SOUTH CAROLINA TINT LAW 2023 (SC)
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South Carolina Tint Law – Legal Tint Limit For Passenger Vehicles
Here are the key details on South Carolina’s window tint laws for passenger vehicles in 2023:
- Front Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line. The front windshield can only have a sunscreening device along the top 5 inches. No other tinting is allowed.
- Front seat side windows: up to 27% tint darkness allowed. Front side windows must allow at least 27% light transmission, restricting tint to 27% or lighter.
- Back seat side windows: up to 27% tint darkness allowed. Back side windows must allow at least 27% light transmission, also limiting tint to 27% or lighter.
- Rear window: up to 27% tint darkness allowed. The rear windshield must allow at least 27% light transmission and tint.
- Medical exemptions permit darker tint on front side windows with a doctor’s note.
- Mirrored or reflective tints are prohibited on all windows.
- Violating the restrictions results in fines up to $500 per window.
- South Carolina prohibits counties and cities from enacting different laws.
In summary, South Carolina allows 27% tint on all side and rear windows for passenger vehicles in 2023. Only the top 5 inches of the front windshield may be tinted. The restrictions are consistent statewide.
On this page we have done our best to collect all of the legal information necessary about the 2023 South Carolina tint law, including how dark the tint is allowed to be and how reflective the tint is allowed to be in South Carolina. Aside from the basics, like tint percentages, there are also additional car window tinting rules and regulations in South Carolina that we have made available.
South Carolina window tint law was first put into place in 1992 with South Carolina being the 18th of the 50 states to enact these tinting laws.
What does VLT Mean according to South Carolina State Law
The percentage of light that a window tint film allows to pass through your car windows is called the VLT (Visible Light Transmission), and each state has different legal allowable limits. The amount of light allowed to pass through your film and glass in South Carolina is very specific to the state and is different for Passenger Vehicles and Multi-Purpose Vehicles.
A HIGHER VLT means that more light is allowed to pass through the window tint film.
Example: a 75% tint will allow 75% of the light to pass through whereas a 5% tint will only allow 5% of the light to pass through, making the 5% tint a much darker film.
HOW MUCH DOES CAR WINDOW TINTING COST? The cost of tinting your car windows can be very affordable. If you want to learn how much it costs to tint your car, click here.
South Carolina Tint Law – Legal Tint Limit For Multi-Purpose Vehicles
- Front Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.
- Front seat side windows: up to 27% tint darkness allowed
- Back seat side windows: Any tint darkness can be applied several (unspecified) inches from the top of the window.
- Rear window: Any tint darkness can be used
Want to D-I-Y?
How to tint car windows. To D-I-Y, check out how to tint car windows yourself here.
We have created an article discussing everything you need to know about VLT and Window Tint Percentages for your reference. If you want to learn the difference between the tint levels and preview the tint percentages we recommend you check it out.
Other South Carolina Window Tint law Rules And Regulations:
South Carolina has a few other important things that you will need to consider regarding window tinting and we recommend that you check them out before deciding whether or not you tint your windows:
- Do I have to have side mirrors in South Carolina? Dual side mirrors are required only if back window is tinted.
- Is colored tint illegal in South Carolina? All tint colors are allowed in South Carolina except for Red, Amber and Yellow.
- What are the Window Tint Certification Rules in South Carolina? Film manufacturers need to certify the film they sell in South Carolina. Check with your dealer if they are using certified film.
- Do I need a certified sticker from the company installing my window tint in South Carolina? The sticker to identify legal tinting is required between the film & glass on each tinted window.
- Are there Medical Exemptions in South Carolina for Window Tint? South Carolina allows medical exemptions for special tint. For more details about the specific terms of the exemption, consult your state law.
Always remember that South Carolina tint laws can change on a daily basis and these rules and regulations may be interpreted differently on a city to city or county to county basis. We recommend double-checking the information contained on this website with your local DMV or local law enforcement agencies for accuracy. This information relating to window tint laws in South Carolina was last updated on January 5th, 2023. Tinting laws in South Carolina were enacted in 1992. In case any of our info provided is not up to date or correct be sure to contact us so we can fix it. Thanks!
South Carolina Window Tint Law Medical Exemption References
Signed affidavit by a licensed physician or optometrist must be in the vehicle at all times. The affidavit must state that the person has a physical condition making it necessary to equip the vehicle with otherwise illegal window tint. Affidavits must be updated every two years.
Want a complete guide for medical exemptions for tinted windows in all 50 states?
Click this button to be taken to a PDF file that will help you to understand the medical exemptions in all 50 states
State of South Carolina Information
South Carolina is a state in the Southeastern United States. It is bordered to the north by North Carolina; to the south and west by Georgia, located across the Savannah River; and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the 40th most extensive and the 24th most populous of the 50 United States and comprises 46 counties. The capital and largest city of the state is Columbia.
What is the Capital of South Carolina
The capital of South Carolina is Columbia
What is the population of South Carolina
The population of South Carolina is 5,084,127 according to Wikipedia as of 2018.
What is the area of South Carolina
The area of South Carolina is 32,030 square miles and ranks as the 40th largest state in the United States!
South Carolina Wikipedia Page
Checkout South Carolina’s Wikipedia page to learn all kinds of cool facts about the state!
Official South Carolina state Website
If you want to learn more about the laws in South Carolina check out their official Website Here
What are the main cities located in South Carolina?
Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Greenville, Columbia, Hilton Head Island, Spartanburg, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Beaufort, North Charleston, Rock Hill, Florence, Anderson, Bluffton, Fort Mill, Isle of Palms, Aiken, Pawleys Island, Sumter, Folly Beach, Greer, Conway, Murrells Inlet, North Myrtle Beach, Simpsonville, Goose Creek, Georgetown, Surfside Beach, Lexington, Orangeburg, Sullivan’s Island, Moncks Corner, Clemson, Gaffney, Greenwood, Parris Island, Easley, Seabrook Island, Walterboro, Irmo, Hartsville, Seneca, Camden, Edisto Beach, North Augusta, West Columbia, Travelers Rest, Edgefield, Mauldin, Blythewood
What are the main counties located in South Carolina?
Abbeville, Aiken, Allendale, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Colleton, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Florence, Georgetown, Greenville, Greenwood, Hampton, Horry, Jasper, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Lee, Lexington, Marion, Marlboro, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, Williamsburg, York
