Driving in Colorado? Before tinting your windows, discover the state’s detailed VLT laws—from allowed shades to medical exemptions. Stay legal, avoid fines, and keep your ride safe and stylish. Get the essential guide to Colorado’s tint regulations now!
Colorado Window Tint Laws at a Glance
Before getting deeper into the numbers, it would help to understand how tinting laws work in Colorado.
Why Tint Laws Exist in Colorado?
Tinting is classy and all, but too much darkness can often hinder visibility. The state wants to ensure that whilst you enjoy UV protection and privacy, those advantages do not hinder safety on the road. This is why legal window tint percentages are used in order to strike a balance between both sides.
What is VLT?
For Colorado, basically just the one word: VLT called Visible Light Transmission. VLT is how much visible light reaches your window after the tint is applied.
For instance, a 30% VLT means that 30 percent of the light passes through the tinting, and the window would be 70 percent lighter and brighter. Without the VLT percentage, you would be unsure whether your tint is legal.
Tint Percentages Allowed in Colorado
The main concern of the tint law in Colorado is how dark your tint can legally become. There are differences in regulations depending on the right percentages of tinting and the type of vehicle you are tinting, such as a car, SUV, or truck, and the type of windows you are tinting.
Front Side Windows
There are different types of window tints. Let’s start with the front side window tint.
Most strenuously enforced are the windows next to the driver and front passenger. By law in this state, the windows are supposed to have a minimum of 27 percent visible light passing through.
In other words, a moderately dark tint is allowed, but a heavy tint is not. A VLT of 30 percent is legal, while 20 percent would be exceedingly dark and would deliver a ticket to you.
In some regions, ceramic tinting is legal, while in other regions it is considered illegal. So make sure ot check your local laws.
Back Side Windows
In Colorado, the law is clear when it comes to backside windows. Whether you drive a sedan, SUV, or van, these windows must allow more than 27% of visible light to pass through. This standard ensures that your tint is not excessively dark, helping maintain visibility and safety on the road.
Any tint darker than the 27% Visible Light Transmission (VLT) threshold is considered illegal and could result in penalties.
Rear Window
The rear window in Colorado is regulated under the same standard as the back side windows. Regardless of whether you own a sedan, SUV, or van, the tint on your rear window must allow more than 27% of visible light to pass through.
This rule is designed to ensure that drivers maintain adequate rear visibility, especially at night or in low-light conditions. It also allows law enforcement and other road users to see into the vehicle when necessary, which is a key factor in overall traffic safety.
Applying a tint darker than the legal 27% VLT threshold can result in fines, failed inspections, or even being required to remove the tint. For rear windows, people usually opt for carbon or ceramic tint.
Windshield
Coming to the windshield film and sunroof tint parts, this is the most regulated part of all. In Colorado, either non-reflective film 4 inches along the uppermost portion of the windshield or the one corresponding to the AS-1 line of the manufacturer is permitted. All other tinting below this line obstructs the driver’s view of the road ahead and is illegal.
Reflectivity and Color Limitations
In conjunction with the VLT percentages, Colorado’s tinting laws provide that your tint has restrictions on reflectivity and colors. Let’s see what it includes:
Reflective Tints
You probably have seen the mirrored or metallic tints at some point. Such mirrored or reflective films are prohibited in Colorado because they cause specular reflection from other road users going in the same direction, especially 5% tinted.
Banned Colors
In addition to these, certain shades of tint are illegal in Colorado. Red, amber, and blue are banned because of their similarity to emergency or traffic-lights colors. This does away with confusion, thus enhancing the safety of the roads.
Medical Exceptions
There is no driver who is like the other. Because of this, Colorado has medical exemptions for sufferers of diseases, conditions, or other maladies from which they might need protection from the sun’s considering the damage it does to them.
Those who qualify
Conditions that make someone vulnerable to the exposure of too much extreme ultraviolet light, like lupus, photosensitivity, and certain skin-enduring conditions, may qualify someone. Darker tints may provide this far more critical protection.
How to Apply
In the event that you think you qualify, you will have to get a signed note from your physician and have this submitted to the state’s office. After approval, you will receive documentation that can remain in the vehicle. That way, if stopped by law enforcement, you can produce your exemption and avoid penalties.
Penalties for Illegal Window Tint
Not breaking the rules is one thing, but what happens if you do? Well, Colorado does not take illegal window tints lightly.
Types of Penalties
Your fines might start from approximately 50-100 dollars and then go higher, depending on the situation. Quite often, you may be given a fix-it ticket, meaning you need to either take off or replace the tint to comply with the laws.
Repeat Offenses
You will definitely notice a more severe consequence if you commit similar offenses over time. Such offenses also lead to accumulating bigger fines and much graver problems in law. Paying several penalties for illegal tint is probably the last thing you want to be involved in.
Benefits of Staying Within Legal Limits
It may seem boring to follow laws, but it has great benefits in applying window tints to your windows.
Peace of Mind
First, a driver has peace of mind during those moments when he is not worrying about being stopped or unnecessarily fined because his tint is legal.
Safety and Insurance
Legal tint gives you clear visibility and keeps your insurance premiums safer. Some insurance companies may not repay you if your vehicle has been modified illegally. So, well, just avoid all the headaches and go by the law.
FAQs
Q1. Does factory tint need to be measured along with applied tint?
Depends. Factory tint counts as part of your total VLT percentage. If you add extra, you need to measure the new percentage with the factory tint to make sure they are within the legal standard.
Q2. Does the tint for medical purposes apply to the windshield?
Yes. Windshields can get tinted on a medical exemption, but not without prior approval. Some form of documentation must be kept in the car with the owner.
Q3: Do you offer custom sizes and tint levels?
Yes, we do. We provide a wide range of customization options for both sizes and tint levels. Our expert team will work closely with you to ensure the window films are tailored to your exact specifications.
Q4: What is your minimum order quantity (MOQ) for window tint films?
Our standard MOQ is 10 rolls. However, we are happy to accommodate smaller orders for new customers looking to evaluate our product quality.
Conclusion
Colorado sun too intense? Premium window tint film is your car’s invisible shield. It can block brutal UV rays, reduce interior heat by up to 60%, and protect your cabin from fading and cracking.
Stay compliant with state laws while enjoying enhanced privacy, glare reduction, and cooler summers. Upgrade your comfort and safety. Choose certified tints from trusted brands for guaranteed performance and peace of mind.
Get Your Legal Window Tint With CarLikeFilm Premium Tints Today!
Get the perfect balance of style, comfort, and compliance with CarLikeFilm Premium Tints. Designed to meet Colorado window tint laws, our films block harmful UV rays, reduce glare, and keep your ride cooler without risking fines.
Contact us today and enjoy legal, long-lasting protection on every drive!
