Laws on Window Tinting in Denver, CO

June 18, 2022

Tinted windows are a popular choice for many reasons. The color can add a sleek look with an air of mystery to any vehicle. Choosing to tint your windows in Denver, Colorado, can also bring many benefits to you and your vehicle’s interior. Whether you are looking for protection from UV rays or are drawn to the aesthetic, applying window tinting to your auto glass is an excellent choice for any Denver, Colorado, car owner.

In this article, we will review the top specs of window tinting, quickly touching on how window tint is applied to auto glass. We will also discuss the Colorado state laws for window tinting in Denver and explore some of the benefits window tinting provides. Denver locals get a unique peek at the end of this article at one of the most trusted auto glass companies in the area, Complete Auto Glass. Let’s dive in!

What is Window Tinting?

Window tinting is defined as “a film or coating applied to windows to block out the sunlight and harmful UV rays.” The opacity of the window tint applied to your vehicle can range from a slight tint to completely blacked out. Some states allow window tint to be applied to any car window. In contrast, others like Colorado have guidelines for each window. State laws will also denote how dark the window tinting on your auto glass may be.

The opacity of the window tint is measured by how much light filters thru the tinted auto glass and into your vehicle. By calculating the Visible Light Transmission, or VLT, you can better understand the level of auto glass tinting. The lower the number percentage of the VLT, the less light that comes through the auto glass. This means a 60% VLT window tint allows 60% of the outside light into your car and blocks 40% of the light. Darker tints will always have lower numbers.

How is Window Tint Applied to Auto Glass?

Auto glass window tint can be applied via an adhesive film or a ceramic coating. The adhesive film is the most common style of window tinting. You can even find do-it-yourself kits with window tinting! However, correctly applying the tint so that it accurately protects your auto glass takes training. Installing window tinting with an auto glass professional in Denver, Colorado, like Complete Auto Glass, ensures a quality window tint that will last.

Ceramic window tinting has a longer life than film window tinting. It will also repel up to 3 times more infrared rays from the Sun than regular film. For car owners looking for the best protection on the market, ceramic window tinting is a great option.

Why Install Window Tinting in Denver, Colorado?

Window tinting brings a myriad of benefits to any vehicle. When choosing the best type of window tinting for your vehicle’s auto glass, speak with a professional about the installation. Here are some of the most popular reasons car owners choose to install window tinting on their auto glass.

Protection from Harmful UV Rays

Certain UV rays from the Sun can be harmful. Living a mile high into the atmosphere, like we are in Denver, Colorado means living with less natural, atmospherical protection than someone at sea level. Did you know that Colorado is also one of the sunniest states? With an extremely high number of days with strong rays from the Sun, paying attention to our protection is essential. Tinting your auto glass will give you an added layer of protection while driving. Especially helpful for frequent backseat riders like children, window tinting minimizes the glare from the Sun and acts as a sunscreen for everyone, and everything, inside the vehicle.

Enhance the Interior of Your Vehicle

One of the significant benefits of having your auto glass tinted is how it affects your vehicle’s interior. The interior of your car can become a heat box in the summer when parked outside with the windows up. Applying window tinting to your auto glass will block some of the warming sunlight, giving you a cooler car to jump into.

Window tinting will also enhance the life of the interior of your vehicle. The UV rays from the Sun can be just as damaging to the materials that make up your vehicle’s interior. By blocking some of the harmful rays, window tinting slows any fading from the Sun.

Added Protection for Your Auto Glass

Denver, Colorado, is a city that sees many hail storms. While window tinting cannot fully protect auto glass from a hailstone, it does add support. What could have been a shatter may be a crack, leaving you with less mess to clean up or an easier repair. Ceramic window tinting does bring more stability to the auto glass than adhesive film.

Customize to Your Style

The added dramatic effect window tinting brings to every vehicle is also a popular reason behind installing window tinting. There are many color options available for window tinting film. How would you customize your auto glass?

Increases Privacy

Privacy is a huge reason people install window tinting to their auto glass. Dark tints block unwanted passersby from seeing inside the vehicle. For this reason, limousines typically come with tinted auto glass. Daily drivers also find comfort knowing anything stored in the car is more shielded with tinted auto glass.

Laws on Auto Glass Window Tinting in Denver, Colorado

The state of Colorado holds auto glass window tinting laws regulating which auto glass can be tinted and the opacity, or VLT, of the window tinting. Here are the window tinting regulations for each auto glass in Denver, Colorado.

Front Windshield

The front windshield of any vehicle is allowed to have the top 4 inches of the auto glass tinted up with a VLT of 70% or higher.

Driver and Passenger Front Windows

Window tinting that has a minimum of 27% VLT is permitted.

Rear Side Windows and Rear Windshield

Colorado offers two options for the rear side windows of your vehicle. What you choose to do on the front windows will affect the rear side windows and the rear windshield.

If you tint the front windows, a VLT of 27% or higher is also accepted on the rear windows.

If you do not tint the front windows, any percentage of VLT is allowed on the rear windows. So, if you leave the driver and front passenger auto glass tint free, the back windows can be as opaque as you would like.

Auto Glass Window Tinting Color Restrictions

Colorado restricts the following for any VLT window tinting: metallic, mirrored, or any reflective effect, the color red, or the color amber. All other colors are permitted.

Other Colorado Window Tinting Laws

Colorado does not require film manufacturers to certify the film installed on your auto glass, nor do they require any stickers of verification. However, having that information on hand is always recommended.

There are no medical exemptions for Colorado’s auto glass window tinting laws.

Should you choose to apply any level of VLT window tinting, dual side mirrors are required for safety purposes.

Failing to comply with any Colorado auto glass window tinting laws could result in a Class B traffic infraction, a misdemeanor, or a fine of up to $5,000.00.

Local Professional Auto Glass Window Tinting in Thornton, Colorado

Complete Auto Glass works with highly skilled auto glass technicians in Thornton, CO., to provide mobile auto glass repair and replacement services. Your experience as a customer is just as important to us as the quality of work we provide. For over 15 years, Complete Auto Glass has been expanding service areas from their beginning in Thornton, Colorado, now servicing cities across the Denver metro area, including Westminster!

New auto glass requires time to correctly set into place before driving. For this reason, Complete Auto Glass offers free mobile auto glass servicing! While auto glass service averages about an hour or less, allowing the vehicle to be still for at least 3 hours after installment is optimal. We understand how busy a day can be, and repairing auto glass should not be added to your list of errands. Let us come to you, call (303) 993-2935!