In the state of Pennsylvania, as a general rule the law for automotive window tint is 70% for passenger cars on all the side windows and back glass. On SUV's, trucks and vans, only the front doors are regulated. Read on for more detailed information.
HOW DARK CAN WINDOW TINT BE IN PENNSYLVANIA?
Darkness of tint is measured by Visible Light Transmission percentage (VLT%). In Pennsylvania, this percentage refers to percentage of visible light allowed in through the combination of film and the window.
Darkness allowed on Passanger Cars
Darkness allowed Truck, Vans, And SUV's
HOW REFLECTIVE CAN AUTO GLASS TINTING BE IN PENNSYLVANIA?
Similar to sunglass lenses, some tinting films contain metallic elements that help in reflecting incoming light and reducing the glare and heat generated by visible light.
OTHER PENNSYLVANIA WINDOW TINTING FILM RULES AND REGULATIONS
The law for automotive window tint varies from state to state. In many northern states window tint laws require nothing darker than a 70% film, while in other parts of the country it can be as dark as 20%.
Here in PA the law for tinted glass on your car is 70% for the entire vehicle. There are exceptions to the law of 70%: multi-purpose vehicles, like SUVs or minivans, can go with any shade on the rear of the vehicle. (Any auto glass behind the front two door windows)
These percentages are used to measure the amount of visible light transmitting (VLT) through a tinted window. The lower the percentage means the darker the film. One thing to consider is even though a car’s window may not be tinted, it doesn’t mean it is clear. A lot of auto glass that isn’t tinted can have its VLT measure at around 70% or higher. This can sometimes put a car on the illegal side even though the proper percentage of tint was applied.
The state of Pennsylvania also requires that window tint have no reflectivity of any %. This reflectivity can be seen on vehicles that have windows that look like mirrors. This type of film has phased out over the last decade as car manufacturers have put more and more technology into a vehicle’s glass and the metal in mirrored tint can interfere with this technology. This makes carbon and ceramic tint great alternative films for providing great heat rejection without interfering with our cellphone, gps, and internet signals.
A vehicle is allowed a tinted windshield strip along the top six inches of the windshield. There is no requirement to the shade of the windshield strip, however, it can’t be reflective. You should always install a window film that complies to the State of Pennsylvania regulations. Not only do you run the risk of being ticketed for illegal window film, it can be expensive to strip and redo all the windows on your car.