NJ Tint Laws

New Jersey Tint Laws

Adding window tint to your car is one of the easiest and best ways to enhance your vehicle's look, comfort and security. Tinting your car's window can block UV light to reduce health risks, interior heat and fading. But not all types of tinting is legal in every state, so do your research before purchasing window film.

Although precut window films make DIY tinting easy, you always have to check out your state's tint laws before buying your materials. If you're a Garden State resident thinking about tinting your vehicle's windows, use this guide to find out everything you need to know about New Jersey window tint laws, including which laws apply to your vehicle and when you might be exempt from the rules.

What Is Window Tint?

When discussing window tint laws, it's important to understand a few key terms:

Visible Light Transmission (VLT): VLT is the percentage of visible light allowed through a car's windows. A higher VLT means more light can pass through the window tint film, and vice versa.
Reflection: A window tint's reflection is the amount that it reflects incoming light to cut down on glare and heat. Metallized window tint film is the most reflective material, while dyed window tint film absorbs light rather than reflects it.
Passenger vehicles: Smaller cars, such as Sedans, qualify as passenger vehicles.
Multi-purpose vehicles: Multi-purpose vehicles, such as SUVs, are much larger.

There are several different types of tint you can apply to your car's windows. Some of the most popular options are:

50% VLT: Adding a 50% tint to a vehicle's windows prevents only half the light from streaming into the car. However, a 50% tint improves visibility by reducing glare and cutting down on harmful UV rays.
35% VLT: Vehicles with a 35% tint have a darker appearance while still allowing people to easily see through the windows.
20% VLT: Using a 20% tint makes it even more difficult to see through a vehicle's windows from outside, but it's still possible if you get close enough.
5% VLT: A 5% tint is impossible to see through and illegal for most vehicles, although there are some exceptions.

Is Window Tint Legal in NJ?

When it comes to window tint laws, each state is different. Unfortunately, there's a lot of fine print and jargon to cut through when determining what's allowed in your home state and what's not. New Jersey is fairly strict about window tint, but there's no straightforward answer to what exactly is allowed because the VLT permissible varies by vehicle and window position. Here's what you can and can't do as far as window tint in New Jersey:

What Is Legal?

As long as you follow these guidelines, you don't need a special sticker or certification for your tinting:

Back seat side windows: Any percentage of tint can be used for both passenger and multi-purpose vehicles.
Rear window: Any percentage of tint can be used for both passenger and multi-purpose vehicles.
Color: Any tint color is permitted by New Jersey law.

What Isn't Legal?

More importantly, here's what you need to follow to avoid a fine for illegal tinting in New Jersey:

Windshield: No tint is permitted on the windshield of either a passenger or multi-purpose vehicle.
Front seat side windows: No tint is permitted on the windshield of either a passenger or multi-purpose vehicle. They also can't have any metallic or mirrored reflections.
Back seat side windows: No metallic or mirrored reflections are allowed on back seat side windows on passenger or multi-purpose vehicles.
Side mirrors: You need to have dual side mirrors if your back windows are tinted.

While these are the general New Jersey tint laws, it's essential to check if your county has any additional regulations. Look up vehicle tinting information provided by your local DMV or law enforcement authorities to make sure your vehicle's window tint meets the required standards.

Exceptions to the Law

There are several exceptions to New Jersey tint laws that you should consider. Drivers of these vehicles don't need to worry about complying with the tint laws:

Ambulances
Buses
Limousines
Hearses
Church-owned vehicles

Plus, those with a medical condition that increases their sensitivity to sunlight may be allowed to use a special tint. New Jersey legislature excuses those with these conditions from tint laws:

Persistent light reactivity
Polymorphous light eruption
Lupus erythematosus
Solar urticaria
Actinic reticuloid
Porphyrins
Other disorders that a chief administrator deems applicable

Get DIY Window Tint From Rvinyl

Now that you know how to navigate the law of the land, find the right window tint kit for you at Rvinyl. If you want to personalize your ride without paying high tint shop prices, Rvinyl has the precut window films to make your DIY tinting project easy and affordable.

There's no need to worry about making a mistake during the DIY process when you use one of our window films because Rvinyl offers to replace any botched installation attempts at a discount. Rvinyl products also come with a 3-year warranty that covers any cracking, peeling or fading.

We have kits for a wide range of makes and models, but you can always create a custom window tint kit from our whole sheets. Check out all our window tint options to take your car to the next level today.

Disclaimer: This information is not provided by legal professionals and is intended only to complement, and not to replace or contradict, any legal advice or information provided by your state or legal professionals. The information covered in this resource does not necessarily reflect those of Rvinyl and/or its affiliates. If you have any questions, please contact your local state authorities and/or an attorney or other legal professional.