A Guide to the Legality of Ceramic Tint in Georgia

Ceramic Tint Basics

Ceramic tint is popular among many vehicle owners and is sometimes referred to as nano-ceramic film, and these terms are frequently used interchangeably. Ceramic tint is made of ceramic particles, which are non-metallic, that are put into window film. Since ceramic doesn’t have any metallic particles, ceramic tint isn’t able to reduce glare as much as regular tinted car windows. For many people, however, this is a benefit because although the films that are electrochromatic are able to make tinting films darker, they are also more damaging to the environment.
When ceramic tint is applied , the ceramic particles allow infrared heat from the sun to be absorbed. This enables vehicle owners to maintain cooler temperatures inside of their cars markedly as compared to low-quality tinted windows. Ceramic tint enables vehicle owners to keep their vehicles significantly cooler and more comfortable to travel in. Additionally, ceramic tinted car windows are able to block ultraviolet rays while allowing light to pass in through the vehicle’s windows. This minimizes shift distortion, which is an effect where the level of darkness appears to change with the direction from which it’s viewed.
Because ceramic tint blocks both infrared and ultraviolet rays, it helps vehicle owners save on energy costs by making them less reliant on heating and cooling. This is very likely why many vehicle owners have chosen to invest in ceramic tint applications for their cars, SUVs and trucks.

Tint Laws in the State of Georgia

Georgia generally allows for the tinting of car windows with a few notable exceptions, one of which brings the subject matter for a grey area. The law states that all window tint should be 33% visible light transmittance. Even though 33% is considered to be the average percentage of tint that is accepted, law also shows that it may not be strictly adhered to. For windshields, a 6 inch strip of tinted film can be put on the top. The film must be 3% vis. lt. transmittance. Side windows in the front can have a tint of 32% visible light transmittance. Side windows in the rear can have a tint of any shade, and rear windows in the rear are allowed to have a tint of any percentage so long as they are reflective. Reflective tint has become very popular in the last few years. It is important to mention that this tint style is not permitted on windshields.
From the above information, it seems that too dark of a tint is being used on cars in Georgia. Based on observed traffic patterns, all tinted vehicles seem to have a tint darker than that which the law allows. In bottom line terms this means that tinted vehicles in Georgia are commonly using legal and illegal tint. In some cases tint below 33% is being used on front windows despite the fact that the law only allows for 32% tint. If pulled over you could be cited. However, officers generally give a warning instead of citing someone if the tint is off by one percent.
When considering whether or not to pay the fine for illegally tinted windows in Georgia, it is important to understand how much the fine is and what effect the ticket will have on the amount you pay for insurance. The fine for illegally tinted windows is $25. The ticket you receive will go nowhere near the Georgia driver’s license record. Therefore, no points will be added to your record, and your insurance rates will not go up. In all reality, it might be cheaper to pay the fine than to visit an auto shop and have the tint removed.

Ceramic Tint: Is it Legal in Georgia?

Ceramic tint has been gaining popularity among car owners in Georgia, but the legality of its use for vehicle window tinting is not straightforward. In Georgia, window tint used in light transmittance must comply with certain specifications, including the amount of light transmission and reflectivity. While ceramic tint is generally effective at reducing heat and UV rays without significantly sacrificing visibility, issues arise when it comes to these specifications.
Georgia law prohibits tinting on the windshield, with the only exception being a clear band at the top that must not exceed five inches. On the side and rear windows, however, the law permits tinting that complies with visual light transmission and reflection requirements.
All tinted windows, including those using ceramic dye, must have no more than 32% visible light. This means that any tint approved for use must allow at least a third of light to penetrate through to the vehicle’s interior. As for window reflectivity, the law permits a maximum of no more than 20% reflectiveness on any window.
While ceramic tint does not reflect light as much as traditional dyed tint, many brands and manufacturers will test their products to demonstrate compliance with these tint reflectivity laws. Essentially any iteration of ceramic tint that meets both the visible light transmission and reflectivity standards outlined by Georgia tint law is legal in all circumstances.
However, there are some exceptions that may turn into gray areas when it comes to the usage of particular types of ceramic tint. First of all, the usage of dark ceramic tint that allows less than 32% visible light transmission or has a reflection of greater than 20% is always off-limits. This is true regardless of whether the tint is referred to as "ceramic" because not all ceramic tints available on the market actually comply with the window tint law for these factor. The second, more nebulous exception is the ban on window tinting that causes "wavy or bubbled" material on the vehicle window surface.
The term "wavy or bubbled" is not defined when it comes to vehicle window tint terminology. This is another gray area that could lead to confusion or potentially false manufacturer advertising claims. For example, if a customer buys ceramic tint that has been marketed as having 32% light transmission but causes "waves" that reduce the visible light by considerably more than this figure, an officer stopping the vehicle who notices these imperfections could issue a ticket for violating the law.
The legal standards for ceramic tint are somewhat ambiguous, but made clearer based upon the manufacturer’s specific claims about the tint material. When it comes to the amount and levels of tint allowed on vehicle windows, ceramic tint is treated the same as any other type of dye tint.

