California vehicle registration/tint question

JmanND · 06-13-2009, 06:51 PM

I know you are only allowed to tint your back windows in Cali but see a lot of people with the driver's/passenger windows tinted. Do you have to go through an annual vehicle safety inspection where they check tints or no? Also, is there any inspection when you first register a vehicle in california?

I ask because I'm about to get my car tinted on Tuesday and will be moving to California for good in September. I want to do a light (50%) on the front but not if they will just make me take it off when I register.

Any insight would be most helpful. I tried googling it but didn't come up with a yes or no.

200Duece · 06-13-2009, 06:53 PM

it's only illegal if you get caught. no annual insp

JmanND · 06-13-2009, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 200Duece

it's only illegal if you get caught. no annual insp

Thanks for the quick response. Happen to know if you have to get it inspected prior to first registering it?

Think there's a good chance I'll get caught with 50%? I wanted to do 35% but don't want to push it.

200Duece · 06-13-2009, 06:59 PM

they might have you smog the car but after that I don't think that the tint will be a problem. Check out www.DMV.Ca.gov

M4LF · 06-13-2009, 07:09 PM

I've had 5-8% limo tint on the back middle window as well as the back passenger windows without any problems.

You only get into trouble if you make your front driver/passenger windows too dark. 50% front is very safe.

Cops don't want to walk up to your car and not be able to see who's driving. So I would say 35% in the front is as dark as I'll go.

And yes, no annual inspection. If cop pull you over, it's just a fix it ticket. DMV doesn't really care what tint you have on. As long as you pay the registration.

200Duece · 06-13-2009, 07:14 PM

It is an excuse for a cop to pull you over. Just like not having a front plate. Dice roll

JmanND · 06-13-2009, 07:14 PM

Might have a problem, per the website:
"The vehicle must be inspected by an authorized DMV employee, law enforcement officer, or a licensed vehicle verifier. These inspections are most easily obtained by bringing the vehicle to the nearest DMV, where there is no extra fee charged for the inspection. For faster service, make an Appointment(s)"

Wonder what the inspection actually entails. Hopefully somebody who's had to do this will pop in this thread.

MrChessy · 06-13-2009, 07:20 PM

As long as the cops are able to see you through the tint on the driver side, they are cool with it. But, there are some that likes to play bad cops and haggle you.

JmanND · 06-13-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrChessy

As long as the cops are able to see you through the tint on the driver side, they are cool with it. But, there are some that likes to play bad cops and haggle you.

Good, I'm not trying to get limo all around, but I want something to keep the UV/Heat off my black on black oven.

200Duece · 06-13-2009, 07:32 PM

Bottom Line: It's illegal to have tint on the front windows.

The DMV Insp is just to check the VIN on the car is the correct vin that you're trying to Reg

khaye1 · 06-13-2009, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JmanND

Might have a problem, per the website:
"The vehicle must be inspected by an authorized DMV employee, law enforcement officer, or a licensed vehicle verifier. These inspections are most easily obtained by bringing the vehicle to the nearest DMV, where there is no extra fee charged for the inspection. For faster service, make an Appointment(s)"

Wonder what the inspection actually entails. Hopefully somebody who's had to do this will pop in this thread.

That's correct...when I brought my other car from florida, they actually came out and did a walk around.

MrChessy · 06-13-2009, 07:44 PM

Different states have different laws, you can always check your local agency on what is permitted.

JmanND · 06-13-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrChessy

Different states have different laws, you can always check your local agency on what is permitted.

I know what's permitted 70%VLT on the front

Quote:

That's correct...when I brought my other car from florida, they actually came out and did a walk around.

Did you have any tint on?

E90RWC · 06-13-2009, 08:04 PM

Had 5% all around. No probs. Just removed it for the lease return.

Don't even worry about it.

khaye1 · 06-13-2009, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JmanND

Did you have any tint on?

nope...but i had my windows rolled down and they did not ask for me to roll it up. just depends on the rep though

to_riffic · 06-13-2009, 09:52 PM

50% is rather light, u'll be fine.

xsb00st · 06-13-2009, 10:33 PM

I had my front windows tinted on my pathfinder when I registered it in CA. They did a walk around inspection and didn't say anything about it.

