Window Tints

[irish al]

Checked with my insurance company, the local cop shop and a well known window tint firm about tinting my windows.

From what i can understand it looks like the insurance company will insure the car up to 30% tint on front sides, nothing on the front windscreen and whatever you fancy on the rear..

Remembering that all factory windows already have an existing % of tint an additional 30% tint will take it over the insurance limit.

What the insurance company didnt tell me is thats now against the law to have any type of film, be it clear or otherwise, applied to the front side windows.

Even though they say your insured you arnt really beasuce the car is illegal with the film applied, therefore the cars tax disk becomes invalid, therefore the insurance becomes invalid.

Have i got this right or can anyone shed any more light on the matter.

[imprezapete]

Police are cracking down on it in a big way, had work friends cars stopped and tints stripped off my the owners or they were going to get point and a fine. nearly all factory tints are near law limits. Not worth the hassle I think. May be the back side ones, dont know if your allowed the back window done. But its a big no no for the front sides or front window.

[Iaing]

I just wouldnt bother, it just gives the cops an excuse to stop you.

Even though I think it looks really cool

Iain

[oobster]

I've had a light-smoke tint on mine since I bought it, and i've never had any problems.

[steven_kirk]

Hey Al, yeah i wanna get the tints done too but cant decide if its worth the hassle. Heard loadsa stories about people getting stopped by police, but then i know people who have had them for ages with no probs. The cars alot cooler inside with them on too and i suppose a bit cooler outside too

[WRC No 1]

We have the light tint on our front windows and we have never had any problems and the rest of the wagon is limo black, we even have a sunstrip on our windscreen. I think the rule is as long as you can see 70% of light through the front side ones you are fine!!!!

Claire

[wrxmania]

I had all round Pentagon light smoke (front) and dark smoke rear when I bought my car from the dealer. When the law changed, about 6 months after I got the car, I had the front removed and clear Supaglass applied. The light levels were fine through the tints to see day and night, BUT there was no doubt they would breach any existing law.

I still have the rears and back window (jap look) but it is really not worth the hassle getting them done on a car - it definately is the new chav accessory and I won't be getting them done again - may even remove the ones I have on. Always were for pimps but numpties in any old car getting them because they're "cool" is not for me And I'd be interested to know out of the people who have them, especially on the front, declare them and whether at the correct total percentage tint.

Brian

[terminator]

The law as yous say is no tint allowed at all on the front drivers and passengers window you can have a touring strip but the rule of thumb is no more than 3" or the window wipers do not encroach the area any more than 1".The pillar back can have any tint even 5%limo.All the previous cars ive had were limo tinted (the entire car). Its not the polis that have brought out these regs its the vehicle inspectorate ,i believe that give the regs for your mot.

[oobster]

There were a few people "pulled" last night by VOSA at the Falkirk cruise thingy.

My front windows do not match the regulations apparently, but I was "let off".

First time i've had any hassle, and i think i'll stay away from these sort of events from now on, especially since my car has aquired a new small dent on the drivers door, probably someone leaning on it when I wasn't loooking. Makes me mad

[terminator]

The dent may have been caused by a skyline,mr2 or other cars owner on the night,leaning against your cool scoob n telling everyone its theres

[oobster]

Quite possibly....

Dent now repaired by my local dent wizard bloke........ that's £50 i could have been doing without spending

The Mrs. says we should get his number added to our friends and family list