To get away with an illegal tint on your vehicle window, you can remove the tint. If you want to keep it, you can remove the window for the duration of the inspection and install it afterward.
Laws in Texas Regarding Vehicle Window Tints
Tint Laws
According to the window tint laws in Texas, your windshield, side windows to the right and left of the driver, and rear sides cannot have a light blockage over 25%. If they do, the vehicle will fail the state inspection. Vehicles like law enforcement, medical transport, or passenger transport are exceptions.
Side Mirrors
It is not required to have a tint on the side mirrors in Texas. The law about side mirrors is that if your rear windows are tinted, you must have dual side mirrors. Whether it must be tinted or not isn’t mentioned.
Tint Darkness for SUV
Wondering about the legal tint for the inside of an SUV? For the windshield, you can go for a 25% VLT tint with below 25% reflection. The front side must let 25% light in. You can use any darkness on the backside windows.
VLT
The VLT on window tint in Texas means Visible Light Transmission. It indicates the percentage of visible light that can pass through your vehicle windows. Different vehicles like SUVs, sedans, and vans have various VLT requirements in Texas laws. You should check for yours to keep it ready for inspections.
Is Window Tint Part of Texas Inspection?
Yes, window tint is a part of the standards in Texas inspection. According to it, your vehicle windows need to pass at least 25% of visible light to pass the vehicle inspection. You can apply dark tint to the rear side windows.
What Is the Darkest Legal Tint in Texas?
It depends on which window we are talking about. If it is the windshield or front side windows, it must have less than 25% reflection. Back-side windows can have as much darkness as you want.
How Do I Get Window Tint Exemption in Texas?
To get a window tint exemption in Texas, you must acquire a valid prescription or signed statement from an authorized physician that confirms your necessity of the window tint. Try contacting the Department of Public Safety in Texas to know more about the process.
What Medical Conditions Qualify for Window Tint?
The following medical conditions will qualify for a window tint in Texas-
Cockayne Syndrome, Albinism, Solar Urticaria, Xeroderma Pigmentosum, Bloom Syndrome, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Xeroderma Pigmentosum, Erythropoietic Protoporphyria, etc.
Is 25 or 35 Tint Darker?
Among 25 and 35 tints, the former is darker. These are the percentage of how much visible light can go through the windows. As a result, a lower number means a darker tint. In Texas, you can’t go any lower than 25% tint for any of your vehicles.
Why Are Tinted Windows Illegal?
Tinted windows are illegal for mainly two reasons. Firstly, tinted windows make it harder for the drivers to see the roads ahead and around. Secondly, if any crime or accident happens inside a vehicle, a tinted window hinders the cops and others outside to notice that.
Final Note
Window tinting laws in Texas are actually maintained by the cops, and we suggest you follow them as well. While the windows may look stylish with a pretty dark tint, it is risky for people. For example, kidnappers use darker tints to avoid getting noticed. So, the law is understandable.