Massachusetts Window Tint % Limits

[Chrisjt0]

Hi all,

I'm in the Boston area, where the state limit is 35% for tint (and they check it when during inspections).

I recently did a ceramic 35% tint on the fronts only, which ended up showing up at 33% VLT on the meter, due to the slight tint in the existing glass. The installer said that the state allows a few % margin of error for inspections, so it should be OK. Going to get it inspected at the end of the month, so will update.

I wish we could legally match the rear windows but it still looks better than stock.

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[clearviewx]

Good topic.. I was looking to have this done when I get my Maverick. Could u share some pictures of yours done?

 

[burger_time]

Yeah such a PITA. I had to deal with this when I bought my used 2007 Mazda3. I bought it from NY and apparently they allow darker tint in the rear windows. It failed the very first inspection and I had to have it re-tinted.

 

[22MavXLT]

That is the same % allowed here in NC but they allow up to 32% registered. So you have a lil variance in the percentage. We use a 40% VLT tint to make vehicles legal here in NC, and then they register anywhere from 37-33 depending on how much dye is in the actual glass for each car. Toyota has one of the darkest factory glasses around and when we use our tint on them they still pass inspection.

 

[Twixel Jackson]

For what it is worth, I am a retired LE officer who worked traffic enforcement for a significant part of my career. The +/- on any instrument I used that had to be checked prior and after each measure was 1%. So if you get in a jam and have to work some magic, ask the person at the exam station what the device is off from the manufacturer. If they say zero or the tint device is dead accurate, they are lying or don't know the truth. No manufacturer will tell you the device is completely accurate for tint.

 

[CTYankee]

In MA, the issue of variability comes down to the inspection station. Our Fusion was tinted to 35%, as is my Maverick (on top of whatever the factory glass contains). A local station that is known for picking nits told my wife she'd fail because their test put it at 32%. The station I regularly go to passes them both with no problem. If your regular station has been reasonable thus far, it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Darnon]

Yeah such a PITA. I had to deal with this when I bought my used 2007 Mazda3. I bought it from NY and apparently they allow darker tint in the rear windows. It failed the very first inspection and I had to have it re-tinted.

That actually changed a few years ago. Cars in NY can't have darker tinted rear door windows anymore. Which ends up kind of dumb when you have crossovers that are little more than a lifted station wagon counted as an SUV therefore can be totally blacked out.

 

[Chrisjt0]

Good topic.. I was looking to have this done when I get my Maverick. Could u share some pictures of yours done?

It’s hard to get good pictures of tint because the transprency looks completely different depending on reflections and background, but here is a before (at the tint shop) and after (parked on the street)

 

[Chrisjt0]

That actually changed a few years ago. Cars in NY can't have darker tinted rear door windows anymore. Which ends up kind of dumb when you have crossovers that are little more than a lifted station wagon counted as an SUV therefore can be totally blacked out.

 

[Chrisjt0]

Agreed - it’s so dumb. I wish the manufacturers would just stop producing vehicles with blacked out rear windows so end users could decide how dark to go, and be able to get consistent tint around the vehicle

 

[clearviewx]

It’s hard to get good pictures of tint because the transprency looks completely different depending on reflections and background, but here is a before (at the tint shop) and after (parked on the street)

Thank you.

 

[Allen King Jr]

I have a Ford Escape that in Missouri, we can do 0% on all rear glass, 20% on front side windows, and no more than 6in on top of windshield, but can go to 20% on it, however, this was 2010, I haven't looked at the guidelines recently to see if anything has changed.

Edit: I looked up the laws for window tint in Missouri, shows 35% +/- 3%

 

[SleepySin]

It’s hard to get good pictures of tint because the transprency looks completely different depending on reflections and background, but here is a before (at the tint shop) and after (parked on the street)

Looks better with the tint! I’ve been putting this step off until I finalize some custom decal work so that it can be done all at the same time

 

[Ozarkbeard]

It’s hard to get good pictures of tint because the transprency looks completely different depending on reflections and background, but here is a before (at the tint shop) and after (parked on the street)

I like that amount of front window tint. It looks like the factory tint you'd see on a more expensive vehicle.

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