NCT and Tinted Windows

woody

Does anyone know the NCT Stance on this as I cannot seem to get a clear answer.

My Windows were professional Tinted a few years ago...

And when they were done I was informed for the Front Windows a medium tint (20) was safe for night driving and within NCT Standards ?? and Limo Tint (25) for the rear windows was legal again for the rear.

Now my car is not up for an NCT for a year but I just wanted to clarify exactly what is going to fail me and if necessary do I remove the film and if so is this a messy process ?


I have my car the way I like it and to waste 250 Euros of tinting would be a shame...

Anyone done an NCT with tints recently or at all and what was your results ?

greglo23

there are no regulations in the NCT manual concerning window tints. as a matter of record a young guy recently had a case against him dismissed in Fermoy court over tinted windows as there was no legal statute to prosecute him under. i'll see if i can find the newsclip and post it later.

woody

Cheers

Litcagral

Nothing about tinted glass here:

http://www.ncts.ie/nctmanual.pdf

Section 10 Page 15

DaveD

My last car had meduim tints and had no probs doing the NCT.

Nedved85

Doing a bit of research and just wondering whether this law has changed in the past two years?

msg11

There is NO law to state that tinting your windows is illegal. However it is illegal to have anything on your windows that abstructs your view of the road. Ie Limo tint on the two front windows. If you can see the road without winding down the window its not illegal.

That's is from another good source.

Anyway if the above applies you should be fine !

Lex Luthor

as far as I know the only window that you cannot legally tint or would be stupid to do is the windscreen

Wibbler

msg11 wrote: »

There is NO law to state that tinting your windows is illegal. However it is illegal to have anything on your windows that abstructs your view of the road. Ie Limo tint on the two front windows. If you can see the road without winding down the window its not illegal.

Tints on front door windows are not wise though, IMHO.

Eye contact, or at least being able to see where another driver is looking, is an important piece of information in determining their intent and whether they have seen you.

Seth Brundle

AFAIK its like the 'orange' indicators and something left to the discretion of the individual tester.
The manual states:
"Check that there is an adequate view from the driving seat and that it is not interfered with by objects or stickers."

Item #4 on the failure list is "Objects or stickers in drivers direct line of vision." - this could be interpreted to be for either the windscreen of for all items.

Dangerdunf

I had my NCT today and i removed my driver and passengers tints only to find out when I passed my test that you cannot fail a NCT over tinted windows! You can have your windows tinted as much as you want and still pass!

miju

Window tinting is not currently something checked on an NCT. However, they are currently seeking submissions from the public on making it a part of the NCT test.

Fey!

kbannon wrote: »

AFAIK its like the 'orange' indicators and something left to the discretion of the individual tester.

Tester: Your indicators aren't orange enough.
Driver: May I see the calibration certificate for your orangometer?

I've had several cars with tints, and have never had any problems with NCT, DOE, or Gardai.

As for the windscreen, IIRC you can tint down to the level of the visors when they're pointing straight down, but no further.

bbability

Sorry to drag this one out of archives but has the test changed on tinting this year?

mondeoman2

bbability wrote: »

Sorry to drag this one out of archives but has the test changed on tinting this year?

changed in april look here page 23 http://www.ncts.ie/pdf/nctmanual.pdf
Glass in front side windows has a visible light
transmission level of less than 65%.

Ali Babba

British cops have a meter for checking the tint on the glass and make a big deal out of it if it's against the law, only a matter of time here too I suppose..........

RandomAccess

About time we had it, some of the tints are insane to be fair.

mullingar

RandomAccess wrote: »

About time we had it, some of the tints are insane to be fair.

I hope if they do that it will be "evidence based" not Gaybo saying that any tint is illegal.


For the NCT: ANY TINT will fail. Car glass has a natural tint of approx 70-75% opacity (ie blocks 25-30% light), NCT limit is 65% (blocks 35%)

SpannerMonkey

RandomAccess wrote: »

About time we had it, some of the tints are insane to be fair.

completly agree some are nuts like limo tints can see nothing at all , usually boy racer types :rolleyes: but the problem here is that they have a blanket ban on all tints regardless of how light they are:mad: some are barely noticible and a lot of cars come with very very slightly tinted windows as standard and they could be 50/50 with this which is totally rediculious

cormie

Hi, rather than start a new thread I'd thought I'd post here.

Can anyone tell me whether a car with vinyl on the back passenger windows and boot window, but the driver window and front passenger window and windscreen untouched, would pass the NCT with this window tinting rule? As far as I know, it's only applicable to the front windows, I'm hoping so anyway

Any feedback or clarity appreciated!

slimjimmc

You're correct, the tinting restriction applies only to windscreen and front passenger & driver side windows. All glass behind these is unaffected and will not be tested, in fact you can black out the other windows completely if you wish.

cormie

That's great to hear! Thanks for clearing that up

Scooby_Doo

Just to revive this thread ....

