A new windshield or door window comes without the film the old one had. If you plan to tint it again, North Carolina’s rules are in one statute, G.S. 20-127, and they changed in 2025 in a way that matters for anyone who has a car inspected in Cary or anywhere else in the state. Here is what the law says, in plain terms.
The windshield: the top strip only
On the windshield, tint is allowed only along the top. It may come no lower than five inches below the top of the windshield or the AS1 line, whichever is longer. The AS1 line is a marking on the windshield glass itself; the installer can show you where it is on yours.
Below that line, the only film allowed is a clear UV-blocking film that does not obstruct the view. The windshield rule has no exceptions: the medical permits and the vehicle-type exceptions that apply to other windows do not apply to the windshield.
A word on the camera
On many newer cars the forward camera for lane keeping and collision braking looks out through the top of the windshield, just where a tint strip goes. Before any film goes on a new windshield, ask the installer how it will sit around the camera panel. If the windshield has just been replaced and the camera calibrated, see ADAS camera calibration for why the camera’s view matters.
Tell Impex the car and the damage. Impex checks the glass against your VIN and comes back with a quote and a time.
Side and rear windows: the 35 percent rule
For windows other than the windshield, the tinted window must let through at least 35 percent of the light. The law adds a margin for the meter: a reading over 32 percent is conclusively presumed to comply. Reflectance must be 20 percent or less, and red, yellow and amber film are not allowed at all.
There are exceptions. On multipurpose vehicles such as minivans and pickups, the 35 percent rule does not apply to windows behind the driver. Limousines have their own exception, and there is a medical exception permit for people whose condition requires it. A violation of the tint rules is a Class 3 misdemeanor under 20-127(d).
| Glass | Rule under G.S. 20-127 |
|---|---|
| Windshield | Tint only down to five inches from the top or the AS1 line, whichever is longer; clear UV film allowed below; no exceptions |
| Front side windows | At least 35 percent light transmission (over 32 percent on a meter is presumed to comply); reflectance 20 percent or less |
| Rear side and back glass | Same 35 percent rule, except on multipurpose vehicles such as minivans and pickups |
| Any window | No red, yellow or amber film |
The 2025 change: tint is off the inspection
Window tint used to be part of North Carolina’s annual safety inspection. Section 22 of S.L. 2025-47 (Senate Bill 391) removed it, effective December 1, 2025. Since then the inspection under G.S. 20-183.3 covers brakes, lights, horn, steering, windshield wipers, directional signals, tires, mirrors and exhaust and emissions devices, and no longer tint.
That does not mean the limits are gone. They still apply on the road, and a law enforcement officer can still act on a window that breaks them. The same law added a new rule, 20-127(g): a driver with tinted windows must roll down the driver’s side window when a law enforcement officer approaches, or the passenger window if the officer comes from that side.
After a glass replacement
- New windshield: the old shade strip goes with the old glass. Any new strip has to stay above the AS1 line or the five-inch mark.
- New door window: the new pane is clear unless the factory glass is tinted. If you re-tint it, keep to 35 percent.
- New back glass: on a minivan or pickup, the 35 percent rule does not apply behind the driver; on a car it does.
In Cary, Impex Auto Glass’s mobile service replaces the glass itself; the tint is a separate job. For the glass, see windshield replacement in Cary, side window replacement and back glass replacement. For the other rules about windshields and wipers in NC, the article on driving with a cracked windshield sets them out.
Tell Impex the car and the damage. Impex checks the glass against your VIN and comes back with a quote and a time.
Questions people ask
How dark can a windshield be tinted in NC?
Only the top strip may be tinted, down to five inches from the top or the AS1 line, whichever is longer. Below that, only clear UV film that does not block the view is allowed.
Is window tint still checked at the NC inspection?
No. S.L. 2025-47 removed tint from the safety inspection from December 1, 2025. The limits in G.S. 20-127 still apply on the road.
What is the legal tint for side windows in NC?
At least 35 percent light transmission, with a meter reading over 32 percent presumed to comply, reflectance of 20 percent or less, and no red, yellow or amber film.
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