Car Window Tinting Law

The law in the UK regarding window tints has been in force since the 1980s, despite many people believing that the legislation was written in more recent years. The law dictates that windows on a vehicle forward of the 'B' Post must allow a minimum of 70% of visible light to travel through the glass. The law is enforced by carrying out a visible light transmission (VLT) test with a light meter, the results of which must read 70% on front door windows including any accessories fitted to the glass (ie: window tints). The law also states that front windscreens must read 75% or greater on a VLT test.

A VLT test is fairly simple to carry out. A test meter is attached to the glass at several points and three seperate readings are taken. The average of these readings is recorded as the window's VLT (which must read 70% or more for front door glasses, or 75% for windscreens).

Many police forces carry window tint VLT meters in their patrol cars, including the traffic police in Glasgow. If the police test your windows or window tints at the roadside and your glass reads lower than the prescribed limits then you may receive a fixed penalty fine and 3 penalty points on your license. The exact charge is usually 'dangerous parts and accessories'. At present, testing window tints for legality is not part of the MOT test in the UK.

If you think your window tints may be illegal or would simply like to find out your VLT level, Mr Tint carries out FREE VLT tests at our Glasgow workshop. You can simply drop in to our Glasgow centre without booking for free window tint legality checks.

Our Glasgow tinting centre is open 6 days per week and our specialist staff are on hand to help you with any enquiry that you may have in regards to the legality of vehicle window tinting. Contact us now if you're looking for more information on these issues or for further information on any of our services or products.