Consequences for Illegal Tinting in Georgia

Not all window tint is created equal, and as a result, Georgia has put certain measures in place to ensure that the legal limits of light transmittance are adhered to. The penalties for possessing illegal window tint can include both fines and other legal actions that could cause you a large enough inconvenience that you would be willing to give them up in place of passing your state’s inspections. If you were to get pulled over for illegal window tint, you should first be aware that the officer may issue you a citation for having the tint, without pulling you out of the vehicle. Then, you may receive a "vehicle inspection," where you will be asked to take your vehicle to an auto shop, and have them perform the necessary tests to ensure it is up to par with Georgia regulations. While not all cases are treated this way, you may even find yourself in a situation where the officer has you remove your tint from your window on the spot, to prevent any further issues from occurring . If you don’t choose to have your tint removed, or fail your inspection, then you may find yourself at the mercy of the law. You could be fined, or you could receive further legal punishment which could leave your punishment up to the judge’s discretion. If you’ve had your window tint applied and are now in violation of Georgia code, you could be found guilty of a misdemeanor of a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. While this does not appear to be as serious as a felony, it could be seen as such in many instances, considering how high and aggravated the nature of misdemeanors are. This means that you could be charged with up to one year in prison, as well as a fine of up to $1,000 if you are found guilty. Even though Georgia does have measures in place for punishing illegal window tint, it should be noted that they are up to the discretion of the local law enforcement officials that initially inspect your vehicle. Your best bet is to choose to abide by the law, and avoid the possibility of having to face any consequences at all.

How to Make Sure Your Tint is Legal

To ensure that your ceramic tint complies with legal standards in Georgia, it’s best to consult with a professional installer who will be able to confirm that the film they are applying to your vehicle meets any and all requirements set by the state. However, it’s also a good idea to educate yourself on what these requirements are, including understanding certification labels. According to § 40-8-73.1 (b) of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, "(b)(1) A certificate or labeling shall be required for each type or shade or color of window glazing material which has in the manufacturing process a manufacturer’s application of material to allow for the window glazing material to be tinted or coated in a shade or color other than clear. The certificate or labeling shall be required upon the initial sale or offering for sale of the window glazing material in this state. A label issued by the manufacturer of the window glazing material to certify that the window glazing material is in fact of the stated type, shade, or color shall suffice as a certification or labeling; provided, however, that no invoice or bill of sale shall be sufficient. However, an invoice or bill of sale containing the manufacturer’s name, the name and shade of the window glazing material, the warranty for the window glazing material, and the signature of the retail buyer shall be acceptable evidence of the purchase of such window glazing material until the consumer is issued a certificate or label required under this Code section at the time the window glazing material is applied in the vehicle of the consumer." This means that when you have your ceramic tint applied, you’ll need to request a copy of the certificate or labeling required for proof that your ceramic window tint is legal in Georgia. The maximum visible-light transmission for your windshield is 32% and the side windows must have at least 32% visible-light transmission, per Georgia law. Some states allow for greater variances, so be sure to confirm the legal requirements with a professional installer.

Should You Measure Your Tint to Check for Legality

The ultimate way to check the legality of a tint is to measure it with a window tint meter or a photo spectrometer. The VLT film must be the actual piece of window film applied to the window.
The priority is to make sure that the glass is clean. Improperly cleaned glass will affect the reading. While a special glass cleaner is not required, a specialty glass cleaner may leave streaks. A microfiber towel is the best solution. Simply clean the inside of the glass .
Make several passes on the glass with the towel until it feels dry. Open the tool and place it against the window film. Open up the probe and press against the window for about five seconds. Gather the data and press the button to calculate the VLT.
Now you can insert the tint into a digital tint calculator to determine the VLT after the glass, tint, and adhesive has been factored.
If a tint meter is not available a photo spectrometer can be used to read both sides of the film and calculate the final VLT of the window.