The law requires that the windows of the vehicle allow at least: It is illegal to sell a vehicle with heavily tinted windscreens in the UK. Therefore, the police or commercial standards may prosecute you for selling a car with an illegal glass tint. The darkness of the glass tint is also not part of your TÜV test. This means that your vehicle can pass the test even with an illegal tint, and passing the roadworthiness tests cannot be used as a defense against illegal window tinting. The UK window film law states that the front side windows (i.e. the windows on either side of the driver`s head) must have a VLT (visible light transmission) of more than 70%. This means that at least 70% of the light must pass through the window. Most modern car windows are made of glass with an 80-70% VLT, so even a very light film applied to windshields unfortunately takes the wrong side of 70% and is therefore not legal. According to the law, the windshield must have an ALV of more than 75%, even lighter than the sides, so even a very slightly tinted window film would not be legal. If you drive a vehicle that was first used before 1985, the windshield can be tinted with 70% light transmission.
These cases are becoming rare, as most classic car owners do not ring the windows of their vehicle. Important: The actual legal requirements for tinted car windows vary depending on when the vehicle was first used (e.g. before or after April 1985). British law states that there are no restrictions on the tint of the rear side windows or rear windscreen. The reason police enforce the UK`s window tint law is road safety. Therefore, heavy or dark tinted car windows can affect the driver`s vision. Late prohibition notices or correction notices are most often received from drivers whose car colours are prohibited. These are usually spent on dyeing, which is not legal but allows more than 30% of the light to pass through.
These notices will allow you to drive (usually up to 10 days), but you will need to remove all illegal hues and provide proof to a police station. The front side windows and windshield are subject to restrictions that vary slightly depending on when the vehicle is first used. Note: Evaluating a car for legal tinted windows is not a standard procedure performed by TUV testers during the MOT test. Rear windows and rear window All windows behind the driver`s door have no color restrictions. If you drive a vehicle with increased tint on the windshields, you may need to expect enforcement action. This can be a prohibition notice preventing you from using your vehicle on the road until you have removed the extra tint from the windows, a firm fine notice, or a subpoena. In the UK, it is also illegal to sell a vehicle with a non-compliant window tint, and the police or commercial standards can legally prosecute you for this. UK dyeing laws (e.g. for cars, vans and lorries) contain several important safety rules for tinted vehicle windows. There is no specific legal limit for the tint of car windows on rear passenger windows.
Similarly, the Tinted Windows Act does not apply to the rear window of the vehicle. In the United Kingdom, illegal tinting of windows is a criminal offence. The police or DVSA can measure the darkness of your window with a photometer, and police officers are increasingly equipped with these devices. You should also consider telling your auto insurance company about the tint of your windows, even if you`re within the legal limits. Your future claims may be cancelled because insurance companies may consider it to be an automatic change. The above provisions shall apply only to vehicles used for the first time after 1 April 1985. If your car is older, you can use up to 70% visible light transmission on the windshield and front side windows. The rules for tinted windscreens and front side windows depend on the date the vehicle was first used.
There are no rules for tinting the rear window or rear passenger windows. In most modern vehicles, a slight tint is added to the windows during their manufacture. If you add more shades, it is likely that the windows do not meet the legal requirements. The UK has very clearly defined laws to tint windows. The windshield and front side windows can have up to 75% and 70% light transmission, respectively, and all the windows at the driver`s rear can have any dark shade.