illegal window tint

[Insane253]

hey guys

im really wanting to get my car tinted, however after having owned a "darkest legal tint" car i wont be going back to that again... its almost non existent.
Im looking at around 20%, my biggest problem more than cops is the insurance side. Has there been any stories or claims being denied due to illegal tint?

[ss ute 01]

i don't have a story with with insurance but after constantly been pulled over and defected, and when that happened not only did i have to lose the tint but also get my car raised,exhaust quieter,buy new tyres fix every tiny oil leak etc etc illegal tint just isn't worth it, especially if it 's going on a commodore because you know your gonna get pinned

[Wonky]

I was worried about that too having had a previous car with 20% and often getting a niggling feeling about what could happen in an accident at night in particular. This time with north of $50K of car to worry about I played safe and went for legal tint, but got Midnight Express from Tint-A-Car which from the ones I looked at was the darkest looking legal tint. Some looked not much different from standard!!

I did go for 20% on the rear screen which does help the rest look darker. Even I'm not paranoid enough to think the insurance company will worry about the rear screen. :) I haven't heard of an insurer trying to void a claim due to illegal tint but knowing my luck if I went illegal all round and had to make a claim it would happen...... :bawl:

[shaneo69]

Ive had the darkest illegal tint u can get and had no dramas.

[KeenGolfer]

Legal tint @ 35% doesn't have to look light. As Wonky said there are certain types of tint that can look darker at the legal 35%. I had "solar onyx" fitted soon after buying my wagon 5.5 years ago and it looks darker than it is. Personally I wouldn't risk it.

http://www.vysswagon.com/Wagon15.jpg

[Wonky]

That looks nice and dark for a legal tint drewbytes! :goodjob: The car behind it makes it a little hard to tell exactly how dark though.

[LS1-5.7]

I agree that our permissable 35% is not dark enough but unfortunately there have been cases of insurance claims denied due to illegal tint. The stated reason is that it affects your ability to be aware of your surroundings eg visibility. If this can be a proven factor in the cause of a "negligent" act that has caused an accident the claim will be denied. ANY loophole will be used to reduce or remove their liability to pay. The irony of all this is that the surveilance vehicles used by the government and our local highway patrol is quite somewhat darker than 35%. They are selfinsured so money is no object. Try finding a colour of tint that appears the darkest 35% it's worth the peace of mind knowing you are 100% legal and don't attract any unwanted attention .....

[Insane253]

I agree that our permissable 35% is not dark enough but unfortunately there have been cases of insurance claims denied due to illegal tint. The stated reason is that it affects your ability to be aware of your surroundings eg visibility. If this can be a proven factor in the cause of a "negligent" act that has caused an accident the claim will be denied. ANY loophole will be used to reduce or remove their liability to pay. The irony of all this is that the surveilance vehicles used by the government and our local highway patrol is quite somewhat darker than 35%. They are selfinsured so money is no object. Try finding a colour of tint that appears the darkest 35% it's worth the peace of mind knowing you are 100% legal and don't attract any unwanted attention .....

how many stories have u heard mate??? interesting you mention the factor about 'if it can be proved to have caused an accident' .. i cant see that happening, then again if the tint is so dark and it caused an accident then you dont deserve an insurance claim i guess.
This ironically is for security reasons more than cosmestics, the car isnt a commodre in fact its a car that would attract ZERO police attention lol.. i just dont wanna have any potential insurance issues, hmm :/

[warlobo]

I have 20% (as 35% is as you mention is basically see through even if you get the reflective stuff) and recently insurer had vehicle for repairs after minor bingle. No problem at all. Have previously had an accident in another vehicle with even darker tint, again nothing mentioned at all.

Never had a word mentioned during roadside stops either. And believe me if anything could have been mentioned it would have... car chases etc... steam from their ears... but alas no detected speed.. (on some occasions)

You cant see through mine at all, had it in 3 vehicles now over 10yrs in 3 different states and nil problem ever! Go for it.

[seedyrom]

I have 20%.

In some instances at night, it can actually be a little hard to see out of the drivers side window.

The rear is good, as every second drivers HID globes no longer dazzle the crap out of me.

