Chris Hammons | November 8, 2024 | Oklahoma Law
Tinted windows aren’t legal in every state. In fact, some laws differ on whether windows can be tinted and how much tint is legal. These laws can even affect you if you primarily drive your car in one state but take it to another.
The main reason why laws limit the amount of tint allowed on windows is to prevent car accidents. The more heavily tinted a window is, the harder it is to see other vehicles and pedestrians. In Oklahoma, the state’s window tinting laws are designed to split the difference between keeping roads safe and giving drivers privacy.
Oklahoma Tint Laws
The window tint laws in Oklahoma are divided between two types of vehicles: passenger vehicles and multi-purpose vehicles. The former category includes sedans and coupes, while the latter variety consists of the following:
- SUVs
- RVs
- Vans
- Pickup trucks
- Campers
Typically, these multi-purpose vehicles are larger, and the driver often does not have a clear line of sight behind them when looking through their rear-view mirrors (if they even have any).
Passenger Vehicles
The front windshield in passenger vehicles may have a non-reflective tint that sits above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line (or within the top five inches of the window). That primarily leaves the front window untinted for high visibility. All other windows in a passenger vehicle may have up to 25% tint darkness, meaning 25% of light must be able to enter the window at all times.
Multi-Purpose Vehicles
The legal tint in Oklahoma for the front windshield and front seat side windows of multi-purpose vehicles is identical to the laws for passenger vehicles. However, the laws differ considerably for other windows.
Oklahoma laws permit any level of tint on the side windows in the back seat and rear windows, effectively meaning that the driver cannot see outside the vehicle through those windows.
Side Mirrors
If a vehicle has any level of tinting on its back windows, even if they are barely tinted, it must have two functioning side mirrors.
Colored Tint
According to state law, while vehicles can have windows that are essentially blacked out, the tint cannot be any other color.
Medical Exemptions
There is one notable exception to these laws. Drivers can be granted medical exemptions that allow them to install darker tints than what is normally permitted.
The exemption excludes the driver who requires it and a specific vehicle. As such, no one but the person with the exemption can drive that vehicle. If they are pulled over, they must present the exemption to law enforcement.
Window Tint Enforcement
Police officers can potentially write a ticket or even impound a vehicle with improperly tinted windows. However, Oklahoma’s enforcement of window tinting laws is somewhat limited.
That is, in part, because the state does not require yearly inspections. In turn, the state can only determine whether a vehicle’s windows have been illegally tinted when it is pulled over.
Similarly, though manufacturers must certify that all tint film sold in the state meets the legal limit, drivers are not required to get a sticker that confirms the windows are legally tinted.
Tinting Windows In Oklahoma
If you are interested in tinting your windows in Oklahoma, state laws make it relatively easy to do so. Manufacturers are required to sell tint that meets state standards, and the laws are relatively lenient overall.
Contact Our Car Accident Lawyers at Laird Hammons Laird Trial Lawyers for a Free Consultation
For more information, please contact an experienced car accident lawyer at Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today. Our law office is located in Oklahoma City.
We proudly serve Oklahoma County, OK, and its surrounding areas:
Laird Hammons Laird Personal Injury Lawyers – OKC
1332 SW 89th St,
Oklahoma City, OK 73159
(405) 497-0480