Is Light Tint Legal?
If you're curious about whether tinted headlights are legal, you've come to the right place. The good news is that light tint is legal in many states, but auto tint laws vary so much that it's important to keep up with your local regulations.
People might have told you that they tinted their cars after-market and managed to avoid any unwanted attention from law enforcement. But are tinted headlights and tail lights legal? Keep reading for information about tinting your vehicle's lights.
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1. Headlight Tint Laws
The headlights are located at the front of your vehicle and provide light in low-visibility conditions. Because headlights provide a vital function for safe, legal driving, altering them is often restricted. In many states, smoking headlights, which is purposefully dulling the appearance of your headlights, is unlawful when it dims the output of light.
The types of alterations auto owners often make to headlights include changing the bulb color, adding a vinyl film to change the color and smoking the lights out.
2. Tail Light Tint Laws
The taillights switch on when you turn your headlights on. These lights have red bulbs to caution drivers coming up behind you. With such an important function, are tinted tail lights legal?
Altering the color of tail lights is usually unlawful because it may confuse the drivers behind you. For example, if you altered their color to blue, drivers may misjudge the gap between your cars because the red signal they're used to is absent.
The common ways auto owners customize tail lights include adding a clear vinyl film strip for protection and adding a vinyl film to change the color.
3. Side Marker Tint Laws
The side marker lamps are small auxiliary lights that heighten the visibility of your vehicle to other drivers. The law rarely references side markers specifically, which means customizing them might be a safe bet, but it's still good to check. When side markers are referenced, they're usually supposed to be orange, or they might appear red when located closer to the rear of a vehicle.
Typically, auto owners may customize side markers by adding a vinyl film to change the color and smoking the lights out.
4. Fog Light Tint Laws
These lights are small auxiliary lights located beneath the vehicle's bumper. The fog lights provide short-distance illumination in low-visibility weather conditions such as fog and rain, hence the name.
A car owner might customize their fog lights by changing the bulb color or brightness level and adding a vinyl film to change the color.
5. Brake Light Tint Laws
These lights turn on when you step on the brake pedal, turning red to warn drivers behind you that you're coming to a stop. Standard brake lights tend to be brighter than tail lights. Like your tail lights, the red signal they provide is upheld by the law in many states, and altering the color is often unlawful.
A few ways that auto owners customize brake lights include adding a clear vinyl film strip for protection or adding a vinyl film to change the color.
Do Light Tint Laws Vary From State to State?
Note that state governments regulate the type of tint allowed and the light level on auto lights for safety reasons. In some states, an officer needs to observe more than a possible light tint violation to pull you over, but you could be ticketed for the violation when stopped.
Be sure to check with the department of motor vehicles in your state to ask about laws regarding light transmission levels. If you're concerned about your light tint or the tint on another part of your vehicle, you can ask your local auto mechanic to take a look for you. This check will ensure
In terms of the tint's color, you can choose your favorite and the level of darkness so long as you comply with state laws.
Can I Drive a Car With Tint on My Lights Into a Different State?
If your vehicle has legally tinted lights or windows in the state where you registered the vehicle, and you cross state lines into a state where the level of tint you have is illegal, you might end up having to pay a fine. If a law enforcement officer pulls you over in a traffic stop, they can ticket you for the auto tint.
The state where you registered your license plate is unimportant when it comes to tint laws. Some drivers mistakenly believe they're in the clear to go on a road trip without researching the laws in other states. Although light tint violations are possible and do happen, it's most often a problem with window tint violations because state laws can be inconsistent.
Always check that the states you're driving through allow the kind of auto light tint you have before crossing state lines.
Light Tint Laws by State
Some auto owners will tint their vehicles regardless of local laws and drive on public streets for years without any problems. Still, laws concerning tint vary by state and are frequently updated. To ensure light tint is legal in your state, it's a good idea to be aware of your state's laws and understand your rights as an auto owner or leaser.
What Determines Light Tint Laws?
The two major factors that tint laws frequently cite are:
- Visible light transmission (VLT): The amount of visible light that can get through the tint is important in determining the legality of light tint in many states.
- Color options: In some states, the government is cautious about allowing colored headlights or tail lights. People could mistake a customized car for an emergency vehicle, so the laws can be fairly strict.
Below is more information for several states where light tint is popular:
1. Light Tint Laws in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, only emergency vehicles are authorized to use light signals of certain colors. All passenger and commercial vehicles that aren't for emergency use can't legally tint their lights as of March 2022.
- Headlights: Smoked or colored headlights are unlawful.
- Tail lights: Smoked or colored tail lights are unlawful.
- Brake lights: Smoked or colored tail lights are unlawful.
- Fog lights: Smoked or colored fog lights are unlawful.
- Side marker: Smoked or colored side markers are unlawful.
2. Light Tint Laws in New York
In New York, it's best to err on the side of caution when it comes to potential nonmoving violations. The law can be ambiguous or have special stipulations that are challenging for most auto owners to find ways around. In terms of light tint specifically, New York doesn't allow car owners to change the color or light level of a vehicle's light fixtures.
