Window tint · 15% VLT · dark tint
15% tint: what it looks like
15% film blocks about 85% of visible light. It looks almost as dark as limo tint from a distance, but lets through three times as much light as 5%.
- Front side windows: 15% film on clear glass
- ≈ 12% gets through
- 11%–13% on glass of 70–85%. Below the 70% minimum for front side windows in Great Britain.
- Rear windows: 15% film on clear glass
- ≈ 12% gets through
- 11%–13% on glass of 70–85%. Great Britain sets no limit for rear side windows or the rear screen.
An approximation drawn over a stock photo. Real film looks different with the light, the glass colour and the film type, so check samples in person.
What 15% tint looks like from outside
In daylight
Very dark. From a few metres away it reads as black; close up, in bright light, you may make out a headrest or the outline of someone sitting inside.
At night
Effectively black from outside unless the interior lights are on.
Seeing out from the driver's seat
In daylight
Comfortable in sun. The view out is dimmer than untinted glass but clear, and glare is noticeably reduced.
At night
Noticeably darker. Lit roads are manageable for most drivers, but unlit lanes, rain and reversing need more care than with lighter film.
Common uses for 15% tint
- Rear privacy without going fully limo
- Matching or deepening factory privacy glass on an SUV's rear windows
- Cars parked in the sun for long periods, combined with a film rated for heat rejection
15% film on factory glass
Film goes on glass that already blocks some light, and the two multiply. This is roughly what a tint meter would read with 15% film fitted.
| Glass | Glass VLT | With 15% film |
|---|---|---|
| Factory clear glass | 70% | 11% |
| Factory clear glass, typical | 80% | 12% |
| Factory clear glass | 85% | 13% |
| Factory privacy glass | 15% | 2.3% |
| Factory privacy glass, typical | 20% | 3% |
| Factory privacy glass | 30% | 4.5% |
Is 15% tint legal in the UK?
| Window | Minimum light through | 15% film on typical glass | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windscreen | 75% | ≈ 12% | Too dark |
| Front side windows | 70% | ≈ 12% | Too dark |
| Rear side windows and rear screen | No limit | ≈ 12% (≈ 3% on privacy glass) | No GB limit |
In Great Britain, for vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1985, the windscreen must let at least 75% of light through and the front side windows at least 70%. There are no rules for tinting the rear side windows or the rear windscreen. For vehicles first used before 1 April 1985, the windscreen and front side windows must both let through at least 70%.
The limit applies to the window as a whole, glass and film together. Because factory glass already blocks some light, 15% film is likely to take a front side window below 70%. The police and DVSA examiners use light meters, and windows that are too dark can lead to a prohibition notice stopping you using the vehicle until the tint is removed, a penalty notice or a court summons. Source: GOV.UK, tinted vehicle windows: the law.
In the US
There is no single US limit. Each state sets its own rules, usually with separate limits for the windscreen strip, front side windows, rear side windows and rear window, and some states treat sedans differently from SUVs, vans and trucks. Rules on reflective film and medical exemptions vary too. Check your state's DMV or the statute itself before you book, and remember that the limit usually applies to the glass and film together.
Compare 15% with other shades
See this tint on your own car.
The picture above is drawn over a stock photo. The studio renders tint onto a photo of your car, at your angle and in your light. Upload a photo, open Window tint and choose Dark 20%, or ask for 15% tint in the "Anything else" box.
See this tint on your own carBoth the visualiser and the render are approximations of how film looks. Ask your installer to show samples and meter the result.
Explained in our guides
Tint counts as a modification, so check what your insurer needs to know.
- UK car insurance: declaring wheels, wraps and other modificationsPrepare a clear modification list for your UK insurer, check acceptance and replacement cover separately, and understand why undeclared-change outcomes vary.
- How to preview car mods before you buy themAvoid expensive regrets: how to see wheels, colours, wraps and stance on your own car before spending, and how to check the parts will actually fit.
Questions
Is 15% tint too dark?
For the rear windows, most people find 15% a good privacy shade that is still easy to see out of. For the front side windows it is too dark to be legal in Great Britain, and it is too dark for the front in many US states. Whether it feels too dark at night depends on your eyes and the roads you drive.
Does 15% tint look the same as 5%?
From a distance in daylight they can look similar, because both read as very dark. Up close, or at dusk, 15% is visibly lighter: you can sometimes see shapes inside. From the driver's seat the difference is bigger, because 15% lets through three times as much light.
Can I put 15% tint over factory privacy glass?
You can, but the result is darker than either alone. 15% film on privacy glass of about 20% lets through around 3% of light, which is darker than 5% film on clear glass. Check how much darker you really want the rear to be before choosing.
How much light gets through 15% tint on factory glass?
About 12% on typical clear glass (11%–13% across glass of 70–85%), and about 3% on factory privacy glass. Film and glass VLTs multiply, so a tint meter reads lower than 15%.