Window tint · 30% VLT · medium tint
30% tint: what it looks like
30% sits between the popular 20% and 35% shades. It gives a clearly tinted look with an easier view out at night than the darker films.
- Front side windows: 30% film on clear glass
- ≈ 24% gets through
- 21%–26% on glass of 70–85%. Below the 70% minimum for front side windows in Great Britain.
- Rear windows: 30% film on clear glass
- ≈ 24% gets through
- 21%–26% 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 30% tint looks like from outside
In daylight
Clearly tinted. From a few metres you can see the outlines of people and seats, but not detail.
At night
Dark from outside unless the interior is lit. Silhouettes may show against bright street lights behind the car.
Seeing out from the driver's seat
In daylight
Bright and clear, with glare noticeably reduced.
At night
Slightly darker than factory glass. Most drivers find it easy to live with on lit and unlit roads.
Common uses for 30% tint
- A tinted look with good night visibility
- Rear windows on cars driven a lot at night
- Matching the shade of factory privacy glass more closely than 20%
30% 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 30% film fitted.
| Glass | Glass VLT | With 30% film |
|---|---|---|
| Factory clear glass | 70% | 21% |
| Factory clear glass, typical | 80% | 24% |
| Factory clear glass | 85% | 26% |
| Factory privacy glass | 15% | 4.5% |
| Factory privacy glass, typical | 20% | 6% |
| Factory privacy glass | 30% | 9% |
Is 30% tint legal in the UK?
| Window | Minimum light through | 30% film on typical glass | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windscreen | 75% | ≈ 24% | Too dark |
| Front side windows | 70% | ≈ 24% | Too dark |
| Rear side windows and rear screen | No limit | ≈ 24% (≈ 6% 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, 30% 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 30% 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 Medium 35%, or ask for 30% 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 30% tint dark?
It is medium. It looks obviously tinted from outside, but you can see shapes inside in daylight. It is a step lighter than 20% and a small step darker than 35%.
Is 30% tint legal in the UK?
On the rear side windows and rear windscreen, yes, because Great Britain sets no limit there. Not on the front side windows: 30% film on typical factory glass lets through about 24%, well under the 70% minimum.
Should I choose 30% or 35% tint?
The difference is small: 35% lets through about 17% more light than 30%. If you want a little more privacy, 30% gives it. If you drive a lot at night or want the lightest look that still reads as tinted, 35% is the safer choice.
How much light gets through 30% tint on factory glass?
About 24% on typical clear glass (21%–26% across glass of 70–85%), and about 6% on factory privacy glass. Film and glass VLTs multiply, so a tint meter reads lower than 30%.