West Virginia Legal Window Tint Laws

Perhaps it is to avoid the glazing heat from the sun or to prevent the rays of the sun from disrupting your driving, you can tint the windows and windshield of your car.

Tinting the windows of vehicles is a pretty common situation. Luckily, it is not classified as an illegal act, as long as you aide by the rules and regulations that support the process.

These laws have been put in place since the 1990s, and it is important that you abide by them to avoid facing the penalties of going against the laws.

To ensure that you do not go against these laws, this article will give you the process and necessary details you need to know about tinting your vehicle in West Virginia.

Are You Allowed To Have Tinted Windshield And Windows In West Virginia?

Yes, you are permitted to have some tint on the windshield and windows of your cars. This is not a problem, as long as you are familiar with the laws set up to monitor the tinting process.

The laws are different for the different windows you have in your cars. They are also different depending on the kind of vehicle you are driving, perhaps, it is a passenger vehicle or a multipurpose vehicle.

To find out if your tint is not outside the law, check for the percentage of light that is entering into your vehicle.

What Is The Darkest Tint You Can Legally Get In WV?

To determine what the darkest tint you are allowed to use legally in West Virginia, you have to consider which part of the windows you are specifically referring to. The laws that regulate the darkness of your car will be further explained in the coming parts of this article.

In these parts, I will tell you how dark each part of your window can be, whether you are driving a passenger vehicle or a multipurpose vehicle.

Is 20 Tint Illegal In WV?

Again, this is dependent on which part of your windows is in question. For instance, the side windows by your front must let at least 35% of light in. So, a 20 tint for this is not permissible.

Can You Get Pulled Over For Tinted Windows In West Virginia?

Yes, you can be stopped because the windshield and windows of your vehicle are tinted. However, pulling you over does not in any way imply that you are in trouble.

The police officer may just check the amount of light that goes through your tint by using a tint meter; and as long as you abide by the laws, you should have no troubles.

How Much Is A Tint Ticket In WV?

If you are caught using a tint that does not follow the specifications given by the West Virginia authorities, you may pay up to $200 fine. However, you can avoid this fine by just sticking to the rules.

Window Tint Darkness In West Virginia

The laws about tinting in West Virginia specify how dark your tint can be, depending on which window is in question, and which vehicle you are using.

For Passenger Vehicles

For your passenger vehicle, here is what the law says.

  • Windshield: Your tint should not be reflective. Also, it should be above the first five inches of your vehicle’s windshield.
  • Front Side Windows: Your dark tint must permit nothing less than 35% of visible light into your vehicle.
  • Back Side Windows: Your dark tint must permit nothing less than 35% of visible light into your vehicle.
  • Rear Window: Your dark tint must permit nothing less than 35% of visible light into your vehicle.

For MPV (Multipurpose Vehicles)

The laws are slightly different for your multi-purpose vehicles. Take a look at the tint darkness specifications for your SUVs and vans.

  • Windshield: Your tint should not be reflective. Also, it should be above the first five inches of your vehicle’s windshield.
  • Front Side Windows: Your dark tint must permit nothing less than 35% of visible light into your vehicle.
  • Back Side Windows: There is no specified darkness rate for the side windows at the back of your vehicle.
  • Rear Window: There is no specified darkness rate for the side windows at the back of your vehicle.

Window Tint Reflection In West Virginia

There are also laws that specify how much reflection the tint of your vehicle may have.

For Passenger Vehicles

These are the laws that specify how much reflection you can have from your tinted windows, be it the side windows by your front, or the side windows by your back.

  • Front Side Windows: They must have a maximum of 20% reflection.
  • Back Side Windows: They must have a maximum of 20% reflection.

For MPV (Multipurpose Vehicles)

The laws concerning the level of reflection your tint should have are slightly different for your multipurpose vehicles.

  • Front Side Windows: They must have a maximum of 20% reflection.
  • Back Side Windows: They must have a maximum of 20% reflection.

How Do You Get A Medical Exemption For Window Tint In West Virginia?

You allowed to get a waiver due to medical reasons. For this exemption, you will need an affidavit that has the signature of a licensed medical practitioner.

This affidavit will contain what medical condition you have and how it affects the person, especially when using non-tinted windows.

With this permission, you will be able to use more than the specified level of reflection and darkness. However, be sure to carry this affidavit with you wherever you go.

You may also get a waiver for a passenger. Just make sure you also hold the affidavit at all times.

Conclusion

When you tint the windows of your car, you get to reduce the amount of heat that is entering into your car, since the rays of the sun is not getting into it directly.

As long as you know what the laws says about it, you can tint the windshield and windows of your vehicle.

Written by Kane Dan

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