Window Tint Laws In South Carolina
Like any tint laws, there’s a reason South Carolina tint laws are set the way they are. For visibility concerns and safety reasons, lower that limit and you’re at risk of not being visible to other drivers, which can lead to accidents. Not a concern in most cases, but something to consider nonetheless. Not only that exists in so far as visibility, though, you also need to be cognizant of the fact that the laws are in place to protect you from excessive sun damage and the like. That’s a benefit of window tinting for automotive purposes, and a main reason the laws exist. If it were not for window tint laws in place , shops would be able to apply whatever level of tint the client desired, which could lead to potential legal ramifications. In South Carolina, the laws are clear. For sedans, the front window has to have a 27 percent light transmission. For SUVs and vans, the front windows require a 25 percent light transmission. For the back window of any car, SUV, notwithstanding, 6 percent light transmission while for oversized vehicles, that light transmission changes to 13 percent. Finally, its important to point out that all passenger vehicles must include a minimum of 43 percent light transmission.
How Much is Legal Darkness?
While there are varied standards of darkness used across the country, the South Carolina tint darkness law is broken down by vehicle type:
Passenger Vehicles (sedans or vehicles that are not SUVs or Trucks)
SUVs and Trucks
Light transmittance through the tinted windows of sedans must be 27% or higher. That is, a sedan can legally have a maximum of 43% tint darkness. The law provides greater flexibility for SUVs and trucks, permitting a maximum of 35% tint darkness through the windows (excluding the windshield). Beyond that, tint on SUVs and trucks is illegal.
In addition to the rules above, the law imposes other restrictions regarding tint on light transmittance and reflectance percentages. For example:
• Windshield: tint film must allow more than 27% of light to be transmitted through the windshield, and even the tint film that is used on the windshield is required to allow more than 3% of light to be transmitted through the film.
• Side windows on the front passenger’s side and the driver’s side, as well as the back passenger’s side windows: tint film must allow more than 35% of light to be transmitted through the film and must contain no more than 20% reflectance.
• Window privacy: in all sedans, trucks, and SUVs, the law does permit window privacy glass to be installed on the rear windows, on the side rear windows, and/or on the rear window if the windshield and the left and right side windows meet the front window requirements under this chapter.
Visible Light Transmission (VLT)
Since the early 1980s, manufacturers have used a window tinting film’s % VLT (Visible Light Transmission) as one of the primary benchmarks for uniformity and differences in film performance. VLT is the percentage of visible light that meets your eye through the tinted film – in other words, how much of the sunlight reaches your eyes through the tinted film. The VLT is measured at a 90 degree angle from the plane of the window film – light sensor is facing straight at the film. If a film was completely clear and had no tint at all it would have a 100% VLT rating. If a film was completely dark and did not let any visible light through it would have a 0% VLT rating. As the amount of tint increases the percentage of VLT decreases. In the vast Universe of VLT you have 5 ranges of human eye visible spectrums: For South Carolina window tint film applications, VLT is most commonly measured by the VLT percentage applying to a window film package. You might be asking how do they use VLT to determine the "darkest legal tint" in South Carolina? All you have to remember is the following VLT in South Carolina:
Now you might be asking how does the law determine if I am violating the "darkest legal tint" in South Carolina? Well, several methods are used to determine if a vehicle is abiding by the DMV law. In addition to the common VLT film manufacturing test, several states and municipalities use "Tint- Meters" to measure actual VLT percentages on the vehicle glass with the window tint film installed. Above VLT 27% on the windshield and above VLT 23% VLT on the front driver and passenger side windows applies South Carolina law.
The VLT measurement process is performed by placing a Tint-Meter on the window to read the percentage of light that is transmitted through the window and measuring the VLT readings before and after the window film is installed on the vehicle. The Tint-Meter uses a precise calibrated light source and a photo-sensor to measure the amount of light coming through the film.
The personnel performing the measurements on the vehicle glass are usually trained law enforcement personnel that are equipped with a Tint-Meter. It is not uncommon for law enforcement to send samples of VLT readings to the DMV that are in dispute for verification of the measurements during the stop. Since the Tint-Meter has a storage and printout ability, a measurement report can be printed and submitted to the DMV for further review and application of the law. The DMV then interprets the results for individual exceptions to law and responds to the vehicle owner accordingly.
