Rhode Island Window Tint Laws & Regulations

Tinting laws for Rhode Island dictate to all the drivers and car owners how much darkness the window tint should have.

The tint is calculated by VLT, which ensures a required percentage of contacting light to enter the vehicle. This helps keep the car cool and also aids in driving.

According to the law of Rhode Island, the permission for tint is 70% VLT, allowing 70% of contact light inside the car. Rhode Island window tint laws was enacted in 2000.

Since then, the law has been made effective, which clarifies that if any car has a tint on the window, it should be 70% VLT tint or above.

For multi-purpose vehicles, the tint limit is different. A darker VLT is not allowed even on the back windows of tinted passenger cars.

The rules by the state are for both security and health purposes, which allows the residents to make an easy commute and the authorities to easily keep the upper hand in case something does go wrong.

How Much Tint Darkness Is Legal In Rhode Island?

The window’s tint is a film that can be dyed or just solar and its darkness is assessed by the VLT. The lower the VLT, the darker the inside of the car will be.

This criterion helps in calculating how much contact light is entering the window.

According to Rhode Island law for window tinting, owners of sedan are to have a tint of 70% on all windows. There are no exemptions.

But for an SUV or any other multi-purpose vehicle, the back and rearview windows can be of any darker tint, while the front and windshield need to be 70% VLT.

The tints should be the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.

Tint Darkness Limit For SUVs And Vans

The SUVs and vans are considered multi-purpose vehicles, and for such vehicles, the law for window tint is different than that for the passenger car.

Starting from the windshield, which should have a non-reflective or metallic tint; it should be according to the manufacturer’s AS-1 line, which is above 3-4 inches of the windshield.

A vehicle that is termed a multi-purpose vehicle can have the back seat windows, and the rearview window in any darkness as the driver finds suitable on Rhode Island.

But the front windows for the driver and passenger, along with the windshield, should be tinted with 70% VLT tint. A lower VLT tint will be considered a violation of the law.

Tint Darkness Limit For Sedans

Owning a passenger car means you will have to work with different rules for tinting.

According to the automotive window tint law, all sedans have to follow the following specifications:

1. Front Windshield

The windshield should have 70% visual light transmission, and the tint should be above the Manufacturer’s AS- line.

2. Front Seat Side Windows

Sedans are supposed to have 70% visual light through the window. The tint should be 70% VLT.

3. Rear Window

The back end of the sedan is the rear window, which should also allow 70% or more light with a tint on.

4. Back Seat Side Windows

The back passenger seat windows should have 70% or more light easily penetrate through if there is a tint.

Window Tint Reflection And Tint Colors

• The car window tint law for sedans concludes all windows to be tinted with 70% VLT or a tint above.
• If the windows are tinted, it will allow 70% contact light, and the windshield should be above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.
• For all multi-purpose vehicles, a similar rule applies, but the back three windows do not have any requirements and can be dark as per the driver’s choice.
• No reflective material is specified for the windshield, but there is no such specification for the front and back passenger seat windows.
• According to the law of Rhode Island, there are no restrictions on the choice of color for window tint.

Medical Exemption Of Window Tint Laws In Rhode Island

Every state has a law regarding the medical needs of every resident. Rhode Island has it as well.

In the case of a medical exemption, there is a limit of tint that one can authorize because a very dark tint can be dangerous at night and can be a hazard in severe weather conditions.

If you are going to have rashes when exposed to the sun, have severe sunburns, cannot use sunscreen, have other autoimmune conditions, or have eyesight problems.

Then you should get the medical exemption forms from the Adjunction office located at the Cranston branch of the division of motor vehicles.

Once you get the form, it should be completed and attached with your registered physician’s note.

The completed application should be brought back to the Adjunction office for approval.

If your request is approved, you will be provided with a certificate with the permitted amount of light transmission.

When asked, this should be kept in the vehicle and shown to law enforcement. Remember that your application can be rejected if you ask for a too low VLT.

Get A Certified Sticker From The Company

The manufacturers on Rhode Island are not required to show or provide the customers with a certified sticker that proves the tint films are following the window tinting law.

Due to this, the owners of a tinted vehicle are not required to place a sticker on the tinted window.

In case of medical exemptions, a certificate is provided to the owner or the passenger, along with a special tint sticker required to be placed on the tinted window.

Other Window Tint Law Rules And Regulations In Rhode Island

Though the above section of the article has explained all the rules and laws for window tinting while residing on Rhode Island, some other regulations also need to be understood and followed.

The following regulations regarding a tinted car window are important if you do not want to violate the law.

• There are no laws that specify the restriction of any reflective material in the tint.
• No law specifies the use of side mirror tint or the requirement of dual side mirrors, just the left side mirror.
• The windshield tint has to be according to the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.
• Medical exceptions require certificates from the Adjunct office.

Cost Of Car Window Tinting In Rhode Island

A basic tint film starts at $8.05 per square foot, costing around $150 or less per vehicle. This is the cost for a basic or a solar film tint.

For a four-door Sedan, the cost will be around $273.93. The price is also dependent on the brand and the lower VLT of the Tint.

A better and more cost-effective way to get your car tinted for the summer is to purchase the DIY kit, which costs $100 on the internet.

It might not be the traditional way you used to get things done, but it still is doable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is 15% Tint Legal In Rhode Island?

No, only a 70% VLT tint is allowed in Rhode Island. A 15% tint can only be applied to SUVs and Vans’ backset and rearview window.

Q2. Are 5% Tints Legal In Rhode Island?

No, a 5% tint only allows 5% light inside the window, which is illegal in Rhode Island.

Q3. Is Limo Tint Legal In Rhode Island?

No, the limo tints are not legal in Rhode Island. The only tint allowed in Rhode Island is 70% VLT which applies to all vehicles.

Q4. Can I Get Pulled Over For Tint In Rhode Island?

Yes, using a car with a VLT lower than 70% for the front seat windows will be pulled over for a violation of the law.

Q5. How Much Is A Tint Ticket In Rhode Island?

If the police pull you over for violating the law of Rhode Island by using a tint lower than 70% VLT. The penalty for such a crime is $250.

Conclusion

The Rhode Island tint laws has been set in stone since 2000; though it is not as strict in most areas, it can get the drivers in trouble for not having a 70% VLT tint on their Sedans or following the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.

The exemption for medical reasons also has the permitted light transmission affixed. These rules should be taken seriously as they are set for the driver’s protection ad safety.

All the minor and major details of Rhode Island tint law have been gathered and fully discussed.

Tahir Azam

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.