Pennsylvania Window Tint Law [March 2023]

Pennsylvania Window Tint Law: The car window tint laws were brought into existence in the state of Pennsylvania in 1999. From the very beginning, the state of Pennsylvania has been specific about its laws. In 1996, PennDOT adopted regulations regarding the use of window tint on vehicles operated on Pennsylvania highways. These regulations also eliminated the requirement that window tint is checked at the time of inspection.

Besides the other obstructions, there is one that you should pay good attention to No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any object or material hung from the inside rearview mirror or otherwise hung, placed, or attached in such a position as to materially obstruct, obscure or impair the driver’s vision through the front windshield or any manner as to constitute a safety hazard. 

In this particular article, we have tried our level best to do justice to this title by mentioning all the necessary information you need to know about the car window tinting laws and their extras in Pennsylvania.

Check out other States Window Tint Law :-

What Does VLT Mean According To The Pennsylvania State Law 

VLT(Visible Light Transmission) is the light percentage allowed by the window tint film to travel through your car windows. In Florida, there are different legal allowable terms when it comes to window tinting.

In Pennsylvania, the amount of light allowed to pass through your window film and glass varies for Passenger vehicles and multi-purpose vehicles. We have decided to break it down for you for the sake of your better understanding. 

The higher the VLT the more amounts of light will be allowed to pass through your window tint film. For instance, a 50% tint will allow only 50% of the light to pass through and a 5% tint will allow only 5% of light to pass through.

Pennsylvania Tint Law:  Legal Tint Limit For Passenger Vehicles

  • Front Windshield: Must allow more than 70% of light in, any darkness on top 3 inches.
  • Front seat side windows: up to 70% tint darkness allowed
  • Back seat side windows: up to 70% tint darkness allowed
  • Rear window: up to 70% tint darkness allowed

Pennsylvania Tint Law: Legal Tint Limit For Multi-purpose Vehicles

  • Front Windshield: Must allow more than 70% of light in, any darkness on top 3 inches.
  • Front seat side windows: up to 70% tint darkness allowed
  • Back seat side windows: Any tint darkness can be used
  • Rear window: Any tint darkness can be used

Window Tint Reflection In Pennsylvania

The one main reason for having window tints is so that it helps reflect light which then further in the process reduces glare as well as heat. Depending on the vehicle type as well as the type of tint the Pennsylvania law allows only a certain level of reflection with a tint.

Tint reflection for Passenger vehicles:

  • Front side windows: no mirrored or metallic appearance 
  • Back side windows: no mirrored or metallic appearance 

Tint reflection for Multi-purpose Vehicles:

  • Front side windows:no mirrored or metallic appearance 
  • Back side windows: no mirrored or metallic appearance 

Other Pennsylvania window tint law rules and regulations

Besides, the basic laws that you have come across already there are some other rules and regulations that you need to pay good attention to while or before you are getting your car windows tinted. They are as follows:

  • Side mirrors: if the back window is tinted then you need dual side mirrors.
  • Restricted colors: All colors can be used, no colors are banned.
  • Certificates: The tint film manufacturers do not have to certify the film they happen to sell in the state of Pennsylvania.
  • Stickers: The stickers to recognize legal tinting are needed in this state.
  • Medical exceptions: For special tint, Pennsylvania allows medical exemptions.
  • Windshield wiper systems: windshield on each and every motor vehicle except for a motorcycle or special mobile equipment shall be equipped with a wiper system capable of cleaning rain, snow, or other moisture collected on the windshield and so constructed as to be controlled or operated by the driver of the vehicle. 
  • Sun screening: you cannot drive any motor vehicle with any type of sun screening device or other types of materials that don’t permit a person to see the inside of the vehicle through the windshield or even the side window or side wing.