Tinted Windows

YourName

I understand you can't pass the NCT with a certain level of tint, however is it illegal to have your windows tinted about 60%??? Like could the guards pull you over and charge you for it or is it just a requirement to pass the NCT???

Bonito

I think, your windows, while tinted, have to allow 30-40% natural light through the window.

Atomic Pineapple

Its in the NCT manual:

Reasons for failure:
Glass in front side windows has a visible light
transmission level of less than 65%.

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

This applies the whole time and not just for passing the nct, a garda can deem your tints to be excessive also and have the tint tested.

Graham_B18C

65%, I assume it would need to be a very light tint to pass that. Mine are very light and I'm wondering will they pass the nct...?

Atomic Pineapple

Grahamo999 wrote: »

65%, I assume it would need to be a very light tint to pass that. Mine are very light and I'm wondering will they pass the nct...?

Yeh 35% tint is all thats allowed.

The tint is only checked if the tester deems it to be excessively tinted from a visual inspection, so they might not even get tested if they dont look like heavy tints.

Tefral

Under the "EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (PASSENGER CAR ENTRY INTO SERVICE) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2008"

It is actually illegal for your windows not to let in less than 70% light (ie tint level of 30%)

Under the NCT however, 65% light needs to go through (ie 35%) tint.

Which of course is absolutely crazy, but this is Ireland...

EDIT just re-read your original post again, under the construction, equipment and use of vehicles act 1963, it is illegal to have anything on your front 3 windows that will "obscure" your view of the road.

Under the same act, window tint can be classified as "inessential window sticker" which also makes them illegal.

Graham_B18C

Ah ha, cheers for that, I reckon mine are less than 35% anyway

YourName

Grand stuff, and whats the charge if they were over tinted, and does this happen often.

If it was the film stuff I presume they would just make you take it off.

Tefral

YourName wrote: »

Grand stuff, and whats the charge if they were over tinted, and does this happen often.

If it was the film stuff I presume they would just make you take it off.

Ive only known people that had to bring the car back within a certain few days to the garda station where the guard worked to see if they were off the window..

Black Beard

People are confusing the difference between light transmission and the level of tint.

The nct restricts the light transmission on the front 3 windows to 65%. Most tints will fail unless it was done in the last few months were window tinters were aware of the new regulations.

A 70% tint is the only one that will pass the new regulations, most car glass has a 95% tint in it from factory, a 70% tint will bring down the light transmission to 65% and be legal.

Tints are graded by the amount of light they let into the car, a 35% tint will let in 35% of light into the car, 20% will let 20% light in an so on. So the only tint that will pass the nct is a 70% tint on the 3 front windows.

The new reg's also mean that the windscreen can be tinted with a 70% tint, which was illegal before. Garda will have light testers to test tints on the 3 front windows on cars as well as the nct testers, the most they can do for now is tell you to take it off and may ask you to prove it's been removed.

YourName

Got ya, well I picked it up today and it just says dark on it, I don;t know if it will be hard to put on myself but I will give it a shot.

I was getting confused over the levels of tint all over the Internet, it wat really making any sense, but thanks for clearing it up.

Now does anyone know any good instructions on how to put this stuff on, I am just searching youtube videos, but other than that I don't have a clue, any tips???

Black Beard

If it's for the front windows as well, if it says dark then it will be illegal.

As far as fitting it goes, you can try it yourself but it will most likely look a really crap job, absolutely wreck your head as well as being illegal.

You're better off going to a tint shop and get it done properly with a warranty and it will be legal as well.

YourName

No I got a much lighter tint for the front side windows, Ill give it a shot sure because I have already spent the money

5500

Give it a diy bash. I only got a roll myself to do the rear 3 windows, If I can get one of the mates to take pics when I'm doing it I'll try and do a "how to" on it.

YourName

Yeh I think its worth a dash, all the video how-tos are saying stuff like don't try this at home but some are saying you could pull this one off yourself.

Usually with things like this people often say give it a shot, if your careful you shouls get it right, so I don't see what the issue with people giving it a bash themselves is.

Sure people pay upwards of a hundred Euro to get a few windows done, if I could do a decent job for a tenner then I would be laughing.

5500

I've done a heap of flat windows and never had a problem with wrinkles ect, my only bane has been large curves in back window's. Just make sure the window is spotlessly clean first, even the slightest spec of dust or dirt will give a bubble and look crap.