Darkest legal tint for Cars in Ohio
- Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 5 inches of the windshield.
- Front Side windows: Must allow more than 50% of light in.
- Back Side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any darkness can be used.
Darkest legal tint for SUV and Vans in Ohio
- Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 5 inches of the windshield.
- Front Side windows: Must allow more than 50% of light in.
- Back Side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any darkness can be used.
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The state of Ohio enacted its first car window tinting laws in 2004, so window tint regulations in Ohio are still applicable to most modern window film products, but keep in mind that window film rules in Ohio do change from time to time, and know some newer types of window tinting did not exist when Ohio’s tint laws were enacted more than a decade and a half ago and thus might be harder to certify as compliant with the state’s current rules. When in doubt, talk to a certified window tint installation expert.
To be sure your vehicle’s tint meets current Ohio window film laws it’s a wise idea to check the exact visible light transmission (or VLT as it is abbreviated) percent, which signifies how transparent and see-through or dark and private the window tint is (lower VLT%, like 5%, means a darker, more private, and less see-through film) and ensure that VLT is legal for the tinted window in question.
Car window film is a great investment for any motor vehicle owner who thinks both of the looks and function of the car as they drive it daily and who worries about the long-term value of the car as an investment. In Ohio car tint adds privacy and style and lowers cabin temperatures every day you drive your car, but looked at over the course of years, window tinting blocks 99% of the dangerous and damaging UV light that causes the interior surfaces like dashboards and upholstery to fade, discolor, and crack, so cars with window tint maintain the quality looks of their interior and have a higher sale value later. That means in most cases window tint will more than pay for itself.
Windshield Window Tint Rules for Ohio
Ohio is similar to most states when it comes to windshield window tint regulations. You may legally apply window tint to the top five inches of the windshield glass, an area that is above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line if such demarcations are visible.
In Ohio windshield tint cannot be reflective. And note that many new vehicles come with factory applied windshield tint which will have been signed off on by a car dealership operating in Ohio, so you may not have to worry about the windshield tint at all.
Window Tint Rules for Cars in Ohio
(Note that unlike tint rules in most states, where different window film laws apply to cars as they do to larger vehicles, the same regulations apply equally to cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs in Ohio. All tint regulations below can therefore be applied to all types of private vehicle registered in the state and let terms like vehicle, car, and automobile, be used interchangeably.)
Vehicles registered in Ohio can have window tinting on the front side windows, meaning those by the driver and shotgun passenger rated at 50% VLT or lighter. This is plenty of tint darkening to add privacy to the car while still allowing a good view into the cabin from close up, which is important for the safety of law enforcement officers during traffic stops. 50% VLT window tint cuts heat and glare, but know that much lighter, more transparent window tint can block 99% of the UV light and reduce infrared warmth and light glare, so you do not need to get a dark window tint to enjoy the benefits of window film if the dark privacy tint look is not for you.
Rear side windows, which is to say any side windows in the rows behind the driver and shotgun seats including windows by cargo areas, can be tinted to any darkness under Ohio law, including down to full blackout privacy tint like you see on a limousine.
This tint law also applies to rear windshields for cars registered in Ohio, which can be tinted down to any darkness.
Other Window Tint Rules and Regulations in Ohio
Under Ohio tint laws, all colors of window tint are legal at present. Note though that you cannot use window tint with a reflective finish, so some colors of window tinting may be effectively banned if they have a metallic or mirrored finish, so watch out for tints like gold, silver, or copper, colored films, as they may be reflective and will draw police attention.
Even when rear windshields or side windows have tint applied to the glass, dual side mirrors are not required on the vehicle, a break from laws in most states – that said, of course side view mirrors are still recommended for all vehicles.
Manufacturers and installers of window film must certify the window film they sell in Ohio as meeting state rules, so make sure you check with your vendor or tint install shop to be sure they are using a product cleared for use in the state, as tint not certified may need to be removed even if technically compliant with state laws. You are required to have a sticker between every piece of tint and window glass on tinted windows that identifies legal tinting.
And know that illegally dark tint can be detected by portable devices maintained by police and inspectors, so your illegal tint can be found out at any inspection or routine traffic stop.
Some medical window tint exemptions will be granted under Ohio state law, but on a case-by-case basis, as the rules are not codified. Talk to your doctor and tint installation expert to discuss medical exemptions.
Window Tint Ticket Cost in Ohio
Window tint violations in Ohio are not serious issues but their costs can add up. A standard window tint violation ticket cost in Ohio will be around $120 in fines and fees and they are classed as misdemeanors and held as civil offenses, not criminal matters.
That said, if you fail to rectify illegal tint for which you have been previously cited, your ticket costs can go up and eventually you may be cited for a more serious offense.
