJ differently. I thought the limit was 32%...or is it 35% +/- 3?

Correct, front and strip only. Its not considered a passenger car so the back can be as dark as you like.

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[GCncsuHD]

The only windows they'd be concerned with would be your front two and the AS1 line. The back two and the back glass can be as dark as you want them, right? I know that's how a truck is looked at. Perhaps they classify the XJ differently. I thought the limit was 32%...or is it 35% +/- 3?

It is 35% with a 3% leeway. Trucks, SUVs, and vans can be as dark as you like on the rear/rear side windows, you can spray paint them black if you wish. The front side windows have a 35% limit, and cars have a 35% limit all around. Windshield can be anything you like ABOVE the AS1 line, below that it must be clear besides the almost clear polarized or green solar tint that is in the glass itself on some models.

 

[Cherokeekid88]

how stupid does it look to have 35% in the front two windows and then 20% the rest?

 

[GCncsuHD]

how stupid does it look to have 35% in the front two windows and then 20% the rest?

Slightly less stupid than every single stock truck or SUV you see driving around with stock 20% rear and clear fronts.

But honestly, even if you had 20% all around, your front two will appear lighter during the day due to the light coming through the windshield. 35% is better than nothing.

My little Mazda beater was 20% rear with 35% fronts, it was my DD, and got profiled enough when it was going through it's lowrider phase so I kept it legal.

 

[snappy]

how stupid does it look to have 35% in the front two windows and then 20% the rest?

No more stupid than wearing your seat belt to be legal.... I have had long talks with leo buddies, the tint laws are for there protection. If you get pulled for other infractions they will have there gaurd up becuase they can not see in as good when they appoarch your vechile.

 

[GCncsuHD]

No more stupid than wearing your seat belt to be legal.... I have had long talks with leo buddies, the tint laws are for there protection. If you get pulled for other infractions they will have there gaurd up becuase they can not see in as good when they appoarch your vechile.

Not saying they don't use that reasoning, I know they do, but that reasoning doesn't account for the differing tint limit between cars and trucks, and the fact that if you wanted to drive around in a conversion van with all the back windows blacked out with black paint hauling who knows what hidden in the back with clear windows up front you could. The front windows being clear or tinted makes little difference, as if the driver had any ill intentions they would already have the upper hand due to being hidden by the unregulated darkened rear windows by the time the officer is able to peek around the front window.

For me the privacy is merely a byproduct, owning a few vehicles with no AC, the heat reduction inside, no more sunburnt neck from the sun peering in through the back window etc is the main reason for tinting, it made a huge difference, even on my vehicles with AC, there is no more burning yourself on the vinyl or leather seats in the summer (if you parked with the windshield away from the sun), and the AC cools the car off quicker.

But I for one always have the windows rolled down with hands at 10 and 2 in clear view when the officer pulls up. Not because I don't want him to see my tint, but because I know what is going through their head as they walk up. I wait until he is there and asks for license and registration before digging those out, no sense in scaring him more by seeing a frantic driver digging down below for something. I have never once been hassled about my 5% or 20% tint on any vehicle I have owned (that Mazda is the only thing I've owned with legal tint).

 

[Cherokeekid88]

My thing is too...VERY RARELY do I ever drive with my driver side windows UP....even in the dead of winter...I have to have some sort of circulation going. I see SO many cars with 5% tint and I just feel like around here...cops just don't care....I mean what is worse? a cop driving right by someone who is parked in a fire zone in front of a grocery store while they shop or someone driving around with 20% tint on their front windows..... I honestly think cops around here could just care less......

 

[One_Bad_Zj]

Regardless if cops from your area could care less, traveling anywhere else in North Carolina you risk getting pulled over (it is an excuse for a LEO to pull you over). I once got pulled over on the way to Virginia on I-77 and a trooper pulled me over because my rear windshield is 15% while the rest of the car is 35%. He let me go and told me to be careful, but it was an excuse to run my license and take a peek in my car. IMHO it is not worth it because LEO are cracking down.

