The tint laws for car windows exist to reach a middle ground between people who would like to avoid the light of the sun and the authorities to help them better identify the people inside the vehicle for safety reasons.
These laws affect how reflective and how much light the windows allow.
When it comes to Alaska window tint laws, you should know that you cannot have a tint beyond the top 5 inches of the windshield.
This tint must be non-reflective. All other windows must allow 70% or 40% of light in and must not give off a metallic or mirrored appearance.
I will talk about all of this and any other concerns you may have in this article, so read it all.
Table of Contents
- 1 How Much Tint Darkness Is Legal In Alaska?
- 2 Window Tint Reflection And Tint Colors
- 3 Medical Exemption Of Window Tint Laws In Alaska
- 4 Get A Certified Sticker From The Company
- 5 Other Window Tint Law Rules And Regulations In Alaska
- 6 Cost Of Car Window Tint In Alaska
- 7 Frequently Asked Questions
- 8 Conclusion
How Much Tint Darkness Is Legal In Alaska?
VLT refers to the amount of light that can enter the car’s windows.
The VLT requirements of Alaska will vary depending on the window in question, but for the most part, having a 70 VLT or higher should keep you out of trouble with the authorities.
Let’s now discuss them in greater detail!
Tint Darkness Limit For SUVs And Vans
The tint darkness limits for sports utility vehicles and vans vary from the front side windows to the backside and rear windows.
The front side windows are required to have at least 70 VLT. This requirement drops drastically for the backside and rear windows, which must have a VLT of 40.
First off, you cannot use a tint beyond the first 5 inches of the windshield.
Tint Darkness Limit For Sedans
The tint darkness limit of Sedans is completely identical to the ones for SUVs and vans. There is no change in the laws whatsoever.
1. Front Windshield
This means that the windshield must not have any tint beyond the first 5 inches from the top. This is mainly for the visibility of the driver.
2. Front-Seat Side Windows
Compared to other states, Alaska’s VLT requirements are very high, with the front seat side windows requiring at least 70 VLT.
3. Rear Windows
The rear windows are a bit lax in this regard, with them being only 40 VLT. This is still relatively higher when compared to other states.
4. Back Seat Side Windows
The back seat side windows also have a 40 VLT requirement. Alaska also allows up to 3% window tint variance, which you should note.
Window Tint Reflection And Tint Colors
- The state of Alaska does not allow the use of metallic and mirrored appearances, regardless of whether you are driving a sedan or a sports utility vehicle.
- Regular colored tints are the only ones allowed, and the state only permits a certain window tint which is noteworthy.
- Colored tints are allowed in Alaska; however, only a few select colors are legal.
These colors include:
– Green
– Gray
– Bronze
– Neutral Smoke - Any other color is against the law, and you will get into trouble if you use colors other than the ones above.
Medical Exemption Of Window Tint Laws In Alaska
Like other states, Alaska allows its residents to be given medical exemptions on their car window tints.
This is given to the owner who can choose to exempt his car or a car that he/she drive in regularly.
Filing for medical exemption from these laws will require you to submit a written statement from a licensed physician in Alaska.
Furthermore, this license will need to be renewed annually.
Once you are certified that you are exempt from the tint laws of Alaska, you will need to keep your certificate with you at all times when driving the vehicle.
People who can apply for this are generally having eye issues, skin issues, or skin cancer.
Get A Certified Sticker From The Company
As is with most states in the United States, you will have to make sure that the tints you are using adhere to the rules and regulations set by the state you are in.
Since the state in question here is Alaska, you may be in for a surprise as tint film manufacturers are not required to certify themselves.
This means that you can tint the window by whatever dealer you want and are not required to have a compliance sticker.
Furthermore, this also means that you do not have to carry around any paperwork to prove that the tint is legitimate or not.
Other Window Tint Law Rules And Regulations In Alaska
While the VLT requirements in Alaska are much higher, there is some relaxation in other areas.
Here are a few other laws, regulations, and things to know that you should follow when adhering to the car window tint laws in Alaska:
- There are no restrictions on the side mirrors in Alaska
- You are not required to have compliance stickers or buy tint films from certified vendors.
- Medical exemption documents must be renewed every year.
- If the vehicle’s rear windows were tinted before July 1994, then the vehicle can be exempt from tinting laws as long as the owner has proof.
- A 3% variance below the required VLT amount will not get you an infraction. This is done as a buffer and as a gesture of good faith.
Other than these and the main requirements listed above, most of the laws about tinted car windows in Alaska are fairly tame and look out for the convenience of the car owner, making them easier to follow and live by as well.
Cost Of Car Window Tint In Alaska
Tinting costs will vary greatly depending on where you are getting the tint, the quality of the tint itself, and the people doing the work.
You can get lower-quality tints for all of your car’s windows for around $150.
If you are looking for better quality tints and experienced people who can apply them to your windows, this can bump your price significantly to $400.
The vehicle type and the number of windows will also affect how much the car will cost, where the more windows you have, the more the overall job will cost.
Colored tints may also shift the price accordingly, so make sure to ask the price of each color and to only buy the colors which are allowed by the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is 15% Tint Legal In Alaska?
The minimum amount of light any windows are allowed to let in is 40% in Alaska. This means that 15% of tints are not legal in the state.
If you use this dark tint in your car’s windows, then you will get in trouble with the authorities.
Q2. Are 5% Tints Legal In Alaska?
Similar to the question above, windows of all car body types must have a VLT of 40, which means that 5% of tints are completely illegal in the state of Alaska.
While you are not allowed to confirm the tint darkness, officers can still see the tint and judge if it is too dark.
Q3. Is Limo Tint Legal In Alaska?
A limo tint is basically a 5% tint with another name. This means that it too is illegal in this state.
You should make sure to avoid any tint that is below 40 VLT and make sure that the front side windows have 70 VLT or more.
Q4. Can I Get Pulled Over For Tint In Alaska?
All police officers have a right to pull you over if they suspect that your tint is darker than what the state requires.
After pulling you over, they will conduct a test, and if you should fail that test, you will get fined or worse.
Q5. How Much Is A Tint Ticket In Alaska?
If you get a tint ticket in Alaska, the fine you will have to be is a whopping $300, which is significantly larger than the first infractions of other states.
You are also subject to a surcharge if you do not get the tints removed within a certain time frame.
Conclusion
Alaska tint laws are both extremely lax and very strict at the same time, forcing you to get high VLT tints and limiting you from getting reflecting and mirrored tints while also giving you the freedom to buy tints from any dealer you want and not having an obligation to have proof of compliance with you at all times.
You should now be easily able to adhere to the laws and regulations related to tinted windows in Alaska and should have the knowledge of all the requirements which go into tints, as well as the various exceptions one can have and how to act upon them.
I am Tahir Azam, and I have been writing amazing articles for TaxiHack for as long as I can remember. I know everything that is to know when it comes to automobiles and is always on top of industry news and developments. While I am not an expert by any means, I pride myself on knowing the ins and outs of many different problems and, of course, their solutions. The articles on our website are some of the best and well-researched content that you will find, and I spend countless hours making sure this remains to be true. This is why I ask you to take your time out and read some of my articles, especially if you find a topic that resonates with you or is something you are looking into. This way, you will find the perfect mix of information and tips on your desired topic. Learn more about Tahir.
