What's legal
At FullMoon Autoworks, we install any level of tint film requested by our customers and are happy to accommodate your preferences. Understanding tint laws is an important factor in choosing the right tint, helping you determine the perfect balance of privacy, style, and legality.
Ontario
The guidelines on the tint level differ for Passenger/Light-Duty Safety Inspection Standards vs. The Highway Traffic Act (HTA). Generally, window tint tickets are given for a violation of either HTA 73(2) or HTA 73(3).
This law is as follows:
Colour coating obstructing view prohibited
(2) No person shall drive a motor vehicle upon a highway where the surface of the windshield or of any window of the vehicle has been coated with any colour spray or other colour coating in such a manner as to obstruct the driver’s view of the highway or any intersecting highway. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 73 (2).
Colour coating obscuring interior
(3) No person shall drive on a highway a motor vehicle on which the surface of the windshield or of any window to the direct left or right of the driver’s seat has been coated with any coloured spray or other coloured or reflective material that substantially obscures the interior of the motor vehicle when viewed from outside the motor vehicle. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 73 (3).
Source: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90h08
This law may be interpreted as prohibiting any tint that substantially prevents seeing in or out of the front driver's seat area of a vehicle. The rear side windows and rear window do not have any limitations on tinting.
Safety Inspection Standards:
This guideline used by licensed service technicians during a safety inspection require vehicles manufactured January 1st 2017 and newer to have 70% of light transmitting through the front-side glass, with or without tint. Vehicles pre-2017 manufacturing date may pass a safety with tint within the licensed technicians discretion. For windshields, tint of any kind is prohibited on vehicles manufactured after Jan 1st 2017. Pre-2017 vehicles allow a tint strip no more than 7.5cm down from the top of the glass. If your vehicle is not yet registered/plated with a passed safety inspection, window tint resulting in a combined film + glass VLT of less than 70% transmittance should not be applied to front door glass until afterwards. The rear side windows and rear window do not have any limitations on tinting in the safety guidelines. Note: Commercial vehicles (CVOR) must be Safety Standards compliant for annual inspections. Front door windows must transmit 70% of visible light to comply, and windshield tint is prohibited entirely.
Two Front Door Windows
Highway Traffic Act 73(2) and 73(3) applies to the two front door windows and front windshield. This law does not specify a VLT% (Visible Light Transmittance) so because this law is not specific, it is enforced with the discretion of the authorities. In our experience, the darkest tint level that is not “substantially obstructing the interior” is our 35% film.
Rear Half of the Vehicle (All windows behind the driver)
The Highway Traffic Act does not specify any regulations for the rear half of the vehicle. This means you can install our darkest film options on these windows legally.
Full Windshield
Highway Traffic Act 73(2) and 73(3) applies to the front windshield. This law states that any film can not be installed in “such a manner as to obstruct the driver’s view”. Because this law is not specific, it is enforced with the discretion of the authorities.
Windshield Sun Strip / Brow
In Ontario, sunstrips should be legal as long as they stay within the top portion of the windshield high enough to not obstruct the driver's view, and, according to the safety standards, do not extend below the AS-1 line. Since the AS-1 marking varies by vehicle year, make, and model, the allowable strip height can differ between vehicles.
Quebec
The guidelines on the tint level are outlined on the SAAQ website. They are as follows:
Front side windows and windshield:
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The front side windows of the vehicle must let in at least 70% of light when measured with a photometer.
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A strip no more than 15 cm wide may be applied to the top part of the windshield. No material or substance may be applied or sprayed on the windshield.
Rear side windows and rear window:
The rear side windows and rear window are not subject to these rules.
Source: https://saaq.gouv.qc.ca/en/handcrafted-modified-rebuilt-vehicle/tinted-windows
Two Front Door Windows
Quebec's laws for front side windows is that 70% of visible light must transmit through the front side glass when measured.
Please note that the law allowing 70% of light to transmit does not mean 70% tint film is legal for front door windows in Quebec. Any tint film once installed and combined with the auto glass is always a few percent darker. We have experience that 80% tint film can be safely installed on most front door glasses and achieve a combined result that is still above 70% transparency (VLT) and therefore is compliant and Quebec legal.
Rear Half of the Vehicle (All windows behind the driver)
Rear side windows and rear window are not subject to the same rules as the front windows and windshield, and therefore can have any tint level applied.
Full Windshield
According to the guidelines no material or substance may be applied or sprayed on the windshield.
Windshield Sun Strip / Brow
Windshields in Quebec can have up to a 15cm tint strip of any tint level when applied from the top part of the windshield.