Wondering how dark you can tint your windows? Want to know if having tinted windows will raise your insurance rates? Keep reading to learn about car window tint rules and how they affect your insurance.
Does Window Tint Affect Car Insurance in Ontario?
As long as your tinting is Ontario-legal, there’s no blanket, across-the-board increase in premiums. Premiums and coverage terms are outlined in insurance rules filed with the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario (FSRA). No general filed rule automatically raises premiums solely because windows are tinted.
That said, Ontario’s basic auto insurance contract, also known as OAP 1, requires you to let your insurer or broker know when you modify your vehicle in ways that may affect the price or insurability of your coverage.
Does Window Tint Affect Collision Claims?
Tinting won’t automatically affect whether an insurer will pay out on a claim. However, the insurer can examine whether illegal window tint contributed to the collision. A policy breach may affect a claim only as permitted by the policy and law, such as if you lied about tinting your windows when asked if your car was modified.
What Is the Law About Window Tinting in Ontario?
Section 73 of the Highway Traffic Act says you can’t cover your windows with materials that interfere with the driver’s view through the windshield or front side windows, or that substantially obscure a view into the vehicle through those windows.
Is a 5% Tint Illegal in Ontario?
Contrary to popular belief, the Highway Traffic Act doesn’t define what constitutes a legal window tint in Ontario, so there’s no mention of 5%, 20%, or 50%. It leaves that up to an officer’s judgment. If you’re not sure how dark is too dark for Ontario’s front-side windows, MyChoice recommends speaking with an auto glass shop.
- 50% tint lets through about half the visible light. This is not an official legal category in Ontario. On a vehicle built on or after January 1, 2017, the windows beside the driver would be too dark; they must have at least 70% combined VLT to pass a safety inspection.
- 20% tint is much darker and can make it hard to see inside the vehicle. It does not meet the 70% front-side-window requirement for 2017 or newer vehicles. It may be used on rear side windows if it does not block the driver’s required view.
If your car has working mirrors that offer a clear view of the road behind your vehicle, Ontario allows darker shades of tint on your back windows and an added privacy screen for the back of an SUV.
Window Tinting Rules and Safety Inspections in Ontario
The rules are clearer during an Ontario vehicle safety inspection. For cars and trucks made on or after January 1, 2017, the visible light transmission through the front side windows can’t be less than 70%. Windshield tint also can’t extend more than 75 mm from the top or beyond the AS line.
What Is the Penalty for Illegal Window Tint in Ontario?
The base ticket is an $85 fine for a section 73 offence under Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act. You’ll pay more once court costs and victim surcharges are included.
Will I Fail Inspection for Window Tint in Ontario?
Cars manufactured on or after January 1, 2017, can fail an Ontario vehicle safety inspection for illegal tinting. For more information, check out our guide to passing an Ontario safety inspection.
How Do They Test Window Tint at an Ontario Safety Inspection?
Ontario safety inspection stations measure the percentage of visible light coming through your tinted windows.
Can I Use a Tinting Calculator or Light-Meter App on My Phone?
The VLT of windows with aftermarket tint is a combination of the glass VLT and the tinting material. Many online calculators don’t account for this. Some offer a chart of common glass types and their corresponding VLTs, but it’s far from perfect.
Apps that use your phone’s built-in light meter are even less accurate. Screen size, sensor location, how you hold your phone, and external lighting all come into play. If an officer pulls you over or your vehicle is inspected, they’ll use a tinting meter most likely.
What Colour Tint Is Illegal in Ontario?
Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act prohibits coloured material on the windshield or windows directly beside the driver that substantially obscures the vehicle’s interior. The tint must comply with the visibility rules and any applicable safety-inspection standard.
Bottom Line
Ontario’s window-tint rules distinguish the driver’s forward view, front-side-window inspection standards and rear-window visibility. Check the current legal and inspection requirements before applying film, and tell your insurer about vehicle modifications when the policy requires disclosure.
Read More: Do Parking Tickets Affect Your Car Insurance Rates?