My girlfriends car failed last night on the tinted windows. The car actually came like this when she got it but they are VERY light and you can see in and out both day and night. The Tester told me that you cannot have any tints at all on the front driver or passenger side doors, yet the cert says "Not under 65%"??

SO can or can you not have light tints and if you can? What procedures, or machines do these NCT "mechanics" use to determine what amount of light is visible? Im sure that they cannot just use their eyes and make a judgement themselves?

Gumbo

Scooby_Doo wrote: »

Just to revive this thread ....

My girlfriends car failed last night on the tinted windows. The car actually came like this when she got it but they are VERY light and you can see in and out both day and night. The Tester told me that you cannot have any tints at all on the front driver or passenger side doors, yet the cert says "Not under 65%"??

SO can or can you not have light tints and if you can? What procedures, or machines do these NCT "mechanics" use to determine what amount of light is visible? Im sure that they cannot just use their eyes and make a judgement themselves?

although the law states the 65% figure, the tester was actually correct. becaus emost cars have some form of UV protection on their glass from the factory, when you go and add a tinted layer to that you over shoot the 65% barrier and therefore failing the test.

most tinters now have an NCT friendly tint but exactly how dark this is i dont know as i dont know anybody that has fitted it yet.

http://www.visionfx.ie/index.php?loc=13

Scooby_Doo

Thanks for the reply.

Looking at the Vision page it would seem that you can have some shade of tint on the windows so?? I would love to know if the NCT Test Centers have some sort of machinery to check the tint levels?? The tints on her windows to me would seem like some of the lightest that you can get?
That offer that vision are offering seems good but i'd worry about getting it done and going back to the center again to be told that its still failed? I think ill call them on monday and enquire if I get a cert or something to declare that they are the legal %.

Gumbo

Scooby_Doo wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.

Looking at the Vision page it would seem that you can have some shade of tint on the windows so?? I would love to know if the NCT Test Centers have some sort of machinery to check the tint levels?? The tints on her windows to me would seem like some of the lightest that you can get?
That offer that vision are offering seems good but i'd worry about getting it done and going back to the center again to be told that its still failed? I think ill call them on monday and enquire if I get a cert or something to declare that they are the legal %.

yes they have a hand held machine that clips to the inside and outside of he window and measures the amount of light that passes through.

just bear in mind that even the lightest of tints would fail the NCT.

can you notice the very very slight tint in my rear windows of my old S3 below :



if that light tint was on the front, it would fail, thats how little tint you are allowed.

Scooby_Doo

Ah perfect, that answers my question so!!

Looks like ill be peeling off tints next week, much to her disgust id imagine!!

Thanks for that!

Gumbo

Scooby_Doo wrote: »

Ah perfect, that answers my question so!!

Looks like ill be peeling off tints next week, much to her disgust id imagine!!

Thanks for that!

a friend of mine got some guy to do it recently.
came out to her job, removed the tint and cleaned up the glass for €20.

Scooby_Doo

Sounds Good kceire ....

If you still have the number id appreciate it if you can PM it to me? Was that in Dublin?

Thanks a lot!

Gumbo

Scooby_Doo wrote: »

Sounds Good kceire ....

If you still have the number id appreciate it if you can PM it to me? Was that in Dublin?

Thanks a lot!

yep, Finglas to be exact.
shes away for the weekend, so ill get it on Monday if thats not too late.

Scooby_Doo

Great ... I'd appreciate that. Thanks

antodeco

Kceire, can you send me that number too? Thanks

Gumbo

Scooby_Doo wrote: »

Great ... I'd appreciate that. Thanks

antodeco wrote: »

Kceire, can you send me that number too? Thanks

guys, she said this was the place she used :

www.windowtinting.ie

taintabird

mondeoman2 wrote: »

changed in april look here page 23 http://www.ncts.ie/pdf/nctmanual.pdf
Glass in front side windows has a visible light
transmission level of less than 65%.

absolutely correct all the test centres have light meters for this purpose

ntgar

Hello everyone, my car falled the nct on the window tint which i see has been a common problem since there changed the rules, the question i have is i have the vehicle data sheet from the manufacturer saying they were fitted then.
Does this still mean i will have to remove them even though they are factory fitted.

bbability

ntgar wrote: »

Hello everyone, my car falled the nct on the window tint which i see has been a common problem since there changed the rules, the question i have is i have the vehicle data sheet from the manufacturer saying they were fitting then.
Does this still mean i will have to remove them even though they are factory fitted.

What type of car is it?

I k

Compton

ntgar wrote: »

Hello everyone, my car falled the nct on the window tint which i see has been a common problem since there changed the rules, the question i have is i have the vehicle data sheet from the manufacturer saying they were fitting then.
Does this still mean i will have to remove them even though they are factory fitted.

if its not within the regulations, then, yes.

ntgar

bbability wrote: »

What type of car is it?

