Tinting your vehicle’s windows is a great way to protect your privacy and keep the interior cool. But every state has its own specific laws and regulations regarding automotive window tint, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with the rules where you live in advance.
Tint helps to reduce the light coming in through your car windows by between 5 and 90 percent. Typically, state laws will regulate tinting by setting a minimum legal limit regarding this percentage.
So, is 5 percent tint legal in South Carolina? That depends on the type of vehicle and which windows you’re tinting. Passenger vehicles aren’t allowed this level of tinting except at the top of the windshield, but multi-purpose vehicles may have 5 percent or below on their back and side windows.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about SC legal tint.
Auto Tinting Laws in South Carolina
The Palmetto State has strict tinting regulations that depend on the type of vehicle and windows of the vehicle. South Carolina Highway Patrol or the State Transport Police may measure the amount of light entering through your windows to determine if you are following regulations.
The amount of tint on a window is measured by the Visible Light Transmission percentage (VLT%). This percentage represents the amount of visible light that can pass through the window’s factory tint and added film.
The South Carolina tint laws for 2024 are as follows for cars and multipurpose vehicles:
- Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.
- Front side windows: Must allow more than 27% of light in.
- Back side windows: Must allow more than 27% of light in.
- Back side windows (Multipurpose Vehicles): Any VLT percentage is allowed.
- Rear window: Must allow more than 27% of light in.
- Rear window (Multipurpose Vehicles): Any VLT percentage is allowed.
Below are in-depth summaries of South Carolina tint laws for each type of vehicle drivers should be familiar with.
SUVs
South Carolina SUV tint laws state that at least 27% of light must penetrate the glass for the front side windows. This means that these windows’ darkest legal tint in SC is 27% VLT.
Any percentage is acceptable for rear and back windows, so long as the back side windows leave a few inches at the top untinted. Windshields can be tinted above your vehicle’s AS-1 line, so long as it does not reflect light.
Sedans
The front window tint law in South Carolina for sedans is the same as for SUVs, with 27% VLT or higher being permissible. This same limit applies to rear and back windows, unlike SUV rules.
Is 15 percent tint legal in SC? Not for a sedan. Only multi-purpose vehicles (MVPs) are allowed this, and only on the back passenger windows and rear window.
Is 20 percent tint legal in SC? No. Nothing less than 27% VLT is legal for sedans.
Sedans must also refrain from tinting below the AS-1 line on windshields, and any modifications to the windshield must be non-reflective.
Pickup Trucks
South Carolina tint laws for trucks follow the same general guidelines as for SUVs and sedans. The most important thing is to ensure that no tinting added to the vehicle prevents more than 27% VLT of light from entering.
Pick-up trucks are not considered multipurpose vehicles (MPV).
Headlights and Taillights
The South Carolina headlight tint law prohibits tinting or adding color to the headlights of any vehicle. Failure to comply may lead to severe penalties and fines.
South Carolina taillight tint laws follow the same rule. Drivers in SC should refrai