Window tint · 70% VLT · clear tint
70% tint: what it looks like
70% film looks nearly clear. People choose it for heat, UV and glare, not for looks. The number on the box is not what ends up on the car, though.
- Front side windows: 70% film on clear glass
- ≈ 56% gets through
- 49%–60% on glass of 70–85%. Below the 70% minimum for front side windows in Great Britain.
- Rear windows: 70% film on clear glass
- ≈ 56% gets through
- 49%–60% 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 70% tint looks like from outside
In daylight
Very close to untinted glass. Side by side with a bare window you might notice a slight darkening.
At night
Hard to tell from factory glass.
Seeing out from the driver's seat
In daylight
Almost unchanged, with a little less glare.
At night
Close to untinted glass for most drivers.
Common uses for 70% tint
- Heat and UV reduction using a ceramic or other heat-rejecting film
- Keeping a factory look while protecting the interior
- Heat and UV control where a darker look is not wanted
70% 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 70% film fitted.
| Glass | Glass VLT | With 70% film |
|---|---|---|
| Factory clear glass | 70% | 49% |
| Factory clear glass, typical | 80% | 56% |
| Factory clear glass | 85% | 60% |
| Factory privacy glass | 15% | 11% |
| Factory privacy glass, typical | 20% | 14% |
| Factory privacy glass | 30% | 21% |
Is 70% tint legal in the UK?
| Window | Minimum light through | 70% film on typical glass | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windscreen | 75% | ≈ 56% | Too dark |
| Front side windows | 70% | ≈ 56% | Too dark |
| Rear side windows and rear screen | No limit | ≈ 56% (≈ 14% 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, 70% 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 70% 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 Clear 70%.
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 70% tint legal on front windows in the UK?
Probably not on its own merits. The 70% limit applies to the light the whole window lets through, glass and film together. Factory glass typically lets through 70–85%, so 70% film usually brings the total to roughly 49–60%. Ask your installer to meter the window before and after.
Can you tell if a car has 70% tint?
Usually not from outside at a glance. Next to an untinted window you may see a slight shade difference, and a light meter will show it.
What is the point of 70% tint?
Comfort and protection. With a heat-rejecting film, a near-clear shade can cut solar heat and most UV without changing how the car looks. Check the film's total solar energy rejection figure, not just its VLT.
How much light gets through 70% tint on factory glass?
About 56% on typical clear glass (49%–60% across glass of 70–85%), and about 14% on factory privacy glass. Film and glass VLTs multiply, so a tint meter reads lower than 70%.