[xploit]

I have dark tint,

very dark, never had a problem, even coppers who pull me up just tell me to move my p plate because they cant see it through my rear window.

Now its on the rear number plate, have never had any more dramas since.

The only issue that came up was you couldnt see the P behind the tint..

Go for it i reckon.

Dave

[zaim]

I went darker than legal.. No issues from police or anything yet because of my car being stock so it's not a visual target.

At first it's hard to see through the windows at night because was so used to no tint, but you get used to it.

here's how it looks.. it's in the sun too, so you can see how dark it actually is

http://www.zaimc.com/temp/Image(855)e.jpg

[will_menz]

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l25/will1019/will001.jpg

heres a photo of mine. its 5 % used on houses and office windows. its dark but i love it. i havent had any dramas but i dont go out expecting it either. the day i have a drama ill peel it and replace it to legal no big deal. really no different to driving a low car or a loud car or any form of modified car if ya dont go out driving and draw attention to yaself ya wont have any dramas

[HSV590]

I can't remember the exact tint I got, same as wonky I think. I got the darkest legal tint on the sides and then the darker tinted rear window..that combo creates the illussion that the side tint is darker than what it actually is.
Cheers

[vyssbeast]

I got the darker on the rear bit too

it is actually legal to have that as the rule applies to windows that can be wound down.

So rear window the legal limit is abit darker than the sides.

[S2VYSS]

I just got 15% tint and its great

http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg58/S2VYSS/IMG_0057.jpg

[Supa]

I got the darkest legal tint, Cool Ash i think it was called back then on my first car.the VR. I wanted darker as soon as I picked it up, but money was tight back then so I put Black seat cover and a dash mat over all that gray/silver trim. I think it made it look heaps darker. But who knows??? :confused:

[LS1-5.7]

Insane253, the claims I made about cases I know about comes from 18 years of accident reconstruction and investigation in NSW. As you can envisage this involves in depth liason with insurance companies and all legal aspects of driving a motor vehicle. The question was asked and I provided the feedback I did, whether you choose to ignore any or all of it is entirely up to you. Ask any insurance company if they'll insure you with illegal tint and get back to me if you wish .... :bow:

[warlobo]

How could you reasonably be expected to test it? Say it was already there, you were told it was factory or legal, it passed rwc inspection, therefore you had no reason to doubt it...

Don't come across as a car expert, show the same wisdom as the average female when it comes to car knowledge... after all we live in times of equality, same for lowered suspension or minor mods, you are merely the average driver not a mechanical expert..

[iloveholden]

I have dark 20% tint on my car and i have had no problems, the car stays way cooler and looks cooler too :)

My uncle had 5% tint on his ute and he got told to take it off.

[LS1-5.7]

Warlobo, I do see your point entirely and sometimes ignorance can be a better defence, however, the question of legality was raised so hence I have provided a legal/technical point of view. Unfortunately when legality of a vehicle modification comes into play in a fatal accident then it will be strongly driven by technical facts so liability can be determined. I'm all for dark tint as it looks the goods, it's just a shame our authorities have included it in their list of vehicle compliance standards.

[warlobo]

Ditto LS1, not questioning your facts, (we're in similar industries by the sounds so I know they're correct) just providing options and personal experience. cheers

[seb20det]

i like the 5% on the red clubby

[SecretSquirrel]

Just wanted to clear something up that I heard.

I heard that wagons can have as much tint as they like on their side 'cargo' windows. That sounds like BS to me because those cargo windows are used for visibility when checking behind before merging.

Does anyone know the story on this? If it is true it would be good for privacy/security reasons.

Si

[Evman]

20% (from memory) and no probs :)

[CarlFST60L]

20% metallic something here and no problems. Its only ever hard to see out the side windowns when its night with rain and fog and im reversing, even then, you just keep an extra eye out for things.

http://www.oz8.org/gallery/albums/Carl/DSC_8082.sized.jpg

[Grommz]

I have 20% and payed $180 done by a mate who does private jobs at his house outside hours from working for a reputable tinting company.

If anyone wants any tint work done in Melb please PM me and ill pass on his information.

