window tinting law in CA

[mjstruck]

What is the darkest tint I can go with and still meet CA requirements?

 

[Defiant]

minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc26708.htm

 

[Ryan86]

No restrictions on the rear windows. 35% or lighter on the fronts.

Or...a note from an eye doctor saying you need dark windows because the sun blinds you will usually work.


35% was just too light for me. I recently got 15% all around and haven't been hassled by any cops...

 

[T9S1i]

i was under the impression that you could do whatever you want in the back windows, but the fronts could not have ANY tint on them.

im currently rockin limo in the back and 20% in the front. Im thinkin about going lighter, but when i drive at night my front windows are down like 99% of the time, unless im on the freeway.

 

[Defiant]

i was under the impression that you could do whatever you want in the back windows, but the fronts could not have ANY tint on them.

Well, you could read the damned link and compare your impressions with what the cops are writing tickets for.

 

[Ryan86]

http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/CA/

 

[Defiant]

http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/CA/

Well that's fine. The TintCenter says:
Front Side Windows Must allow more than 70% of light in.

The California Vehicle Code says:
(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows, located to the immediate left and right of the front seat if the following conditions are met:

(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

Guess which website the cops and judges go by.

 

[Ryan86]

Well that's fine. The TintCenter says:
Front Side Windows Must allow more than 70% of light in.

The California Vehicle Code says:
(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows, located to the immediate left and right of the front seat if the following conditions are met:

(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

Guess which website the cops and judges go by.

Every website, person, tint shop, etc has told me the same thing... 70% light let thru the fronts.

I messed up on my first post. When I said 35%, I was thinking backwards.

Anyways, heres the laws for every state... updated in April this year: http://www.iwfa.com/iwfa/Law_Chart/Law Chart 4-06.pdf

 

[Defiant]

Every website, person, tint shop, etc has told me the same thing... 70% light let thru the fronts.

Spiffy, but illegal here.

 

[mjstruck]

Anybody know any good tint shops around Walnut Creek/Concord area that you guys can recommend? Thanks

 

[unlmtdndeavor]

not in concord/walnut creek but Omega Tintwerks in Pleasanton is one of the premier tinting places in the bay. last time i heard there was a one month wait i believe. but they did my buddy's wrx and its clean

 

[GreddyGst]

I'm thinking of tinting my windows when the car is ready. Maybe i'll check this place out

 

[blazebolt]

Well that's fine. The TintCenter says:
Front Side Windows Must allow more than 70% of light in.

The California Vehicle Code says:
(d) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), clear, colorless, and transparent material may be installed, affixed, or applied to the front side windows, located to the immediate left and right of the front seat if the following conditions are met:

(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent.

Guess which website the cops and judges go by.

Defiant, can you please explain to me what the 70 percent is referring to under (d) (2)? It almost seems like they are contradicting themselves, but there is a lot more verbage/details. It does coincide with the 70% the tint shops use.

(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal standard.

 

[mjstruck]

not in concort/walnut creek but Omega Tintwerks in Pleasanton is one of the premier tinting places in the bay. last time i heard there was a one month wait i believe. but they did my buddy's wrx and its clean

Do you know how much they charge? I was quoted $185 for the back three windows at a place in concord.

 

[98eclipseRS]

#### you guys are getting charged rediculous prices. Its ####ing tint people. If anyone is willing to travel there is a place here in san mateo(might be redwood city now) that has done tint on all my cars and the work is flawless. The most I have paid is 165$ for all five windows.

 

[GreddyGst]

#### you guys are getting charged rediculous prices. Its ####ing tint people. If anyone is willing to travel there is a place here in san mateo(might be redwood city now) that has done tint on all my cars and the work is flawless. The most I have paid is 165$ for all five windows.

Damn thats a deal!

Hey Zach, i'm still trying to get in touch with the guy. So far I left two voice messages, I'll let u know when he calls me up.

 

[mjstruck]

#### you guys are getting charged rediculous prices. Its ####ing tint people. If anyone is willing to travel there is a place here in san mateo(might be redwood city now) that has done tint on all my cars and the work is flawless. The most I have paid is 165$ for all five windows.

How can I get ahold of them?

 

[98eclipseRS]

My fiance has their business card. When she gets home and gets it to me i'll post up the number for you. If you say someone from boardwalk auto center sent you there they will usually cut you a deal.

 

[unlmtdndeavor]

san mateo..why do i think this is the same place. the place im thinking of was givin a deal to the scion xb owners, we have 4 normal windows, the pair of extra ones in the rear doors, and the rear quarter windows, and the back hatch one...all for under $200.

 

[Defiant]

Defiant, can you please explain to me what the 70 percent is referring to under (d) (2)? It almost seems like they are contradicting themselves, but there is a lot more verbage/details. It does coincide with the 70% the tint shops use.

the "70%" is what the tint shops say is legal. The law says 88%. Tint shops don't have judges who decide how big your fine will be after you've thrown away the couple-hundred on the tint you just had to tear off.

(2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including the specified minimum light transmittance of 70 percent and the abrasion resistance of AS-14 glazing, as specified in that federal standard.

That's for glass, not tinting film applied to glass. And is anyone selling cars that have clear, untinted side window glass anymore?.

 

[Defiant]

Has anyone used Hüper Optik tint film?

 

[98eclipseRS]

san mateo..why do i think this is the same place. the place im thinking of was givin a deal to the scion xb owners, we have 4 normal windows, the pair of extra ones in the rear doors, and the rear quarter windows, and the back hatch one...all for under $200.

It is(or was need to figure out if they moved to redwood city) right next to central park. You turn off the el camino go across some train tracks and imediately make a right down a small almost alley like street next to a nursery(for trees you dummies) and its next to a paint shop.

 

[mjstruck]

well I found a good deal...all the windows tinted for $150. Now I was thinking 35% all the way around. The guy told me that would look good. what do you guys think?

 

[unlmtdndeavor]

i say 20% in the rear and 35% in the front. if you do plan to tint the front make sure it is a bit lighter than the rear and "ususally" it will help you from getting hassled. but if you do the setup i suggest, it looks really clean. my buddy has that exact setup on his car

 

[Ryan86]

Damn, I paid $260 for all 5, 15%. And the guy ####ed up the rear one. He said he'd re-do it, but when I went back the shop was empty. Out of business I guess haha.