Want Windshield Tinting In New York? Make Sure You Don't Break Any Laws By Reading This First!

Every state in the U.S. has its own regulations regarding window tinting for vehicles. While a few states have minimal regulations, New York state has some fairly strict requirements. If you are a resident New Yorker and you plan to get window tinting for your vehicle, it is best to be fully aware of these restrictions before you even take your vehicle into the local window tinting facility. Read on to find out everything you need to know about window tinting in the state of New York.

Color Restrictions

At this time, there are no restrictions regarding the color of window tinting in New York state. In fact, this is one of the few areas where you can get a bit creative with your window tinting. Most people choose a shade of black, but you can go with any color from deep blue to soft brown as well.

Keep in mind that the color chosen can impact the amount of light that gets through the window tint, though. This means that the blackest of blacks may provide too little light to meet the next requirement, which regulates the amount of light entering the vehicle.

The Light Entering the Vehicle

New York law states that a window tint can block out only a portion of natural light. For the windshield and the side windows (both front and back sides), a minimum of 70 percent of light must still enter the vehicle when window tinting is present. This means that the window tint can block no more than 30 percent of light.

For the back window, any degree of darkness can be used. While it is technically possible—and legal—to achieve near-total darkness with window tint on the back window, it can be a safety hazard to restrict visibility to that degree. A black back window can make it difficult to change lanes or to keep an eye on the vehicles behind you, so it may make sense to follow the same 70 percent guidelines for the back windows as well.

The Windshield Tint Area

Only a portion of the windshield can be tinted under New York state law. The windshield can be tinted with a film that meets the 70 percent requirement discussed above as long as the tinting covers only the upper six inches of the windshield. This means that the vast majority of the windshield must be completely untinted. By tinting only the top six inches, some of the glare of the sun can be avoided and the driver can still have a fully-unobstructed view of the road.

New York law was designed to allow residents to have the window tinting desired, but to keep it within safe parameters for the sake of everyone on the road. Talk to a local window tinting provider (such as MidAmerica Tint) about how you can get the window tinting you want while staying legal today.