Tint Law in Kentucky – 6 Important Things To Know

In 1994, the tint law in Kentucky was established. 

Today, most people will drive in their cars to reach the city of Kentucky, and everyone likes to put that fancy tinted windows in their cars but you have to understand the law, if you are a resident in Kentucky, at the southeast border of the Ohio River. The tint law in Kentucky is different and you should be aware of it.

1. What is a Tint?

To elaborate and understand the tint law in Kentucky, first, interpret what is a tint and what are tint laws.

And the answer to the above-mentioned question is – a tint is an internal/external layer of the glass surface that is added to the windows of cars, boats, residential buildings, or commercial buildings which are covered with a fine laminated film.

Dark glass materials are utilized on the inside of car vehicles to prevent the transmission of sunlight inside.

Unfortunately, most automakers do not include a tinted window as standard. As a result, car owners apply solar films, which drop the temperature inside the vehicle.

The tint safeguards the car’s interior from washing out caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

It is mainly made by a branch of a polyester called polyethylene terephthalate (PET) due to its clarity, toughness, stable dimensional structure, and capacity to take a number of surface-applied or embedding treatments.

These tints or window films are available in a variety of different range of grades, tints, thicknesses, and colors that are designed to address a range of issues.

Window films are a retrofitted update for an existent window that can be used to resolve problems with glazing, including the decrease of heat and glare, privacy, thermal insulation, signage, and branding, UV filtering safety and security, adornment, protection from graffiti, vehicle style and many others.

2. Visible Light Transmission

The quantity of visible light that passes through the glass according to the visible light transmission formula is known as visible light transmission (VLT).

VT is the standard unit of measurement for windows. The “visible light transmission” or (VLT) via windscreens is decreased by window tinting.

This can be a concern at night or when drivers need to be enabled to see through other cars’ windows to identify risks. Police might also prefer the command to identify any potential threats or passengers in a car.

As a result, restrictions that limit the amount of tinting darkness are present across several places.

3. The Tint Law in Kentucky

The Kentucky car-tinting law was first established in 1994. Based on the location you reside in, it discusses how dark or reflecting your automobile window tint should be.

The Kentucky law for tint windows or tint law in Kentucky was formed in the year 1994, and the darkness of tint is measured in VLT% or which is also termed as Visible Light Transmission percentage. And this window tint in Kentucky is allowed only through films.

Any tinted material that doesn’t pass the minimum light transmission requirements must be removed immediately.

Whosoever is found guilty of applying sunscreen materials in violation of this section will be charged with a Class B offense.

As of 2023, the Kentucky tint laws will vary according to the cars, whether you are driving an SUV, Vans, or a sedan.

For Sedan the Tint Darkness

• The Windowshields must be non-reflective in nature, and it is allowed above the AS-1 Line of Manufacturers.
• For Rear Windows, the film allowed must be more than 18 percent light.
• The Front Sides Windows are provided with more than 35 percent light.
• And the Back side windows shall be 18 percent in light.

For SUVs the Tint Darkness

• The Windowshields must be non-reflective in nature, and it is allowed above the AS-1 Line of Manufacturers.
• A line 5 inches below as well as parallel to the crest of your car’s windscreen, or an AS-1 line, is parallel to it.
• This is referring to the region above the rearview mirror, which is also referred to as the visor strips in most cars.
• For Rear Windows, the film allowed must be more than 8 percent light.
• The Front Sides Windows are provided with more than 35 percent light.
• And the Back Side Windows shall be 8 percent in light through the tinted windows.

4. Laws and Regulations Related to Windscreens

There are proper laws regulating windscreens tint shields in Kentucky.

The tint law in Kentucky elaborates that every motor vehicle that is driven on public highways, roads, and streets must have a windscreen in an upright, fixed position that is fitted with safety glazing in accordance with federal safety-glazing material specifications, with the exception of motorcycles and farming equipment.

Any tinted material that doesn’t pass the minimum light transmission requirements must be removed immediately. Whoever is found guilty of applying sunscreen materials in violation of this will be held in charge with a Class B offense.

Further, any sign, sun screening material, product, or covering connected to, positioned in, or atop the windscreen is prohibited when driving a car on a public road, highway, or street.