Blk07335i · 06-13-2009, 11:11 PM

I have 40% on all four windows and back and just registered my car in CA coming from NJ. I didn't have any problems.

JmanND · 06-14-2009, 01:30 PM

Hmm, now I'm wondering if I should just suck it up and do 35% up front like I really want...ahh decisions. Thanks for your help guys.

isugoo · 06-14-2009, 02:10 PM

I'm in CA but from VA this Feb.
VA legal tine is 50% front, 35% rear so I had VA legal tint.
I went to DMV to register:
1. they asked me to go to smog test (car was 2008 but out-of-state purchase car MUST go smog test) so do it before DMV visit (smog takes takes 25-40 mins).
2. DMV will do visual inspection before they register your car. They didn't mention a thing about tint.

Like others say, a lot of us have no front license plate (illegal) and have tint on the front window (illegal) but never got in any trouble. It's just types of things, you get fixup tickets for IF YOU get pull over for something else (speeding etc).

So don't worry about your tint especially when you do subtle 50%
IF YOU EVER GET PULL OVER FOR THAT: just tell them it's legal tint in Utah where you just moved from.
And you didn't know that you can't have front tint in CA.

One more thing:
You'll need to take new written test if you need new CA driver's license. Just be aware of that. =)

200Duece · 06-14-2009, 02:17 PM

JmanND · 06-14-2009, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isugoo

I'm in CA but from VA this Feb.
VA legal tine is 50% front, 35% rear so I had VA legal tint.
I went to DMV to register:
1. they asked me to go to smog test (car was 2008 but out-of-state purchase car MUST go smog test) so do it before DMV visit (smog takes takes 25-40 mins).
2. DMV will do visual inspection before they register your car. They didn't mention a thing about tint.

Like others say, a lot of us have no front license plate (illegal) and have tint on the front window (illegal) but never got in any trouble. It's just types of things, you get fixup tickets for IF YOU get pull over for something else (speeding etc).

So don't worry about your tint especially when you do subtle 50%
IF YOU EVER GET PULL OVER FOR THAT: just tell them it's legal tint in Utah where you just moved from.
And you didn't know that you can't have front tint in CA.

One more thing:
You'll need to take new written test if you need new CA driver's license. Just be aware of that. =)

Ha are you serious? No matter what?

