Cars bought in hotter, sunnier places often arrive with darker windows than you see on most UK cars. It is natural to wonder whether that will stop the car being registered, or land you with a fine later. The rules here are simple, they only cover the front of the car, and a tint problem is one of the easier things to put right.
- Windscreen (from 1 April 1985)
- At least 75% light through
- Front side windows
- At least 70% light through
- Rear windows
- No UK tint rules
- Checked with
- Light-measuring equipment
The UK rules
GOV.UK sets the limits by how much light the glass lets through, and the date the car was first used. For a car first used on or after 1 April 1985, the front windscreen must let at least 75% of light through, and the front side windows at least 70%.
For a car first used before 1 April 1985, both the windscreen and the front side windows must let at least 70% of light through. That is the one to check if you are importing a classic.
There are no rules for tinting the rear windscreen or the rear passenger windows. So dark glass behind the driver is fine, and it is only the windscreen and the two front side windows that need looking at.
| Feature | First used on or after 1 April 1985 | First used before 1 April 1985 |
|---|---|---|
| Front windscreen | At least 75% of light through | At least 70% of light through |
| Front side windows | At least 70% of light through | At least 70% of light through |
| Rear windscreen | No rules | No rules |
| Rear passenger windows | No rules | No rules |
Why imports come up against it
Other countries draw the line in different places, and some allow much darker front glass than we do. Cars from the Gulf states and the sunnier parts of the USA, and some from Japan, can arrive with film on the front side windows, and sometimes a strip or more across the windscreen.
A car that was perfectly legal where it was bought can still be over the limit here. Tint is judged by the UK rules once the car is on a UK road, wherever the film was fitted.
How tint is checked on the road
GOV.UK says police and DVSA vehicle examiners use light-measuring equipment to check tint, so it is not left to someone's eye. If the windscreen or front side windows are too dark, you could be given a prohibition notice, which stops you using the car on the road until the extra tint is removed. You could also get a penalty notice or a court summons.
It is also illegal to fit or sell glass that breaks the rules, or to sell a car already fitted with it. That catches people out when they come to sell, which we cover in selling an imported car.
Tint and the MOT
The MOT looks for excessive tinting or discolouration of the windscreen and of the windows on either side of the driver's seat. The inspection manual says a failure is only justified if the driver's view is significantly affected.
Excessive tint that does not affect the driver's view is recorded as a minor defect. Where it seriously affects the view through the area the wipers sweep, or of a mirror the car must have, it is a major defect and the car fails.
A pass does not make the tint legal. The MOT asks a narrower question than the tint law, so a car can pass its test with front glass that is still too dark for the road.
Tint and the IVA
Newer cars from outside Europe normally take an IVA test before they can be registered, and glass is one of the items the examiner inspects. We look at the front glass before a car goes into our lane, along with the lights and the speedometer.
If the front windows carry film that is clearly too dark for UK roads, we would rather deal with it before the test than after. Our guide to the IVA test covers the rest of what is checked.
Front film comes off, rear film can stay. If the windscreen or front side windows are too dark, the film needs to come off before the car is used here. Rear tint can stay exactly as it is.
Taking tint off properly
Film that has been on a car for years in a hot climate can be brittle and stubborn. Removing it carelessly can leave adhesive behind, and on some cars there are heating elements or aerials in the glass that are easy to damage. It is worth having it done by someone who does it regularly.
Tint that is part of the glass itself, rather than a film on top, cannot be peeled off. If factory glass at the front is too dark, the answer is replacement glass, which is a bigger job. That is rare, but it is worth knowing before you buy.
What to check before you buy
Questions to ask about the glass
0 of 6 done
Send us those photos with your enquiry and we can tell you whether the front glass is likely to need attention. For the rest of the work a typical import needs, see speedometer and headlight conversions and left-hand drive cars in the UK.
Insurance
Aftermarket tint is a modification, and insurers will usually want to know about it, along with any other changes made to the car. Front tint that breaks the rules is a different matter, because the car should not be on the road like that at all. Our guide to insuring an imported car covers what to declare.
Questions people ask
What window tint is legal in the UK?
For cars first used on or after 1 April 1985, the windscreen must let at least 75% of light through and the front side windows at least 70%. For older cars, both must let at least 70% through. There are no rules for the rear windows.
Will a tinted imported car fail its MOT?
Only if the tint significantly affects the driver's view. Excessive tint that does not affect the view is recorded as a minor defect. Passing the MOT does not make over-dark front tint legal on the road.
Does an imported car with tinted windows need the tint removed?
Only if the windscreen or front side windows are darker than the UK limits. Rear tint can stay. Front film that is too dark needs to come off before the car is used here.
Is it illegal to sell a car with dark front tint?
Yes. GOV.UK says it is illegal to sell a vehicle already fitted with glass that breaks the tint rules.
How is window tint measured?
Police and DVSA vehicle examiners use light-measuring equipment to check how much light passes through the glass.
Looking at a car with tinted glass? Tell us about it on the quote form and we will include anything it needs in your price.
