subject: Keep It Legal When Tinting Your Suv Windows [print this page] For most people who are shopping around for window tinting for their SUV, the choice maybe a simple one, they just want the windows to be as dark as possible, they will not consider the law in their state and just slap some 5% Limo film on all windows, this my friends is downright dangerous. Yeh, I know it can look cool and all that but your nightime visibility will be seriously compromised and their have been many accidents and fatalities around the world due to the fact "I just didn't see him coming"! yeh, well you have yourself to blame for that one.
So, do a little bit of research and appraise yourself with the facts on the window tinting law in your state. Some states have a set figure you are allowed for your front doors, some states do not allow window tinting to the front doors, some have a clause that if your vehicle comes with a dark factory privacy glass you can still have a 50% film on the front doors but if you have no factory tinted glass the law is different, this is all very confusing I know so i thought I would take a quick look at one particular US state, the State of Illinois and focus a little on those laws. The reason I chose Illinois is because i was a member for a window tinting forum a few years ago and one of the guys on their was the driving force behind this change in Illinios law.
Ok lets have a look at the law at the moment.
NOW LEGAL tint combinations
1. Up to 35% in the Rear/up to 35% in the front.
( so they are allowing a medium film here but you may not go darker on the rear of the vehicle as is the case in a lot of states when adding after market window film)
2. 35-30% in the rear/up to 50% front ( If you choose to go slightly darker with a 30% film in the rear, remember that the lower the % then the darker the film, you must now have a lighter 50% film on the front doors - it's a trade-off and myself personally would choose the 35% all around)
3. IF YOU HAVE BELOW 30% TINT IN THE REAR, YOU CAN NOT HAVE FRONT TINT
If you have an MPV, which include but are not limited to, SUVs, Station Wagons, minivans etc., and said MPV has factory installed privacy glass (smoked), you are allowed to have up to 50% tint in front.( ok, this is a concession, they will allow you to have 50% on the front doors even if your rear windows and load space maybe lower than 30%).
This is good to see a state like this using it's initiative and giving the patrons a choice when it comes to window film. In the UK and across most of Europe the laws are much tighter, in the UK you must have a minimum of 70% light transmission through the front doors, this basically means you can have no tint applied, as most cars come with a factory tint level of around 75%, not ideal as they are excluding the driver and front seat passenger from sun protection, which in my eyes is not fair, not that the UK weather is a big influence on this decision, as it's normally raining!
So, these tint laws are their for a reason but in the warmer states of the US they seem to recognise that heat factor of the sun has a part to play in daily life and will have a softer approach to the laws on window film application.
You will always find some installers who will tint your SUV just how you want it with no mention of the law, so ignorance is no excuse, thats why I say make sure you get the heads-up on the law before you make a choice. I have heard of cases whereby the vehicle insurance has become invalidated in the event of a claim due to the window film, you cant declare it as a modification to the insurance, because it's illegal, so you keep quiet and take your chances but it may come and bite you one day.
You have been warned so please take a few minutes to hit google and do some digging on your state law before getting your next tint job and keep it legal without the risk of any penalties.