Penalties for Illegal Tint
How does South Carolina determine when illegal tints are actually illegal? The law states that all windshields must allow more than 27% of light in. The law also states that that front side windows must allow more than 43% of light through. When it comes to the back side windows, there is no limit to their tint. And yes, this means that you can have 5% window tint on your back side windows legally. The only other stipulation is that the currently depressed or "v-chopped" roofline that many modern cars and trucks have, cannot be tinted at all.
Now that we know what colors can be legally tinted, we should see if any penalties or fines will be applied for illegal tint. If you’ve recently been pulled over by a police officer in South Carolina for having window tint that is too dark, you will probably be subject to a ticket. A fine for window tint in South Carolina can be anywhere from $150 to $300 in total. However, that fine must be paid for each violation that you have. This means that your front side windows were illegal. Your back side windows were illegal. Your rear windshield was illegal. And the tint on your windshield was too dark as well. This ends up being between $600-$1,200 in fines and penalties. And that is just for your first offense. If the law enforcement officer that stopped you can prove that you had the illegal tint on your vehicle longer than the original offense, then you’ll pay the initial fine PLUS another fine. Therefore, your offense for having four illegal window tints now turns into an $2,400 fine. Depending on where you got pulled over, that might end up costing you around $3,000 after you pay for your tint to be adjusted or removed.
Some tint shops offer makeshift testing, where they take your tint to their window tint testing machine, and scan the tint to see if it’s too dark (or too light). If you think that the tint is too dark and would be classified as illegal tint in South Carolina, it’s a good idea to have them test the tint now before it gets you $2,400 in fines. If the tint is too light, they can actually apply over an additional coat of darker tint to make it darker, and ticket-proof.
Medical Waivers and Exceptions
If you have a medical condition that requires the use of glasses, contact lenses, or any similar visual aid, you are exempt from the window tint restrictions. To obtain an exemption, you must have a special certificate issued by a licensed physician or licensed optometrist that certifies the need for the tint. In addition, you must carry documentation that describes the type of tint on your windows , such as a copy of the installation ticket.
Stickers are available from the SCDMV office for drivers who have an exemption. If the tint is legal but with the doctor’s certificate it will still be ticketed as long as it doesn’t cause additional harm to the driver. However, if it is overlegal it can be ticketed, even with the sticker. The driver will then have to take it off and put it back on after the ticket is dismissed or not guilty.
Hiring a Proper Tint Installer
When choosing an installer for your vehicle window tint, you want to make sure you’re hiring someone with experience and a proven track record for providing quality tinting services. To ensure the individual completing your vehicle tinting meets both requirements, it’s best to look for a professional who has prior experience in the field and is regularly recommended by customers to their friends and family. A final important consideration is to take into account any guarantees or warranties the company provides. You shouldn’t have to pay for new tinting if the installer makes a mistake or the tint fails due to a manufacturer’s mistake—asking about guarantees can help to prevent this. Besides giving you peace of mind that your vehicle will be correctly tinted, hiring a professional installation will improve the quality of the finished product. Professional installers devote significant time to ensuring their work is flawless, while DIY work tends to be rushed without this careful attention to detail, often ending with less than perfect results. Overall, hiring a professional installer is the best way to ensure compliance with South Carolina’s law regulating window tint. If you’re looking for a trusted tint installation service in South Carolina, contact us today.
Caring For Tinted Windows
- Only use a soft cloth when cleaning your tinted windows. Whether you’re cleaning with a towel or a paper towel, make sure it’s soft and won’t leave scratches or other marks.
- Do not slide the windows down and up constantly while cleaning your tinted windows. This can lead to unnecessary wear and tear on your tint.
- In addition to a soft cloth, and only using the soft cloth to clean the inside of your windows, we recommend using a squeegee to wipe away any moisture leftover after cleaning . This will help ensure that your tinted windows are as clean as possible.
- DO NOT USE Windex. Windex is not good for any kind of window tint, tinted windshields in particular. If you have tinted windows at all, avoid using Windex unless absolutely necessary.
- When using other cleaning products, be sure they’re ammonia-free as well as alcohol-free.