Window tint · 35% VLT · medium tint
35% tint: what it looks like
35% is the classic medium shade: a visible tint that most people find easy to see out of in every condition.
- Front side windows: 35% film on clear glass
- ≈ 28% gets through
- 25%–30% on glass of 70–85%. Below the 70% minimum for front side windows in Great Britain.
- Rear windows: 35% film on clear glass
- ≈ 28% gets through
- 25%–30% 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 35% tint looks like from outside
In daylight
Tinted but see-through. From a few metres you can see people inside and roughly what they are doing.
At night
Darker than factory glass from outside; with the interior lit, occupants are clearly visible.
Seeing out from the driver's seat
In daylight
Bright and clear, with less glare than untinted glass.
At night
A small difference from factory glass for most drivers. Reversing and unlit roads stay manageable.
Common uses for 35% tint
- The lightest shade that still looks obviously tinted
- A subtle, factory-plus look
- Comfort and glare reduction without much loss of night vision
35% 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 35% film fitted.
| Glass | Glass VLT | With 35% film |
|---|---|---|
| Factory clear glass | 70% | 25% |
| Factory clear glass, typical | 80% | 28% |
| Factory clear glass | 85% | 30% |
| Factory privacy glass | 15% | 5.3% |
| Factory privacy glass, typical | 20% | 7% |
| Factory privacy glass | 30% | 11% |
Is 35% tint legal in the UK?
| Window | Minimum light through | 35% film on typical glass | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windscreen | 75% | ≈ 28% | Too dark |
| Front side windows | 70% | ≈ 28% | Too dark |
| Rear side windows and rear screen | No limit | ≈ 28% (≈ 7% 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, 35% 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 35% 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%.
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 35% tint dark?
Not very. It looks tinted, but people can see into the car in daylight from a few metres. It is popular because it changes the look without making the car hard to see out of at night.
Is 35% tint legal in the UK?
On the rear side windows and rear windscreen, yes. On the front side windows, no: 35% film on typical factory glass lets through around 28%, and the front side windows must let through at least 70% of light in Great Britain.
Can you see into a car with 35% tint?
Yes, from a few metres in daylight you can usually see the people inside and roughly what they are doing. You won't see fine detail, and reflections hide more as you move further away.
How much light gets through 35% tint on factory glass?
About 28% on typical clear glass (25%–30% across glass of 70–85%), and about 7% on factory privacy glass. Film and glass VLTs multiply, so a tint meter reads lower than 35%.