Exceptions to the Law

1. Sun screening substance along one strip at the top of the windscreen provided the substance is transparent. It does not interfere with the driver’s unobstructed forward sight space, as specified by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard and No. 205 as the AS/1 portion of the windscreen and a certificate or other form and submit to be displayed by law.

2. If the edge wings and side glass doors on either corner forward as well as or adjacent to the driver’s seat are composed of, wrapped by, or handled with any sun screening material or another substance or wrapping that has an impact on making the window non-transparent or that would affect the window’s transparency, any person who owns a motor vehicle is not allowed to use roadways like state highways or national highways registered under the Commonwealth.

3. If the total solar reflectance of visible light, observed on the non-film side, is no higher than twenty-five percent (25%) and the light permittivity, calculated for the visible light region, is no less than thirty-five percent (35%) then sunscreen materials may be used on windows.

4. The tint law in Kentucky also discusses that if the rear window of a car that must be registered in the Commonwealth is made of, covered in, or treated with a material that has the effect of making the window opaque, the driver is prohibited from operating the car on a public street, road, or highway unless the vehicle also has attached side mirrors on both sides.

5. Tint law in Kentucky on Motor Vehicles

On a public road, highway, or street, a person is also not permitted to drive a motor vehicle that needs to be registered in the Commonwealth if any of the windows behind the driver are composed of, wrapped in, or equipped with sunscreen materials, or any other goods or materials that would transform the color, enhance reflectivity, or lowers the volume of light that goes through the window.

Exceptions to the Law

1. When measured on an eighth (1/8) inch piece of transparent glass, the total amount of solar refraction of visible light from sunscreen material may not exceed 35 percent and must not be less than 18%.

2. However, multifunctional passenger cars are allowed to employ sunscreen materials as long as they have an overall solar reflection in the visible region of the light passage of not less than 8%  and not more than 35% (measured on the non-film side) and not more than 35%.

3. Perforated sun screening material must have a minimum light transmittance of 30% and a maximum total visible light reflection of no greater than 35 percent according to measurements with respect to current glass or film material.

4. When evaluated in conjunction with current glass or film material, perforated sun screening material must have a total visible light reflection of a minimum light transmittance of 30% required and no more than thirty-five percent (35%).

5. By dividing the area into sixteen (16) equal parts and aggregating the overall reflectance for those items or the maximum reflectivity from a product or material with varying levels of reflectance will be measured.

6. Any one of the portions’ measured reflectance must be greater than fifty percent (50%).

7. A person cannot put window tinting on a car if it doesn’t satisfy the basic requirements for light transmission as mentioned earlier.

8. A system for removing moisture from the windscreen must be installed on every motor vehicle.

9. This moisture may be from rain, snow, or other sources. The device must be built in a way that allows the vehicle’s driver to control it.

Tint law in Kentucky further discusses that the American flag can not be allowed to be ban by anyone on the rear window of any motor vehicle, even those owned by municipal or state governments, as long as the image is no larger than five inches by eight inches and is positioned in the lower corner of the window.

Nothing in this law shall be interpreted to ban or reserve the use of a window created of, treated with, or wrapped in,  a material or component in a way authorized by statutory provision or regulation if it was a part of the vehicle when it was composed and created, or the substitute of any window with a covering that complies with these specifications.

6. How Can Car Tinting Be Removed?

If you recently had a solar film installed on your windscreens and want to remove it right immediately, follow the instructions below. The glass is unlikely to experience any damage as an outcome of these procedures.

6.1 A Heat Source

The adhesive on the solar panel foil may be melted using a heat gun. The colored foil is easier to remove once the adhesive melts. If a heat gun isn’t accessible, a hairdryer can be utilized by car owners.

6.2 Clean Water

The glue that lingers on your glass after removing the colored foil can be removed using soapy water. You will have a crystal-clear, spotless glass at the conclusion of the procedure, allowing you to operate the vehicle with no problems.

Many car owners use a sharp tool to attempt to scrape the film. The same procedure can be used to peel the sun foil, however, there is a chance that you will scratch the glass.

7. Conclusion