Tennessee Tint Laws
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Tennessee Tint Laws
Tennessee tint laws were first passed in the year 1990. In the time between that year and the present, many new types of window tints for vehicles have been developed. Back then, 30-plus years ago, when most people thought of car window tint it was of lower quality tint that often turned purple with age as dyes broke down and would tend to bubble, peel, and crack over time.
Today the best window tint for cars will last for as long as the vehicle itself. Nanoceramic window tints are made using sheets of highly durable polyester that are infused with tens of thousands of microscopic bits of ceramic materials that can reject UV and IR solar energy while still allowing in visible light and without any signal interference as you can get with metal-based tints. Ceramic window tint was developed for the aerospace industry and is now available commercially for vehicles of all types.
To make sure that the latest and best window tint for cars still follows Tennessee tint laws passed many years back, you need to know the visible light transmission (VLT) rating of the window tint you are considering for your vehicle (or that is already applied to a car you want to register in Tennessee) and you need to know the specifics of Tennessee car tint laws to be sure you are in compliance, because in Tennessee window tint violations can lead to tickets costing over $200, so after just a couple citations you may pay more in window tint tickets costs than you did for the window tint installation in the first place.
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
35% 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
Any shade of tint can be used from the AS1 Line up. This is the line extending from the letters AS-1, found on most motor vehicle windshields, running parallel to the top of the windshield.
laws for sedans & coupes
Front Windows
ALL VEHICLE TYPES
Includes Trucks, SUVs, Vans, Sedans, Coupes, & Hatchbacks
35% Tint (VLT%)
Rear Passenger Windows
for Sedans, Coupes, & Hatchbacks
35% Tint (VLT%)
Rear Window
for Sedans, Coupes, & Hatchbacks
35% Tint (VLT%)
Windshield Visor
ALL VEHICLE TYPES
Any shade of tint can be used from the AS1 Line up. This is the line extending from the letters AS-1, found on most motor vehicle windshields, running parallel to the top of 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.
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.