June 26, 2019

Car window tinting is a great way to give your car that WOW factor. But what are the benefits of car window tinting and how dark can you (legally) go?

People tint their windows for a number of reasons.

• Automotive window tint can reduce glare by up to 90 percent which can enhance road safety
• Solar control tint can reduce the heat of the vehicle which in turn reduces the need for air-conditioning, making fuel consumption more effective.
• Tinting blocks the UV radiation not only protecting you and your passengers but also reducing damage the sun can do to the vehicle interior over time
• Tinting adds privacy
• To enhance the look of the vehicle

States and Territories, including Perth, Western Australia, have different laws and regulations when it comes to tinted windows. It is the vehicle owner’s responsibility to comply with these regulations, so you need to check them carefully before choosing whether to apply a window tint to your vehicle and when you do decide, which type to apply.

Applying a tint that breaches the legal limit will render your vehicle as non-roadworthy, so always check local government regulations before having tint applied and keep in mind that regulations and laws may change over time.

You should also be aware that if you are purchasing a vehicle with tint already fitted, once you take ownership of that car, it is your responsibility to ensure the existing tint is legal.

In all states and territories, the front windscreen must not have any additional window film applied to it, with the exception of a visor strip across the top section that does not exceed 10 percent of the windscreen.

Most regulations refer to a “Visible Light Transmission” (VLT) which describes the percentage of light that is able to penetrate through the window film to the interior of the car.

Current regulations for windows other than the windscreen

• VIC, NSW, ACT, SA, TAS and QLD: a minimum VLT of 35 percent applies to all side and back windows.

• NT: driver and front passenger side windows must have a resultant VLT of not less than 35 percent. Windows behind the driver can be tinted to a minimum resultant VLT of 16 percent.

• WA: driver and front passenger side windows must have a resultant VLT of not less than 35 percent. Windows behind the driver can be tinted to a minimum resultant VLT of 20 percent.

Window tinting can be provided on any of our vehicles purchased at Westside Auto Wholesale. You can view all of our available stock on our Website or give us a call on 08 6145 0099.