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Texas leaves most decisions to its residents but does regulate safety issues, including the factors that contribute to driving vision and roadway safety. If you’re driving on Texas roadways, you want to make sure you’ve got a legal tint to avoid any run-ins with local law enforcement. Every legit tint shop will keep up with the most current regulations and governing laws to ensure the car window tint job you’re getting installed is legal. To help you better understand the Texas car window tint laws, join our tint experts as they break it down for you.
Jet Black Tint and Glass provide professional vehicle window tint and security film services to Katy, Texas, and the surrounding areas. We guarantee that all of our completed tint jobs comply with Texas state law and local regulations. In accordance with such laws, we’ll provide you with a signed certificate of the visible light transmission (VLT) percentage to display as stated by law “Complies with TTC 547.613 (b).”
It’s important to note that Texas window tint laws do not apply to passenger transportation vehicles (limos, taxis, etc.) or law-enforcement vehicles.
To maximize your privacy and optimize your comfort, chances are you’re looking for the darkest window tint allowable by law. Texas state law specifies that any windshield tint must allow more than 25% VTL and must end five inches below the top of the glass. The front side window must allow 25% of visible light to penetrate the vehicle with Texas law specifically stating the windows to the left and right of the driver. For backside and rear windows, there is no restriction on tint darkness, but double mirrors are required if rear windows have less than 25% VTL.
Typical window tint percentages for rear vehicle window tints are 50, 35, 20, and 5%. The lower the VLT, the darker the tint option is. 5% is the darkest window tint on the market, allowing only 5% of light to reach the inside of the vehicle and nearly blocking all visibility from the outside-in. It is referred to as a jet-black tint blackout. 50 VLT is common for the everyday luxury car owner looking to reduce sunlight and enhance the appearance of their high-end vehicles without concern for privacy.
When you visit Jet Black Tint and Glass in Katy, Texas, our window tint specialists will help you decide which VLT is best for your style and vehicle. We legally certify your window’s tint and can ensure that your tinted vehicle remains street-legal.
Texas is one of the few states that does allow some reflective properties to be present in vehicle window tint. While other states have banned any sort of reflective or polarized look, Texas permits up to 25% reflectiveness on all side and rear vehicle windows. No level of reflectiveness is permitted on windshields.
Texas window tint laws specifically restrict the use of red, amber, or blue-colored tints. Black, charcoal, grey, gold, and bronze. Similarly, red, amber, and blue tints are illegal in most states, so sticking to the classic, elegant shades of gray and black will ensure you can travel without concern of breaking laws state-to-state.
Texas road safety laws allow for medical exemptions that would allow motorists to have less than 25% VTL on side front windows if a medical professional deems it necessary. The Texas Department of Public Safety no longer issues Window Tint Exemption Certificates, nor dp they accept or review applications for the certificate. To obtain a medical exemption, a medical doctor or licensed optometrist simply needs to provide written documentation of the reasonable exemption request (recommended VTL) and that in their “professional opinion, the equipping of the vehicle with sunscreening devices is necessary to safeguard the health of the driver or occupant of the vehicle.” This documentation should be kept in the vehicle to be produced in the event that law enforcement makes a stop. Current laws do not permit additional tinting of the windshield beyond the five inches mentioned above.
Texas window tint penalties are fairly lax compared to other states. For first-time offenses, law enforcement officers can issue a warning or issue a ticket of $20-$25 dollars, depending on how far the VLT percentage is over the legal limit. This stop offers the driver an opportunity to make the necessary changes and avoid further traffic stops. For a second stop, the driver will be ordered to have the tint removed and issued a ticket of up to $275 plus court expenses. Subsequent stops can result in higher fines. To avoid penalties, find a Jet Black Tint location near you and let our tint specialists install high-quality window tint that looks great and meets all Texas state auto tint laws.
What is the darkest legal window tint permitted on rear windows in Texas?
Texas state law does not cover windows to the rear of the driver, so there are no restrictions on the minimum VTL allowed.
What if my vehicle was tinted in another state?
As is true with every law, once state lines are crossed, the individual is responsible for following the laws of the current state they are in, and not knowing is not a valid excuse to Texas law enforcement. For auto tint, Texas laws must be followed on all Texas roadways regardless of the state in which the tint was applied, which state the car is registered in, or whether the motorist is “just driving through.”
Do I have to have a label on my window?
Yes, per 547.609 of the Texas Transportation Code, one label is required on each vehicle regardless of how many windows had sunscreening devices (including tint film) applied to them. A label stating “Complies with TTC 547.613 (b)” must be attached to the rearmost, bottom corner of the driver’s side window of the vehicle.
At Jet Black Tint and Glass in Katy, Texas, our tint specialists are well-versed in the local and national tint laws and keep up with changes in the law. When you have your vehicle’s window tint installed with us, you can feel confident your luxury ride will both look smooth and you’ll avoid legal penalties. Book your appointment at our Katy location today!