Window Tint Laws and Regulations

Find all you need to know about North Carolina laws and regulations.

There are varying restrictions on window tints depending on the vehicle.

In North Carolina driving a vehicle on a street, highway or vehicular area that does not follow the window tint laws is considered a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Vehicles containing window tint must be checked during inspection at an extra charge of $10.

Passenger vehicle vs Multi purpose vehicle

When looking to find out if your car is a passenger or multipurpose vehicle you can look inside the front left driver side door and find the Federal ID label.

The law considers passenger vehicles as " a motor vehicle with motive power, except a low-speed vehicle, multipurpose passenger vehicle, motorcycle, or trailer, designed for carrying 10 persons or less."

Passenger Vehicles

  • Sedan
  • Coupe
  • Hatchback
  • Convertible
  • Station Wagon
  • Hardtop

The law considers multipurpose vehicles as "a motor vehicle with motive power, except a low-speed vehicle or trailer, designed to carry 10 persons or less which is constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation."

Multipurpose Vehicles

  • SUV
  • RV
  • Pickups
  • Panels
  • Vans
  • Campers
  • Minibus
  • Sport utility vehicles

Regulations

Passenger Vehicles

  • The windshield of the vehicle may be tinted only along the top of the windshield and the tinting may not extend more than five inches below the top of the windshield or below the AS1 line of the windshield, whichever measurement is longer.
  • Side windows are allowed 35% tint darkness.
  • The rear window is allowed 35% tint darkness.
  • Tint reflection on side windows must not exceed 20%
  • Tinted film must not be red, yellow or amber

Multipurpose Vehicles

  • The windshield of the vehicle may be tinted only along the top of the windshield and the tinting may not extend more than five inches below the top of the windshield or below the AS1 line of the windshield, whichever measurement is longer.
  • Front seat side windows are allowed 35% tint darkness
  • Backseat side and rear windows are allowed any tint darkness
  • Tinted film must not be red, yellow or amber

Exceptions

  • A window of an excursion passenger vehicle
  • Windows of motor homes and ambulances
  • Rear window of a property-hauling vehicle
  • A vehicle that is registered in another state may use the tint regulations of that state
  • A vehicle that has a medical exception permit

 

 

Source:

https://www.tinting-laws.com/vehicle-classification/

https://www.tinting-laws.com/north-carolina/#:~:text=Windshield%3A%20Non%2Dreflective%20tint%20is,than%2035%25%20of%20light%20in.
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https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/title-registration/emissions-safety/Pages/window-tinting.aspx

https://windowtintlaws.us/north-carolina/

https://nccriminallaw.sog.unc.edu/window-tinting-requirements/