06-13-2009, 06:51 PM	#1
JmanND Member 6 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	California vehicle registration/tint question I know you are only allowed to tint your back windows in Cali but see a lot of people with the driver's/passenger windows tinted. Do you have to go through an annual vehicle safety inspection where they check tints or no? Also, is there any inspection when you first register a vehicle in california? I ask because I'm about to get my car tinted on Tuesday and will be moving to California for good in September. I want to do a light (50%) on the front but not if they will just make me take it off when I register. Any insight would be most helpful. I tried googling it but didn't come up with a yes or no.
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06-13-2009, 06:53 PM	#2
200Duece Colonel 45 Rep 2,575 Posts Drives: '73 2002,'18 X5 35d,'17 328d T Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: A Whale's Vagina, Ca iTrader: (5)	it's only illegal if you get caught. no annual insp __________________ 1988 E28 535is Euro Conversion --- sold 2009 E90 335 6MT --- sold 2003 E39 540iT Msport --- sold
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06-13-2009, 06:59 PM	#4
200Duece Colonel 45 Rep 2,575 Posts Drives: '73 2002,'18 X5 35d,'17 328d T Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: A Whale's Vagina, Ca iTrader: (5)	they might have you smog the car but after that I don't think that the tint will be a problem. Check out www.DMV.Ca.gov __________________ 1988 E28 535is Euro Conversion --- sold 2009 E90 335 6MT --- sold 2003 E39 540iT Msport --- sold
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06-13-2009, 07:09 PM	#5
M4LF Second Lieutenant 47 Rep 253 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	I've had 5-8% limo tint on the back middle window as well as the back passenger windows without any problems. You only get into trouble if you make your front driver/passenger windows too dark. 50% front is very safe. Cops don't want to walk up to your car and not be able to see who's driving. So I would say 35% in the front is as dark as I'll go. And yes, no annual inspection. If cop pull you over, it's just a fix it ticket. DMV doesn't really care what tint you have on. As long as you pay the registration.
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06-13-2009, 07:14 PM	#6
200Duece Colonel 45 Rep 2,575 Posts Drives: '73 2002,'18 X5 35d,'17 328d T Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: A Whale's Vagina, Ca iTrader: (5)	It is an excuse for a cop to pull you over. Just like not having a front plate. Dice roll __________________ 1988 E28 535is Euro Conversion --- sold 2009 E90 335 6MT --- sold 2003 E39 540iT Msport --- sold
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06-13-2009, 07:20 PM	#8
MrChessy Magical Pill... 158 Rep 12,775 Posts Drives: wreckless Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Smallville iTrader: (2)	As long as the cops are able to see you through the tint on the driver side, they are cool with it. But, there are some that likes to play bad cops and haggle you.
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06-13-2009, 07:32 PM	#10
200Duece Colonel 45 Rep 2,575 Posts Drives: '73 2002,'18 X5 35d,'17 328d T Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: A Whale's Vagina, Ca iTrader: (5)	Bottom Line: It's illegal to have tint on the front windows. The DMV Insp is just to check the VIN on the car is the correct vin that you're trying to Reg __________________ 1988 E28 535is Euro Conversion --- sold 2009 E90 335 6MT --- sold 2003 E39 540iT Msport --- sold
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06-13-2009, 07:44 PM	#12
MrChessy Magical Pill... 158 Rep 12,775 Posts Drives: wreckless Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Smallville iTrader: (2)	Different states have different laws, you can always check your local agency on what is permitted.
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06-13-2009, 08:04 PM	#14
E90RWC What you know about the twins? 20 Rep 989 Posts Drives: bmw Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: CA iTrader: (1)	Had 5% all around. No probs. Just removed it for the lease return. Don't even worry about it.
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06-13-2009, 09:52 PM	#16
to_riffic Lieutenant General 3072 Rep 13,776 Posts Drives: rwd Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SoCal iTrader: (38)	50% is rather light, u'll be fine. __________________ ~loud noises~
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06-13-2009, 10:33 PM	#17
xsb00st Lieutenant Colonel 187 Rep 1,638 Posts Drives: Slow Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Earth iTrader: (21)	I had my front windows tinted on my pathfinder when I registered it in CA. They did a walk around inspection and didn't say anything about it.
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06-13-2009, 11:11 PM	#18
Blk07335i Captain 73 Rep 945 Posts Drives: 2024 G87 M2 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Boston area iTrader: (4)	I have 40% on all four windows and back and just registered my car in CA coming from NJ. I didn't have any problems.
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06-14-2009, 01:30 PM	#19
JmanND Member 6 Rep 84 Posts Drives: 328i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	Hmm, now I'm wondering if I should just suck it up and do 35% up front like I really want...ahh decisions. Thanks for your help guys.
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06-14-2009, 02:10 PM	#20
isugoo Major General 249 Rep 6,125 Posts Drives: 991.2 GTS Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (73)	I'm in CA but from VA this Feb. VA legal tine is 50% front, 35% rear so I had VA legal tint. I went to DMV to register: 1. they asked me to go to smog test (car was 2008 but out-of-state purchase car MUST go smog test) so do it before DMV visit (smog takes takes 25-40 mins). 2. DMV will do visual inspection before they register your car. They didn't mention a thing about tint. Like others say, a lot of us have no front license plate (illegal) and have tint on the front window (illegal) but never got in any trouble. It's just types of things, you get fixup tickets for IF YOU get pull over for something else (speeding etc). So don't worry about your tint especially when you do subtle 50% IF YOU EVER GET PULL OVER FOR THAT: just tell them it's legal tint in Utah where you just moved from. And you didn't know that you can't have front tint in CA. One more thing: You'll need to take new written test if you need new CA driver's license. Just be aware of that. =) __________________ PAST: F80 M3 ZCP \| 911.1 C2S \| F10 M5 ZCP \| E70 X5M \| E90 M3 \| E46 M3 \| E36 M3
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06-14-2009, 02:17 PM	#21
200Duece Colonel 45 Rep 2,575 Posts Drives: '73 2002,'18 X5 35d,'17 328d T Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: A Whale's Vagina, Ca iTrader: (5)	__________________ 1988 E28 535is Euro Conversion --- sold 2009 E90 335 6MT --- sold 2003 E39 540iT Msport --- sold
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