Washington Window Tint Laws & Regulations

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The main aspect of window tinting came into being not so long ago, people started putting on window tinting for their vehicles to protect themselves from the UV rays of the sun, but that gave birth to criminal activity, hence why proper rules and regulations are now set in place for Washington and many other states.

Washington window tint laws came into being in 2009 when the state officially announced a 24% VLT light to insert the windows and pass through in a sedan and SUV, especially through the front side windows.

The Front windshield was told to be clear, and only the top 6 inches could be tinted.

Let’s find out about the laws and these rules in more details below. So without any delay, let’s get started.

How Much Tint Darkness Is Legal In Washington?

Wondering what the legal percentage of window tint in Washington is? I'll suggest you read my blog

There is a certain amount of tint darkness that you can use for each of your car windows.

Sedans are more passive towards these laws, whereas family-size cars are more about privacy.

24 VLT is a must for the front side windows of the vehicles.

According to the owner, a sedan’s back and rear windows should also have 24% light insertion, whereas SUVs and vans are customizable in tint darkness for the rear and back windows.

Tint Darkness Level For SUVs And Vans

SUVs and vans are mainly purchased by families or huge compact workers who require a big car. Hence the tinting film of these vehicles is set very dark for solitude and isolation.

The front windshield of the SUVs and vans can have the first 6 inches or the AS-1 line tinted to whatever darkness they like, but the rest of the windshield should be crystal clear.

The front-seat side windows require more than 24% light in at all times, whereas the rear and back windows can have whatever tint darkness you prefer.

In Washington and almost every other state, SUVs and vans are usually allowed to have tint darkness for the rear and back windows.

Tint Darkness Level For Sedans

Sedans, on the other hand, are a bit different than SUVs and vans, the difference isn’t that huge, but it’s most definitely present, such as:

1. Front Windshield

The front windshield of the sedan in Washington can have the first top 6 inches of the windshield tinted.

This protects the passengers from direct sunlight and gives them more privacy.

2. Front Seat Side Windows

The front-seat side windows must allow 24% light in or more. Usually, officers’ front seat side windows are the most focused; hence, you can’t cheat your way through them.

3. Rear Window

The rear windows of the sedan must also allow 24% or more VLT in, which is something you don’t have to worry about in an SUV.

4. Back Seat Side Windows

And lastly, the back seat side windows should also allow 24% light in at all times. The rear and back seat windows set the sedan apart from the SUV laws.

Window Tint Reflection And Tint Colors

  • Usually, the tinting color of any vehicle is black, grey, or charcoal, but lately, the modern budget has given birth to the different color of tints.
  • Except for red, yellow, and amber, all other colors are allowed in Washington.
  • Whereas reflecting tints are usually used by people who live in hot weather and reflecting tint keeps the car nice and cool in the summertime, Washington allows only a 35% or less reflection limit.
  • And the reflection tint can only be used on the first top 6 inches of the front windshield in any vehicle, sedan, SUV, or van.

Medical Exemption Of Window Tint Law In Washington

If you are sensitive to exposure to the sun and the UV rays cause harmful reactions, you can get medically exempted from darkly tinted windows in Washington.

But of course, you will have to follow the exact guidelines set by the state’s law firm.

In terms of that, the Washington law states that you can tint all your vehicles window.

Such as the all the side windows and rear windows, a tint darker than 24%, and as for the front windshield, you can only tint the first top 6 inches, but the tint darkness can be whatever shade you would like.

And to get a medical exemption for your window tint, you must issue an optometrist or a physician’s written certification identifying that the condition you have requires you to tint your car darker than allowed.

The doctor you consult should also be a native citizen of Washington.

To issue this medical report, you will be required to pay a cost, and you must have this medical proof on you at all times to show the officers anytime you get pulled over.

Get A Certified Sticker From The Company

The certified stickers are proof of legal tinting of film on your car’s windows, and they assure the opposition questioning you that the tint used is according to the rules and regulations set by the Washington authorities.

You will get these stickers professionally licensed from the car shop where you get your car tinted, and you will need to place these stickers between the film and glass on the driver’s seat window.

Aside from this certified sticker, the medical exemption sticker or hardcopy paper proof is also required by the Washington laws.

You need to provide the officer with this proof, or you can simply issue a sticker and stick it around your vehicle windows.

Other Window Tint Laws Rules And Regulation In Washington

As all the more important topics have been covered, here are some other windows tinting laws you need to be aware of if living in Washington:

  • If you have decided to tint your back window, installing dual side mirrors is a must for whatever vehicle you use.
  • The film you use should be certified. You can confirm this with the shop you will get your vehicle tinted.
  • In Washington, the medical exemption for darker window tinting is allowed; hence you can apply for that in a medical emergency.

In addition to these basic laws, you also need to keep in mind that tinting laws may vary from state to state and are always changing and enhancing; hence keep yourself updated with the latest laws.

Cost Of Car Window Tints In Washington

The cost of a car window tint in Washington is $100 for one single window, so if you tint all your windows, that’s $600 using a normal tinting film, whereas if you go towards a more quality-wise tinting film, the price range could be anywhere between $250 to $1000.

Usually, the car tinting cost depends on the model of the car and the shop you get your car tinted from. The rates are different everywhere; hence researching beforehand is smarter.

You can also save money by putting the tint on yourself. This is the cheapest option on the market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is 15% Tint Legal In Washington?

15% is way too dark, and Washington authorities have allowed 24% VLT or more to enter the car’s windows at all times.

Q2. Are 5% Tints Legal In Washington?

As 5% is even below 15%, hence no, it is also not allowed to tint your car 5 VLT. You can tint the rear and back windows of an SUV any shade of tint you like.

Q3. Is Limo Tint Legal In Washington?

Limo tint is also called 5% tint; hence, it is illegal in Washington to use limo tint on your vehicle as it is way too dark.

Q4. Can I Get Pulled Over For Tint In Washington?

If the officers feel that you are not properly following the tint guidelines, you can get pulled over and interrogated.

Q5. How Much Is A Tint Ticket In Washington?

The tinting ticket in Washington is $124, but the ticket cost can vary and increase if you get caught too many times.

Conclusion

Lastly, it’s better to keep yourself in the knowledge of all the current updated laws regarding tinting of your vehicle windows.

The state of Washington has stated many useful and appropriate laws regarding the safety and security of its residents, one of them is tinting windows.

Although we all want to be protected from the harmful UV rays at all times, the tinting law provides us with some protection.

Washington tint laws have issued a whole bunch of rules and regulations that every citizen living in the states should follow to protect themselves.