Are you considering getting car tint but afraid of getting pulled over by the cops?
Understanding the 2024 NC tint laws will help you make the right decision on what shade of tint to buy for your car windows. We will go over everything you need to know about the North Carolina window tint law so you can stay compliant.
Keep reading to get all the latest details.
What Is the Tint Law in NC?
Source: Marie Wilson
A tint law in North Carolina regulates how much light a driver’s window tint can block and reflect.
VLT is the primary concern of the North Carolina window tint law. VLT is an acronym for visible light transmission. The VLT percentage describes the amount of light the passes through into the vehicle. VLT is represented as a percentage. The lower the percentage, the darker the window tint, and the less light that the tint will allow to pass through.
Window tint laws are changed and updated routinely based on what percentages are deemed as safe on newer vehicles. The current North Carolina window tint laws, however, have been in place since 2001 and specify how dark or reflective a driver’s window tint can be.
NC Tint Laws for Passenger Cars
This includes passenger vehicles, such as cars, sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and station wagons.
Front side windows: Up to 32% VLT tint darkness allowed
Back side windows: Up to 32% VLT tint darkness allowed
Rear windows: Up to 32% VLT tint darkness allowed
Windshield: Tint cannot extend more than 5 inches below the top of the windshield or below the AS-1 line of the windshield, whichever is longer.
Reflectivity: No more than 20% reflective
Other Restrictions: Red, amber, and yellow are prohibited and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows.
NC Tint Laws for Multi-Purpose Vehicles
This includes minivans, trucks, pickups, SUVs, etc. that are designed to carry less than 10 passengers.
Front side windows: Up to 32% VLT tint darkness allowed
Back side windows: Any tint darkness
Rear windows: Any tint darkness
Windshield: Tint cannot extend more than 5 inches below the top of the windshield or below the AS-1 line of the windshield, whichever is longer.
Reflectivity: No more than 20% reflective
Other Restrictions: Red, amber, and yellow are prohibited and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows.
Other NC Tint Laws and Regulations
Taillights: Taillights cannot be covered with tint in North Carolina and must maintain their original red or clear shade of color.
Headlights: It is illegal for drivers to tint their headlights in North Carolina.
License Plate Covers: Tinted license plate covers are illegal in North Carolina.
Window Tint Laws NC Fines
North Carolina law enforcement officers are tough on window tint in their state. If you’re pulled over for an illegal level of darkness, it can result in a $50 fine plus court costs which total up to about $238 according to