Know The Law: Window Tint Laws In Georgia

Light Transmission

The basic answer to the question of legal window tint comes down to a numerical measure. This number is 32 percent—light transmission cannot be below that percentage on the left and right windows of your vehicle, as well as the rear windshield. And you're not legally allowed to tint your windshield at all.



But this general number doesn't account for the various exceptions, the 'wiggle room,' and the reality of how and when an officer might stop you on the road. Read on for more details about the rules.

Wiggle Room in Window Tint Laws

The light transmission measure can be faulty at times, and your method of measuring it can differ from someone else's method. If you're worried about this, you'll be glad to know that Georgia state laws offer some wiggle room to their tint limit.



This is a plus/minus 3 percent regulation, meaning you might be able to get away with 29 percent light transmission if you get in any kind of trouble with the law. To be on the safe side, though, you might want to aim well above the light transmission limit.

Articulable Suspicion

Even if you're driving with a legal amount of tint on your vehicle's windows, an officer could still pull you over on something called 'articulable suspicion.' This means they can subjectively decide that your windows seem too dark and pull you over.

And once a police officer pulls you over, they can check other things as well. For example, they could end up charging you with a DUI if the circumstances are right (or wrong, from your point of view).

In this case, you might have a tough time arguing that the stop wasn't a legal traffic stop. If you have dark tints on your windows, the officer could argue that they had articulable suspicion that you had illegal tints.



For this reason, you might want to get window tints that are a few shades lighter than the legal limit in Georgia. Tints at the limit won't harm you by themselves, but they could lead to a trickier defense if you get in legal trouble at a traffic stop.

Medical Conditions

If you have a medical condition that requires you to stay protected against harsh light, you could fall under one of the exceptions to window tinting in vehicles. This is called a medical exemption, and you'll need to fill out an official form to be considered exempt.

Medical Authorities

On this form, you'll need to provide some information about your vehicle and medical condition. The most important element is a signature from your physician or optometrist. They'll need to sign off on the statement that your condition requires you to drive with a tint of less than 32 percent light transmission.

Your condition doesn't have to be eye-related. The wording of the law is that you should be "required for medical reasons to be shielded from the direct rays of the sun." If you can handle your situation with the right sunglasses or other protective eyewear, though, your case won't count.

The Process

If the vehicle is not your own, you'll also need the signature of the vehicle owner. And finally, you'll need to sign off on the statement as well. Once you submit this form, along with a $10 fee, all you have to do is wait for approval.

Even if your medical exemption gets approved, though, you'll still have a limit of 23 percent light transmission on your right and left windows, and you won't be allowed to tint your windshield at all.

Factory Tint

The window tint laws in Georgia don't apply to factory tints, just tints you do after you get a car. This can be both good and bad.



The good news with this is that an officer doesn't always know right away whether your tints are factory or aftermarket tints. The bad news is pretty much the same thing—even if your car has factory tints that should be permissible under Georgia state laws, you could still face inconvenient traffic stops from officers who don't know whether your tints are legal.

Permissible Tints

You might be wondering about the tint at the top of your vehicle's windshield, which might be a light blue or gray in color. The reason this is legal isn't just that it comes with the car.

Georgia state law allows 6 inches of non-reflective tint at the top of the front windshield. This is to help guard you against rays of direct sunlight.



And if you're driving an SUV or van, you can use any darkness for the rear side windows and the rear windshield of the vehicle. This could relieve some curiosity from those out there with questions about vans that have an entirely opaque back wall.

Other Details of the Law

Certain colors of tint for your vehicle windows are outlawed in the state of Georgia, even if they pass the light transmission standards. These are red and amber—so go for other colors when choosing tints for your windows.



And the tint reflection needs to stay at or below the 20 percent reflective limit. 

Stay Informed

If you make any modifications to the vehicle you're driving, it's a good idea to check your state and local laws to make sure you won't get in any legal trouble. Be aware of the exceptions that might apply to you, and be proactive in making those exceptions official if need be.

And one of the best ways to make sure you're within safe limits is to work with professionals who know what they're doing.

When you use tinting services from Solarworks Glass Tinting, you can rest assured that we know the window tint laws inside and out. You can get started today with a free estimate!