- Headlights: Smoked or colored headlights are unlawful.
- Tail lights: Smoked or colored tail lights are unlawful.
- Brake lights: Smoked or colored tail lights are unlawful.
- Fog lights: Smoked or colored fog lights are unlawful.
- Side marker: Smoked or colored side markers are unlawful.
3. Light Tint Laws in Florida
Florida law restricts colored or reflective tints and requires the light bulbs to show white. If you want to use tints that smoke out or alter a light's color, you must exercise caution in Florida. The lights are expected to look and operate how your manufacturer intended.
- Headlights: Smoked or colored headlights are unlawful.
- Tail lights: Smoked or colored tail lights are unlawful.
- Brake lights: Smoked or colored tail lights are unlawful.
- Fog lights: Smoked or colored fog lights are unlawful.
- Side marker: Smoked or colored side markers are unlawful.
4. Light Tint Laws in Texas
Texas law restricts light tints in the colors red, amber and blue. Unlike the above states, you can alter your headlights with tint so long as you meet a few stipulations.
- Headlights: Colored headlight bulbs must have an approved stamp from the department of transportation (DOT). Clear lenses are legal so long as they comply with the stipulations.
- Tail lights: Tail light bulbs must have a DOT-approved stamp. Clear lenses are legal so long as they comply with the stipulations.
- Brake lights: Clear, unobtrusive lenses are legal.
- Fog lights: Clear, unobtrusive lenses are legal.
- Side marker: Clear, unobtrusive lenses are legal.
5. Light Tint Laws in California
Much like Texas, California law is more generous with vehicle tints, but it does restrict the colors amber, red and blue for your auto lights. These lights must be white or yellow in color. Other colors are considered a risk on the road.
- Headlights: Smoked headlights are unlawful.
- Tail lights: Smoked headlights are unlawful, but certain films are allowed if reflectors are visible at 500 feet.
- Brake lights: Smoked headlights are unlawful.
- Fog lights: Smoked headlights are unlawful.
- Side marker: Side marker is permitted to show red if located near the rear.
Suggestions for Tinting a Car in a State With Strict Laws
It may be disappointing to learn that light tint is restricted or unlawful in your state when you were hoping to go cruising around in your tinted car. Luckily, you can avoid strict laws and have some fun off the roads with vinyl tint strips.
Below are ideas for staying safe and making the best use of your vehicle's customization opportunities:
- Go off-roading: Light tint is only unlawful on public roadways, so you can still take your customized vehicle to some of the popular off-roading locations around the country. Many auto owners who go off-roading drive vehicles that aren't street legal.
- Tint the vehicle for show purposes: Car shows and events welcome vehicles with smoked-out headlights and colorful tail lights. You can still participate in car shows with a tinted vehicle so long as you transport your customized car away from the public roads.
- Use tint on a display vehicle: If you want to display a car with tinted lights at your business or just to show off to your friends, you're allowed to display the vehicle.
- Use peel-and-stick vinyl: Use a type of vinyl that's easily replaced if you're planning to go to a state with more restrictive laws. You can apply the tint yourself when you're in a state where it's legal. Simply remove the tint when you're driving on public roads in other locations.
The Benefits of Auto Light Tint
Though auto light tint may not be legal in your state, you may still like to apply it to cars you don't drive on public roads because it can have a few benefits.
The single most significant advantage of light tint is that it adds a protective layer to your lights. Over time, your car's lights become subject to wear and tear from road salt, rocks, ultraviolet (UV) rays and more. Outfitting your car with light tint can ensure your lights stay in great working condition.
Another benefit of adding light tint is that you get to take on a project. Installing auto light tint is a rewarding DIY project, especially for anyone who loves taking care of their car. Picking fog light tint or tail light tint can be a fun project that you can complete in an afternoon.
As long as you comply with your state's laws, you can enjoy the benefits of auto light tint legally.
Why Should I Care About Light Tint?
You might be thinking that light tint is a small alteration and want to install it regardless of what the law says. Even though we agree that colorful light tint adds a unique appeal to a car, it's important that you're aware of any potential legal risks.
You never want someone to mistake your personal vehicle for an emergency vehicle. Likewise, you want to make sure other drivers can see your vehicle clearly at night or in harsh weather conditions. All drivers have a responsibility to ensure the roads stay safe for everyone who uses them, and complying with your state's light tint laws helps you do that.
Fortunately, you can still enjoy auto light tint when you're off-roading, showing off your car at an auto show and hanging out with your fellow car enthusiasts at home. When you use removable light tint, you can adjust your car's lights whenever you please. This way, you get the benefits of auto light tint without violating the law.
Get Removable Light Tint With Rvinyl
Although light tint laws can seem restrictive, many users still find ways to enjoy customizing their cars, trucks, SUVs and other vehicles. Order high-quality vinyl tint for your vehicle's lights that you can easily install yourself from Rvinyl. We have over 100 color options for vinyl films, including plenty of textures for the interior or exterior of your vehicle.
Contact us to learn more or shop today!