Tinted Windows the Law

The rules for tinted front windscreens and front side windows depend on when the vehicle was first used. There are no rules for tinting the rear windscreen or rear passenger windows.

Vehicles first used on 1 April 1985 or later
The front windscreen must let at least 75% of light through the glass, and the front side windows must allow at least 70% of light, through the glass.

Vehicles first used before 1 April 1985
The front windscreen and front side windows must allow at least 70% of light through the glass.

It’s illegal to fit or sell glass (or a vehicle that is already fitted with glass) that breaks the rules on tinted windows.

Penalties for having wrongly tinted windows

• The police or the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) vehicle examiners use light-measuring equipment to measure window tint.
• If your windscreen or front side windows are tinted too much you could get:
• a ‘prohibition notice’ stopping you from using your vehicle on the road until you have the extra tint removed
• a penalty notice or court summons