I k

Mk4 golf

ntgar

shblob wrote: »

if its not within the regulations, then, yes.

thanks for the reply, a little bit of a crazy rule when there fitted in the factory, but i suppose what ya gona do.

Atlantic Dawn

ntgar wrote: »

Mk4 golf

You wouldn't think this would have been supplied on a European Golf, what windows did it fail on? Are you sure the tint was not added afterwards to the front driver and passenger windows to match the rear?

greglo23

If they are removable then they are not factory fitted. Factory fitted tints are part of the glass, not stuck on the glass.

ntgar

greglo23 wrote: »

If they are removable then they are not factory fitted. Factory fitted tints are part of the glass, not stuck on the glass.

I have the paper work from where the windows are fitted from factory in vw

greglo23

You actually have paperwork showing that VW fitted illegal tinted glass to a european spec car !! Scan it and post it for us please ! I'd love to see that :eek:

slimjimmc

ntgar wrote: »

I have the paper work from where the windows are fitted from factory in vw

But are you 100% sure the paperwork says the factory tinted the driver/passenger front windows and windscreen though or does it only refer to the other glass? The NCT rule (which derives from sect 9.1.4.1 of EU directive 92/22/EEC) only applies to driver, passenger and windscreen glass.

Assuming of course you car doesn't pre-date the regs

bbability

greglo23 wrote: »

You actually have paperwork showing that VW fitted illegal tinted glass to a european spec car !! Scan it and post it for us please ! I'd love to see that :eek:

More than likely your glass was tinted by the garage you bought it from rather than the factory. You were probably told it was factory fitted but in reality it wasn't.
I'm afraid you will have to have the tint removed to pass the nct.

ntgar

greglo23 wrote: »

You actually have paperwork showing that VW fitted illegal tinted glass to a european spec car !! Scan it and post it for us please ! I'd love to see that :eek:

Id like to correct you in saying it's illegal when something is factory fitted its not illegal the new Nct rules make it illeagll if the car was in England it would be perfect, it was perfect until the Nct changed there rules in april thats what my question is, you see merc's with the same grade i have, ive a friend who has a focus and he same shade (his cars not old enough for nct yet be interesting to see wat happens when its time comes)

Wondering has anyone with factory tints come across the same problem with the new Nct rule.

ntgar

bbability wrote: »

More than likely your glass was tinted by the garage you bought it from rather than the factory. You were probably told it was factory fitted but in reality it wasn't.
I'm afraid you will have to have the tint removed to pass the nct.

Yeah id agree with you there the vehicle data sheet states side and rear tints but as you said theres nothing to say where it was done.

A vehicle data sheet states what your car has and hasnt got fitted from factory i had to get this from main dealer, just for people who werent sure what it was.

bbability

Interesting this is still not covered under the road traffic act. If you drive a car less than four years old you can tint your windows. If you drive a commercial vehicle you can have tinted windows. The only law I can see covering this NCT rule article 34 section 2b of the road traffic act. Its a bit Irish if you ask me.

slimjimmc

ntgar wrote: »

Id like to correct you in saying it's illegal when something is factory fitted its not illegal the new Nct rules make it illeagll if the car was in England it would be perfect, it was perfect until the Nct changed there rules in april thats what my question is, you see merc's with the same grade i have, ive a friend who has a focus and he same shade (his cars not old enough for nct yet be interesting to see wat happens when its time comes)

Wondering has anyone with factory tints come across the same problem with the new Nct rule.

Are you really really sure about that, because even those involved in the tinting industry over there seem to think otherwise, here's just one example:
http://www.shropshiretints.co.uk/legal.htm
UK windscreen min 75%, front side windows min 70%
Ireland windscreen / front side windows min 65%

So, it actually looks like Ireland allows a darker tint than the UK.

Anyway, since your complaint is about factory fitted glass, since 1992 no vehicle manufacturer has got approval for glass which allows less than 75% VLT on the windscreen and 70% VLT on other glass affecting the driver's view. So every new vehicle launched must comply with those regs.
MK4 Golf was launched in 1999, type-approval probably gained a year or two before, definitely after 1992 for sure, so it can't legally have been fitted with dark tints and sold in the EU.
Any progress on posting that certification as greglo23 requested yesterday?

ozmo

Bought car like this - 2005 Prius - passed last nct - Failed this time on side windows - probably fair enough.

But NCT says fail also on front windscreeen tint - but there is no tint on windscreen. I checked again - there is no film applied and it looks clear.


Could they be failing on the sun visor? Which is part of the glass and cannot as far I can see be easily removed?




thanks.

bbability

Go back to test centre and clarify what excatly failed the test. Is that retractable? Ask for a supervisor. Sorry i couldn't resist... LOL