[glen III]

New South Wales, re wagons, utes etc.....pages 3 & 4

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi03_rev3.pdf

"yes your honour. my window tint is too dark, but I always drive with all my windows down...."

[iloveholden]

I have 20% and payed $180 done by a mate who does private jobs at his house outside hours from working for a reputable tinting company.

If anyone wants any tint work done in Melb please PM me and ill pass on his information.

Same here mate. I have 20% all round and paid $180 cash.

My tint guy works for cash jobs on weekends and during the week works for a tinting company. He takes his time and does a proper job, plus he came to me. :)

[thefightback]

Anyone in Perth do good quality cash jobs on the side? Please PM me if you know of anyone.

[VY19]

Hi, I'm new to this forum, well not really i have been reading the threads for a while now just never got around to joining, but now i have, so hopefully i can contribute offen, I'm not very clued in to all the terms and stuff so im here to learn :)

I have a VY Berlina 2003, and im going to get my windows tinted at Australian Auto Tint at 18% for $300 with carbon film, when i get my post count up ill show you guys how it looks, im just worried about the green P-Plate at the back hopefully, it's minorly visible haha...

[Bombaman]

Anyone in Perth do good quality cash jobs on the side? Please PM me if you know of anyone.

Go see Peter Garden in Morley, he did my ute, and I know he did Dean (EXCESSV)'s too

0439 877 978

Mines got 25 on the sides and "Dark as ****" (as he calls it) on the 1/4's and Rear Window

[CLUBRED]

From memory SA has a higher % rating that most other states, 35 is illegal or something but legal if done at the factory????

Anyways, my BMW has 35 on front and 20 on the back, can't really tell unless you're standing beside it. The Calais is darkest legal all around.

[VY19]

32% is darkest legal in Victoria, but different for back windshield apparently, has anyone had around 18-20% carbon film done to there cars, if you could post some pics would be handy just trying to get some ideas on how it would look

[Wonky]

32% is darkest legal in Victoria, but different for back windshield apparently, has anyone had around 18-20% carbon film done to there cars, if you could post some pics would be handy just trying to get some ideas on how it would look

I thought it was 35%, not 32%? :confused:

[VY19]

Nah its 32% im 99% sure unless i heard wrong but i recently got a couple of quotes and they told me 32% is darkest legal, which is barely anything, not much of a difference

[Insane253]

bumppp instead of making a new thread..
can anyone recommend me someone in melb, preferably near cbd or west who can do illegal tint and a good job ?? im looking at 18% :)

[Ls1346]

anyone will do it mate.
i've only used tint professor in sunshine on my old car and will be going back there soon with the new car.
just tell them what you want when you get there.

[Insane253]

even tint professor go below legal??? thats alright.... im not fussed on a receipt and whatnot but it needs to be guaranteed at least against any poor work/tint.

[VY19]

Australian Auto Tint did mine, i have 18% i have to take pictures...

[dallascowboy]

I have 20% and payed $180 done by a mate who does private jobs at his house outside hours from working for a reputable tinting company.

im an ex tinter who does cash jobs from my place in SA..

PM me if ya want some quotes or pics of cars that ive done

here is my uncles VE ss, i put 20% on there and it looks awsome...he hasnt had any trouble with cops. its all bout how much attention you attract to yourself by the way you drive i reckon.

http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp299/dallascowboy_bucket/IMG_2739.jpg

http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp299/dallascowboy_bucket/IMG_2738.jpg

[VZ_V8]

hey, does anyone know what the legalities are for utes in WA. I know its 35% normally but i was reading on that NSW RTA link which was posted up and the side windows can't be darker than 35% but any windows behind the driver can be anything you want, there is no specified VLT. I currently have 20% on my VU but my VZ needs tinting before i get it back on the road and I was thinking of putting 20% on the sides and quaters again but maybe something quite dark on the rear window like 10%...

Can someone tell me if this would be legal or not? The car is black so i wanted something dark to stop a bit more of the heat transfer, if it can be legally dark on the rear window i will go that option.

Cheers,
Tim

[Insane253]

20% looks awesome mate, im in Vic though.

[VY SS Brennan]

i was to the understanding 20% was the legal limit anyway??

