Pennsylvania Tint Laws
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Pennsylvania Tint Laws
Pennsylvania has long, hot summers and long, cold winters, the reality of being an eastern mid-Atlantic state. That means cars that are sweltering and hard to cool in summer and frost and slow to warm in winter. With window film for cars in Pennsylvania, you can enjoy rejected solar heat in summer, which keeps your car cooler, and better insulation in winter, which keeps warm air pumped in from the vents inside the car. And of course auto tint also adds privacy and style.
In PA, window tint is a wise investment that pays for itself over the years in reduced fuel consumption due to less use of AC and heat, and pays off big when you go to re-sell the car and enjoy a much better value thanks to the new looking interior.
However not all car window tint is legal in Pennsylvania, so benefits aside, you need to be careful what tint you get for your car.
Reference the vehicle diagram below to view current window rules laws in Pennsylvania, which were enacted in 1999 and get periodically updated to meet new window tint product offerings. To be sure your car’s tint is allowed under Pennsylvania law, you need to know the visible light transmission (or VLT) percent of the tint.
Please note: The accuracy, completeness, adequacy or currency of the content is not warranted or guaranteed. We are not lawyers or a law firm and we do not provide legal advice. We recommend you consult a lawyer or other appropriate professional if you want legal advice.
CLICK ON INDICATORS TO VIEW TINT LAWS FOR SPECIFIC WINDOWS
laws for suvs, trucks, & vans
Front Windows
All Vehicles
70% Tint (VLT%)
Rear Passenger Windows
Includes rear window and rear passenger
Any shade of tint can be used for trucks, SUVs, and vans ONLY
Rear Window
Includes rear window and rear passenger windows
Any shade of tint can be used for trucks, SUVs, and vans ONLY
Windshield Visor
ALL VEHICLE TYPES
Pennsylvania prohibits any tint from being applied to the windshield.
laws for sedans & coupes
Front Windows
ALL VEHICLE TYPES
Includes Trucks, SUVs, Vans, Sedans, Coupes, & Hatchbacks
70% Tint (VLT%)
Rear Passenger Windows
for Sedans, Coupes, & Hatchbacks
70% Tint (VLT%)
Rear Window
for Sedans, Coupes, & Hatchbacks
70% Tint (VLT%)
Windshield Visor
ALL VEHICLE TYPES
Pennsylvania prohibits any tint from being applied to the windshield.
% of Tint or Visible light transmission (VLT) is the measurement used to assess the amount of light passing through a piece of glass. This is the percent of visible light that passes through the film and glass to give you a net transmission percentage. The lower the VLT%, the darker the window.
Law Enforcement uses a tint meter which measures the Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of window film and glass for illegal tint.
Windshield: Several states allow medical exemptions for drivers or passengers who frequently travel in the vehicle. These exemptions usually require a licensed physician in that state to sign a waiver. Please visit your states .gov site for details.
AS-1 Line: This is the line extending from the letters AS-1, found on most motor vehicle windshields, running parallel to the top of the windshield.
Pennsylvania Code Title 75 – VEHICLES, § 4524
Click above to download the Nationwide Medical Exemptions Window Tinting Directory.
If you’re driving a truck or SUV built in the last decade, chances are it’s equipped with factory tinted glass on all windows behind the front doors.
Many owners of vehicles like this often choose to only have the front windows tinted to match the back because they believe that they are already set with the rear windows.
UV Protection
While this factory tint improves the looks of the vehicle, and offers rear passengers some privacy, it does very little to help reduce the heat entering through the glass or protect them from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Heat Rejection
The same also goes for heat rejection. Some assume that the level of heat rejection they will on the front glass is already present in the rear glass because of the factory tint. Nothing can be further from the truth. Other than having the tinted look, these windows do very little to stop the heat.
To find out what options you have to protecting your passengers and vehicles interior, click here.