It’s no wonder the car tint industry has grown exponentially in recent years—tint makes cars look infinitely better. Other reasons for car tinting include privacy and protection from UV radiation, but improved aesthetics trumps them all. The difference between a non-tinted car and a tinted one is like day and night.
35% tint looks best on white cars, as it gives the vehicle a sleek and stylish look. It’s dark enough to complement the car’s color and not so dark that it will limit visibility. This tint allows 35% light transmission into the vehicle, providing privacy and protection from harmful radiation.
This piece will further explain why 35% tint is the best tint for your white car. It’ll also look at the laws governing tint application in the United States.
Why You Should Opt for 35% Tint for a White Car
Tint is ranked by the percentage of visible light transmission (VLT) it allows into the vehicle. For example, the highest tint percentage available is 90%. With this tint, 90% VLT is allowed into your car. On the other hand, the lowest tint percentage allows 5% light into your vehicle.
5% window tint is also called ‘limo tint’ as it’s used to black out many limos. It is also used on government vehicles carrying politicians and diplomats.
Most drivers go for a tint between 30% and 50%, as it protects the interior and driver from radiation and is safe enough for night driving. Furthermore, it provides privacy from other motorists and protects from potential theft; a person must come very close to the vehicle to see inside, which deters people from even trying to break in.
The sweet spot is 35% tint all around for a white car. The dark color blends with the white brilliantly, turning your vehicle into the envy of other motorists, who’ll likely struggle to see the driver with such a sleek machine through the 35% tint.
Avoid using different tint percentages on different windows as it affects the vehicle’s aesthetics. Uniform tint works best, and some states’ laws prohibit different tint percentages on separate windows.
White Vehicle Tinting Tips
To get the best out of the 35% tint for your white car, purchase a high-quality ceramic tint and have it installed by an expert. You can install tint yourself, but you’ll likely waste a lot of material before getting it right.
Professional installers work with minimum wastage and often provide a warranty for their services. They also have tint samples and photos of vehicles they’ve worked on to help you choose the right tint for your car.
What the Law Says About Tinting
35% tint is the best for a white vehicle, as long as the law allows it. There’s no federal law governing tinting, so states have created their own rules to manage the process.
Before I summarize the tinting laws in different states, note that many vehicles already have tint when leaving the factory. Therefore, you must factor in the tint already on the car when calculating the type of tint film to buy: if you stray beyond state limits, even by mistake, the law might find you liable.
| State | Laws Governing Tinting |
| Alabama | State outlaws tint below 32% VLT.Vans, SUVs, and trucks have a similar limit for the driver’s and front passenger window only.Drivers can only tint the windshield’s upper 6 inches. |
| Alaska | Only the upper 5 inches of the windshield can be tinted. Front window tint limited at 70% VLT, and rear window tint capped at 40% VLT. |
| Arizona | Front windows must allow at least 33% of light.Rear window tint can go as low as 5% VLT. |
| Arkansas | Only 5 inches at the top of the windshield can be tinted. Rearview mirror tint capped at 10% and side windows capped at 25% tint. Aftermarket tint applications must be accompanied by the installer’s name on the front glass. |
| California | California caps vehicle tint at 70% VLT on the windshield and front side windows.There’s no limit for the back side windows and rear window. |
| Colorado | Windshield tint limited to at least 70% light transmission. Front side windows must allow at least 27% VLT. Rear windows can go below 27% VLT if the front windows allow at least 70% light. |
| Delaware | The tint percentage for side and rear windows are limited to 32% VLT. Tinted vehicles must carry a certification of compliance with the laws. |
| D.C. | Sedans are limited to 70% front side windows and 50% rear windows. SUV and Vans limited to 35% tint on the rear.Only the top 5 inches of the windscreen can be tinted. |
| Florida | Tint capped at 28% VLT. |
| Georgia | Laws bar any windshield tint. State bars tint darker than 29% VLT. |
| Hawaii | Sedans tint limit capped at 35%No limit for rear windows of SUVs and vans. |
| Idaho | Only the top 6 inches of the windscreen can be tinted. Front windows and rear window capped at 35%.Rear side windows limited to 20%. |
| Illinois | Tint of front and side windows only allowed with medical exceptions. Rear windows can be tinted with a non-reflective film. |
| Indiana | Tint VLT capped at 30%. Limits can be exceeded for medical reasons. |
| Iowa | Tint is limited to 70%, except for medical reasons. |
| Kansas | Allows non-reflective tint not exceeding 35% VLT. |
| Kentucky | Front side window tint capped at 35% and rear windows at 18% |
| Louisiana | Front side window limit is 40%, rear side window limit is 25%, and rear window limit is 12%. |
| Maine | Tint on the side and rear windows must allow at least 35% VLT. |
| Massachusetts | Law limits vehicle tint to 35% VLT. |
| Maryland | State limits vehicle tint to 35% VLT. |
| Michigan | Law allows tint on the top four inches only of the front side windows and windshield.No limit on all other windows. |
| Minnesota | Law limits tint VLT at 50% except for the rear windows of a van, pickup truck, or hearse. |
| Mississippi | State allows tint of 28% VLT or higher with a label indicating the percentage. |
| Missouri | Tint must allow 35% light transmission or higher. |
| Montana | Front side windows tint limit is 24%; rear window and side windows limit is 14% |
| Nebraska | Law caps front side window tint at 35% at rear window tint at 20% |
| Nevada | Tint must allow at least 35% light transmission.Any darkness allowed for rear windows. |
| New Hampshire | Law caps light transmittance at a minimum of 35% |
| New Jersey | Law bans tint on the windshield and front side windows. No darkness limit on rear windows. |
| New Mexico | Tint must allow at least 20% light transmission. |
| New York | Caps tint at 70% VLT except for the top 6 inches of the windshield, which can have darker tint. |
| North Carolina | Limits tint darkness at 32% |
| North Dakota | Windshield tint limited at 70% and front side windows at 50%.No limit for rear windows. |
| Ohio | No limit on the rear windows.Windshield tint is capped at 70% VLT and front side windows at 50% |
| Oklahoma | Tint must allow at least 25% light transmission. |
| Oregon | The tint mustn’t exceed 35% VLT |
| Pennsylvania | Any darkness allowed on rear windows.Front windows must allow at least 70% VLT. |
| Rhode Island | Tint darkness mustn’t exceed 70% VLT. |
| South Carolina | Tint must allow at least 27% light transmission. |
| South Dakota | Tint darkness mustn’t exceed 35%. |
| Tennessee | Windshield tint capped at 70% and other windows at 35%. |
| Texas | Tint must allow light transmission of at least 35%. |
| Utah | No limit for rear windows; Windshield capped at 70% and front side windows at 43%. |
| Vermont | Laws prevent tinting of front windows. Rear windows can have a tint of any darkness. |
| Virginia | Rear tint must allow at least 35% light transmittance; front tint, at least 50%. |
| Washington | 24% or more tint can be installed anywhere except the windshield. |
| West Virginia | Tint darkness mustn’t exceed 35% VLT. |
| Wisconsin | Front tint must allow at least 50% light transmission; rear tint, at least 35%. |
| Wyoming | Tint used on the side, and rear windows must allow at least 28% light transmission. |
| Puerto Rico | Tint must allow at least 35% light transmission. |
Conclusion
35% tint is the best tint for your white vehicle. It improves your vehicle’s aesthetics while providing privacy and protection against UV radiation.
State laws are the biggest hindrance against having a 35% tint on your vehicle. Violating state laws might lead to penalties and an order to remove the illegal tint.
Thankfully, most states have laws legalizing 35% tint.