[DIEFASTER*WH]

SA's regulations on window tint which I picked up yesterday says:


I've written this exactly as it is in the tint NEED TO KNOW brochure

"Drivers & front passenger windows - The driver & front passenger windows must have a luminous transmittance of at least 70%".

"Windows behind the drivers seat - The windows behind the drivers seat must have a luminous transmittance of at least 35%, unless they are interior windows.

"Interior windows - Windows in interior partitions must have a luminous transmittance of at least 70%".

So does that mean, that in my WH I can have the driver & front passenger windows @ 30% tint. Then the rear windows that slide down I tint @ 30%. Then the static and rear window can be done with 65% dark tint? Im just trying to understand what constitutes an Interior Window?

[VZMY06SS]

I have somewhere near 15% on mine, on it when I got it. I reckon it looks awesome, its just a pain when reversing or in the rain. Especially when reversing in the rain... It keeps the car cooler inside though, and can keep the sun out of your eyes too. I'm not to worried about insurance, as I can see out well enough not to hit anyone (i hope). Reflective tint also looks great, but it's illegal to right?

[buba011]

anyone in Adelaide do it? come to you? or is it better to take it to a shop with the equipment i have rav4 2002 id like done in privacy tint darker...... i think i have it tinted already but i like it dark , car is black in colour thanks guys :goodjob:

[bigdogdazza]

I have had really dark tint before on a 4x4 hilux and must say that at night the thing was a pain in the a$$ to drive and forget reverse parking as vision was zero so consider practicality as well as looks.

[Jarhead]

There are 50-60 Toyota Aurions around SE Qld with darker than legal tint.

The irony is that these same cars are used to uphold the law in traffic branch duty. If anyone gets pulled over by one of these (most are silver, some maroon and a couple of blue ones), ask them if their tint is 35%.

Personally I love the look of dark tint during the day. As mentioned its a pain in the ar$$ at night.

On the flip side, there is now a fasion trend among the hoy-paloy where they opt for no tint. I'm not talking about no added tint, I'm talikng clear glass with clear UV film.

[dainese]

its not something cops are looking out for. it looks good and is great. but as people said reversing at night is an issue. i generally have to wind windows down. if the area is well lit outside then its ok.

35% the legal limit isn't dark enough i think. 20% is the best compromise. and my friend who tints tells me that they fade over time and hence they do get a wee bit lighter.

i can't speak about the insurance, yet to make a claim! but who knows they could be real anal about it and reject your claim because of it.

[Fnomna]

I asked for the darkest legal and they did 35%. Since then I heard somewhere that yes 35% is the limit - but if the factory glass already had a slight (barely noticeable, small %) tint, then the combined % may be over 35% and therefore illegal..

[planetdavo]

If anyone gets pulled over by one of these (most are silver, some maroon and a couple of blue ones), ask them if their tint is 35%.

They will then, in return, ask you how many tickets you would like tonight, sir. :)

[gismo4655]

ive been useing G5 witch is 5% for the last 15 years on many cars with no hassles from the police. About 3 years ago i rid off a 2001 stateman caprice witch was my fault. Witch it had G5% tint on it. Was a bit worried if they would say something about the tint. But they did not say a thing. Was payed out in full within a few days. I currently have G5 tint on fg xr6 turbo and a vyss.

[jonesy_87_]

Not sure if anyone has said it already but in a ute/van the rear window can be as dark as you want.

In my old ute I had 35% on the sides and 10% on the rear. Looked good, was completely legal - Was just a pain reversing at night. Haha.

[dainese]

Not sure if anyone has said it already but in a ute/van the rear window can be as dark as you want.

In my old ute I had 35% on the sides and 10% on the rear. Looked good, was completely legal - Was just a pain reversing at night. Haha.

yeah, for privacy/security. lucky.

[rodneyson]

i have 10% on my side windows and rear window on my ute and have the front windscreen tinted in 35%. never had any trouble with cops or anything and it been like that for round 6 months.

[diabolic]

umm 35% on the FRONT?!?!? that must look retarded.

I know people use that 65% stuff or whatever it is basically clear just UV protection.. but 35% that's odd :/

Got 20% sides and 5% rear here... I'm pretty happy with it. Insured with that too..