Smurph588 · May 10, 2014

Good morning everyone. does anyone know the UK laws on window tinting. I would like to tint my TD4's windows to protect the kids. I would like to go 100% on tailgate and rear windows and 30% front and standard windscreen. I presume you can still seen out from 100% tint.? Any ideas? I have searched this forum before posting but couldn't find a definitive answer.

Many thanks.

roccotune · May 10, 2014

I believe that something like 70-80% light must get through the front windows but no laws as to the others (think van) I have had 70 on rear windows before and it's been dark

V1P3R · May 10, 2014

100% tint means no light passes through so doubt you would see out. Not allowed to tint front windscreen and I think max tint on front windows is about 20%

Northern Irelander · May 10, 2014

Smurph588 said:
to protect the kids. .

from what?

englishbullterrier · May 10, 2014

Vehicles first used on 1 April 1985 or later

The front windscreen must let at least 75% of light through and the front side windows must let at least 70% of light through.
Vehicles first used before 1 April 1985

The front windscreen and front side windows must both let at least 70% of light through.

https://www.gov.uk/tinted-vehicle-window-rules

V1P3R · May 10, 2014

I bet if you put a 25% tint on front windscreen you will get pulled over sell the time!

teddywood1 · May 10, 2014

personally I would not do it at all on the front they already are tinted to a degree ,I once drove a car with tinted windows at night and nearly had a very bad accident which would have been my fault.

ZDomZ · May 10, 2014

Clear car window glass only allows about 86% light transmission. Standard freelander windows have a slight tint which reduces the light transmission by about 5-10%. So no additional window tint is usually legal. From the front door pillar back there is no issue with limo black tint.
My hippo is limo'ed on the rear sides and tailgate with no additional tint on the front doors or windscreen.

ZDomZ · May 10, 2014

One other thing to note is how little you can see out of the rear window on a cloudy day. Imagine wearing very dark sunglasses all the time.

matt1295 · May 10, 2014

Had mine done last months got dark smoke on the rears and left the front alone

Rob698 · May 10, 2014

On the front side windows there should be some etching, if it says AS2, you can't tint them, thats the max that they can go. Usually the windscreen is AS1.
Rob

Tannaton · May 11, 2014

Where I live in East Yorkshire, some of the local traffic plod carry gadgets now for measuring the level of tint on the windows of cars, basically it looks like a multimeter but at the end of the leads there are two suckers which they stick either side of the glass and it tells them the % tint. There's quite a local VW modding fraternity that I know and a few of them have been pulled and either fined or made to scratch off the film there and then - it's not worth the risk.

When I bought my 300 TDI Disco the Windows were all heavily tinted, I remove the front tints straight away, and a few weeks later removed the rear window tint as it was just so much more difficult to reverse in the dark.

tina2709 · May 11, 2014

Mine were tinted when I bought mine they are darker at back but front is lightly tinted, I think it looks good and have not had any issues reversing in dark if I did I would just drop rear window!

duncanpage4 · May 11, 2014

I've got 70% tints on the rear windows on my 3dr. Makes a huge difference on a sunny day to the temperature inside the car.
On a very cloudy day it does restrict visibility but I'm used to driving a works van so I'm used to using the wing mirrors.
I've just ordered 20% tints for the fronts! haven't fitted them yet but I bought my Mk4 Astra 3dr with full tints on & liked the anonymity it gives!
Also visiting my sister & brother in-law in Manchester having the tints adds to security.
What people can't see they're not tempted by. And the film means the windows don't disintegrate if they are smashed so it's harder for someone to reach in & take something.

tina2709 · May 11, 2014

duncanpage4 said:
I've got 70% tints on the rear windows on my 3dr. Makes a huge difference on a sunny day to the temperature inside the car.
On a very cloudy day it does restrict visibility but I'm used to driving a works van so I'm used to using the wing mirrors.
I've just ordered 20% tints for the fronts! haven't fitted them yet but I bought my Mk4 Astra 3dr with full tints on & liked the anonymity it gives!
Also visiting my sister & brother in-law in Manchester having the tints adds to security.
What people can't see they're not tempted by. And the film means the windows don't disintegrate if they are smashed so it's harder for someone to reach in & take something.

Do you find you forget tints are there and wave stupidly at people you know, but they can't see you!

duncanpage4 · May 11, 2014

tina2709 said:
Do you find you forget tints are there and wave stupidly at people you know, but they can't see you!

I'm never in the back but family members have waved madly at people not realising they can't be seen!

gstuart · May 11, 2014

hi

i had tints on the back of my 3 door, but personally found them dangerous as i couldn't see properly , especially down an unlit road or off road , a nightmare if u have to reverse , so removed them

would pull down blinds be ok to protect ur children from the sun and just pop them up at night

just a thought , hope it may help abit

gary

ZDomZ · May 11, 2014

Yeah it is difficult to see out of the windows on a dark unlit lane! Can always drop the rear window to reverse if you need too, but as I have my HGV licence I am used to just using my mirrors!

Smurph588 · May 11, 2014

duncanpage4 said:
I've got 70% tints on the rear windows on my 3dr. Makes a huge difference on a sunny day to the temperature inside the car.
On a very cloudy day it does restrict visibility but I'm used to driving a works van so I'm used to using the wing mirrors.
I've just ordered 20% tints for the fronts! haven't fitted them yet but I bought my Mk4 Astra 3dr with full tints on & liked the anonymity it gives!
Also visiting my sister & brother in-law in Manchester having the tints adds to security.
What people can't see they're not tempted by. And the film means the windows don't disintegrate if they are smashed so it's harder for someone to reach in & take something.

Think I might go for 70% rears and 20% fronts leaving windscreen as is. Like many others I always use side mirrors and have rear view mirror angled to keep watchful eye on the kids. My carpark is very open and on a hot day the seat belt buckles really heat up so can imagine how hot kids get in the back.

ZDomZ · May 11, 2014

Rob698 said:
On the front side windows there should be some etching, if it says AS2, you can't tint them, thats the max that they can go.

englishbullterrier said:
Vehicles first used on 1 April 1985 or later

The front windscreen must let at least 75% of light through and the front side windows must let at least 70% of light through.

myself said:
Clear car window glass only allows about 86% light transmission. Standard freelander windows have a slight tint which reduces the light transmission by about 5-10%. So no additional window tint is usually legal.

Ummm 20% tint on top of clear = 66% transmission = illegal.
20% tint on factory tint = 56-61% transmission = more illegal.

You asked the laws.....

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