In Florida, tinting your car’s windows is more than just a stylistic decision; it’s a valuable technique to protect yourself from the intense sun and heat. A good window tint may lower the temperature inside your car by a lot, keep out dangerous UV rays, and provide you some privacy. But before you get new windows for your car, it’s important to know the rules of window tinting in Florida.
Florida has a lot of restrictions that make sure window tint makes driving more comfortable without putting safety at risk. This article will tell you all you need to know about Florida’s window tint laws, including how dark each window can be legally and what the requirements are for reflectivity and medical exemptions. Staying up to date helps you choose the proper car, avoid expensive fines, and make sure you’re driving safely and legally.
Getting to Know the Basics of Florida Tint Law
Florida’s rules of tinting are based on a number called Visible Light Transmission (VLT). This is the amount of visible light that can get through the window glass and the tint film together. A lower VLT percentage suggests that the tint is darker. A 15% VLT, for instance, only lets 15% of light through, which makes it a very dark hue.
Keep in mind that the VLT percentage on the package for the tint film is not the actual amount. The glass in your car’s manufacture isn’t totally transparent and already blocks some light. The last VLT is the glass and the film put together. Professional installers use a tint meter to check the final VLT and make sure it meets state regulations.
Florida Window Tint Laws Based on Where the Window Is
Florida legislation says that passenger cars and multi-purpose vehicles (such SUVs and vans) must have distinct VLT levels. To pick the right tint, you need to know what kind of vehicle you have.
Laws about tinting for sedans, coupes, and station wagons
- You can only put a non-reflective tint on the front windshield above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line. Most of the time, this line is drawn on the windshield. You can dye the top 5 inches if there is no AS-1 line.
- Front Side Windows: These windows, which are for the driver and front passenger, must let in more than 28% of light.
- Back Side Windows: The windows in the back for passengers must let in more than 15% of light.
- Back Window: The back window must also let in more than 15% of light.
Laws about window tinting for SUVs, vans, and trucks
- The rule for the front windshield is the same as for sedans. You can only use non-reflective tint above the AS-1 line, which is the top 5 inches.
- Front side windows must have a VLT of 28% or higher, much like the windows on passenger automobiles.
- Back Side and Rear Windows: These cars have far less strict restrictions. You can put a tint on the back window and the back side windows that is as dark as 6% VLT.
Color and Reflectivity Limits for Tint
Florida law not only says that your window tint can’t be too dark, but it also says that it can’t be too reflecting. Tints that are very shiny and seem like mirrors can make it hard for other drivers to see, especially when the sun is shining brightly.
Rules for Reflectivity
- The tint on the front side windows can’t be more than 25% reflecting.
- Back Side Windows: The tint on these windows can’t reflect more than 35% of light.
Limitations on Color
There is no rule in Florida that says you can’t use any certain tint colors. But you should stay away from hues like red or amber that could be mistaken for a car’s signal lights. Most good tint shops provide hues like charcoal, gray, and bronze that are legal and work well.
Medical Exceptions for Darker Window Tint
Florida allows anyone with medical conditions that need extra protection from the sun to be exempt. Some autoimmune illnesses, such lupus, xeroderma pigmentosum, or others, might render a person very vulnerable to UV rays.
To secure a medical exemption, you need a certificate or prescription from a doctor who is certified to practice medicine. You can get an official exemption certificate from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) if you ask for one. You must always have this certificate with you in your automobile and display it to police when they ask for it. The exemption lets you have darker colors than the legal limitations, but the exact VLT level will depend on what your doctor says you need.
What Happens if You Break Florida’s Tint Laws?
In Florida, driving with unlawful window tint is not a crime, but it is against the law. During a traffic stop, police can use a handheld meter to check the VLT of your tint.
- Fines and tickets: If your tint is too dark or too shiny, you will get a ticket. This is a non-moving infraction, therefore it won’t add points to your driving record. You will have to pay a fine, though.
- You will have to pay a fine and take off the illegal tint from your car. You will also have to make sure that your car meets state legislation. If you don’t do this, you could face more penalties.
- Failed Inspections: Florida no longer requires all vehicles to be inspected statewide, but if a police officer sees that a car has too dark of a tint, they can still say that it is unsafe to drive.
Drive Smart: Why Following the Rules Is Important
The regulations about window tinting in Florida are there to keep you, your passengers, and other drivers safe. They make sure that drivers can see well, especially at night or in bad weather, and that police can safely see inside a car when they pull it over.
If you follow these rules, you can enjoy all the benefits of window tint, like cooler temperatures, UV protection, and more privacy, without worrying about getting in trouble with the law. Always talk to a competent technician who knows the rules in Florida before getting your windows tinted. They can assist you choose a legal, high-quality tint that will last for years.
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