Tennessee was the eleventh state to introduce window tinting laws and passed the legislation governing all the laws and legal statutes in nineteen ninety. We’ve located and compiled all of the information that you’ll need in order to be in full compliance with all state regulations if you decide to have the windows of your vehicle tinted.
Tennessee State Automotive Tinting Rules
How Dark Can A Window Tint Be In Tennessee?
Windshield: The only tint permitted on a windshield in Tennessee is a single non-reflective tint that must be located above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.
Front Side Windows: Any tints fitted on the front side window of a vehicle must allow more than thirty-five percent of light in
Back Side Windows: Tints fitted to both back side windows must allow more than thirty-five percent of light in.
Rear Window: The rear window, if fitted with a tint must allow more than thirty-five percent light to enter the vehicle
How Reflective Can Window Tints Be In Tennessee?
Front Side Windows: No metallic or reflective tints are permitted
Back Side Windows: No metallic or reflective tints are permitted
Other Tennessee Automotive Window Tinting Rules And Regulations
Restricted Colors: There are no specifically banned colors in Tennessee
Side Mirrors: There are no side mirror restrictions in Tennessee
Certificate Requirements: Film sold in the state does not need to be certified by the manufacturer.
Sticker Requirements: The sticker identifying legal tinting is required to be placed between the film and the glass on the driver’s side window.
Medical Exemption: Special tints are medically exempt under state law. Any and all details can be found by consulting specific Tennessee law governing that exemption.
Tennessee Tint Law References
Tennessee Law Title 55 Chapter 9 Part 1
Exterior Window VLT Tint
How Much Does Window Tinting Cost In Tennessee?
The cost of automotive tinting in Tennessee depends on where you’re located in the state and the type of film being used. The price range is quite significant and can cost the average American family anywhere between one hundred and eighty dollars and two hundred and fifty dollars to have their car windows tinted according to state law.
All prices include labor costs and materials at fully insured and registered body shops, auto specialists, and garages, and while they may vary from location to location, they usually fall within the average state costs.
How Does Car Window Tinting Work?
When you tint a window, a lightweight film is applied to the inside pane of the glass. It is not applied to the outside of the glass. This is to protect the tinting from wear and tear, flying debris, and harsh sunlight.
The first layer will be a strong polyester laminate which should improve the performance of the windows. The polyester is a transparent film.
The next film will have tinting agents like metals and dyes, which create the shading effect. This is the layer that blocks UV rays to protect your skin from overexposure to harsh sunlight.
What Is The Best DIY 35% Tinting Product?
With so many options to choose from, it can be hard to find a tint that will actually work well on your car, especially if you buy it online. We have done a lot of research to figure out the best tinting product to apply to your vehicle yourself, and we recommend using the MKBROTHER.
Why Is This The Best?
We praise MKBROTHER so highly because of their easy-to-apply directions, their 99% UV blocking, and their scratch-resistant materials.
The MKBROTHER has a strong tint which allows in visible light but rejects the heat of the sun and the UV rays up to 99% while still sticking to the 35% restriction. This blocking doesn’t create a glare which means you won’t be distracted by the moving sunlight. The lack of glare also means that your vehicle’s interior won’t be affected by the sun rays, allowing it to stay showroom-ready for longer.
As the film is not made from metal fragments, you don’t have to worry about the tinting blocking any of your technology which normally relies on signaling.
How To Apply To Your Car
The tint is made of an adhesive film, which means all you need to do is apply the tint to the car’s window, with no special equipment on hand.
First, you need to clean the glass on your car to remove any impurities. Next, you want to cut the film to match your car’s window size. We would advise that you check their sizing section before buying, as you will want more than enough to cover your window.
After that, you can pull one corner of the tint’s protective layers to expose the adhesive. You will be given a spray solution. Spray this solution onto the adhesive side of the film and onto the inside of the window you are planning on tinting. At this point, depending on your state, you would apply the legalization sticker.
Lastly, you should place the film onto the window with the adhesive sides connecting. Then flatten out any bubbles which may have occurred in the process. If you have left any film on the edge of the window, you can cut it off with an extractor knife.
Pros & Cons Of DIY vs Professional Fitting
There is an obvious reason for doing a DIY fitting instead of hiring a professional, and that’s the price. DIY tinting is so much cheaper that it is definitely worth considering. This can help you either save money or allow you to buy better quality film without the higher charge that the professional will ask for.
However, there is a reason why professionals charge these higher prices. It’s because creating a seamless installation isn’t always easy. If you put the tinting on incorrectly, it won’t last as long, nor will it protect you as much as it should.
Medical Exemption
Tennessee does allow medical exemptions to allow drivers to fit darker window tints to their vehicles. Drivers who feel they may be medically exempt need to speak to the DMV and their physician about obtaining and filing the necessary paperwork to obtain an exemption certificate.
Once they have been granted the certificate, it is then the driver’s responsibility to ensure that the certificate is in their motor vehicle at all times.