 

[ManglerYJ]

On this subject, the windows in my mini-van (yeah, I know....) have factory tint. By comparison, what level of tint is "factory"? The reason I ask is that even with the factory tint, it gets REALLY hot in the summer time. The aquarium sized front windshield doesn't help matters much. Would I be able to help it out at all going darker on the rear, or just cut my losses?

 

[GCncsuHD]

On this subject, the windows in my mini-van (yeah, I know....) have factory tint. By comparison, what level of tint is "factory"? The reason I ask is that even with the factory tint, it gets REALLY hot in the summer time. The aquarium sized front windshield doesn't help matters much. Would I be able to help it out at all going darker on the rear, or just cut my losses?

Generally most OEM rear tint is around 20%, IIRC the rear tint on my previous GMs metered around 17-18%, but some imports tend to be lighter. The OEM rear tint in my wife's Infinity SUV is around 40%.

And yea, the fact that a van is nothing but a huge greenhouse with all the windows doesn't help, especially since they typically have huge slung back windshields, but possibly going darker on the rear, and adding tint to the front sides. If you consider the front sides are 20% of the total glass area, you just reduced the heat radiation by about that percent. Also keep in mind that not all tints are the same, different materials block different things, you can have a dark tint that still lets tons of heat radiation through, and vice versa. Llumar makes an almost clear tint for the windshield that blocks heat radiation, as well as UV rays while only blocking a negligible amount of light. Some vehicles come with a similar polarized coating on the windshield from the factory, it's easy to spot if you wear polarized sunglasses, making them appear purplish/rainbow while passing them on the highway.

 

[The-Bull-mac]

On a truck or SUV, jeep, you can go as dark as you like on the rear windows, driver and passenger window must be 35% or clearer, and windshield can only have a 5" strip. Passenger cars, *note small cars, following the definition of a car, cannot be darker than 35% on any window.

 

[cgm147]

i always go 20% all the way around it makes the front look legalish lol. my budy in Fl had double 5% in the back single 5% on the front two windows and windshield.. it was nice in the day time Fl heat but you couldn't wear sunglasses couldn't see out lol

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[cgm147]

i always go 20% all the way around it makes the front look legalish lol. my budy in Fl had double 5% in the back single 5% on the front two windows and windshield.. it was nice in the day time Fl heat but you couldn't wear sunglasses couldn't see out. and i refused to drive it at night lol this was on a denali xlt white boy boss mode on 24"s lol

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[SPOA87YJ]

We all run 20% on the front windows and 5% over factory on the back 3 on our trucks. If I had to change the front I would, but I like the privacy for the equipment I keep in my truck for work. I don't run a strip...

 

[MichaelT]

I've got 15 on my jeep front windows and if I had to do it over again I'd go with 35% so I don't have to deal with the hassle of waiting for the right time to get it inspected

 

[raja ram]

So, Can I add curtains or These mesh sunshades for the rear windows, all the time, for my passenger car[1]?
I just got my 35% tint from Nissan dealer for my 2014 E350 Merc. and they refused to put the AS1 line, even though it is legal in NC..!

The car already comes with automatic(button control) rear mesh sunshade, it is just the matter for rear passengers..!

As GCncsuHD mentioned, it should not be the reason for not letting the sedans to have the back tint..! Moreover, the SUV's shouldn't have, due to their height.
It is also a matter of few seconds, for the cop to see if there is anyone in the back seat. I'm single, not in a relation, no family or don't roam with friends, much, I drive alone most of the time and I got a 4dr Sedan for myself. So, If any risk, that would be me and I cannot control the invisible ghost in my back seat not to hurt me or the cop..!

[1] Similar to these.
car sun shade mesh | eBay

 

[anvilrubi]

Will a place tint your windows as dark as you want them even if it won't pass inspection? I am hoping to get my windows tinted on my Xj for my birthday and I wanted to go maybe 15% all the way around....My jetta that I had was tinted around 10-15% and the place I took it to get inspected passed it with no problem....

If you have the money they'll do whatever you want I have 5 all the way around on top of 20 no big deal