Okay, for those that don't recognize me, I just bought a used 05 '8 that came with aftermarket tint. The seller gave me the receipt and the lifetime warranty certificate on the tint. Of course, there is a disclaimer in the warranty about the "legality" of the tint as far as having it replaced under warranty.

Anyway, the inspection doesn't run out until next month but I took it in today to get the oil changed, etc. and decided to go ahead and get the NC state inspection done as well. They rejected the inspection because they say the windows are too dark. I specifically asked the seller if she ever had an issue getting an inspection because of the tint and she said no but also added she got the darkest possible, legal tint for this state. The tint was installed in June of 2006 and has passed NC state inspection at least 2, if not 3 times since then. NC has had a tint limit for years now and I believe that limit has always been 35%. According to the receipt, the tint used was "CH-35". I assume the 35 relates to 35%? However, the guy at the shop told me that the windows probably already had some factory tint so putting 35% over that makes it too dark to pass.

I'm wondering if someone else may let me pass on it? Or if showing the receipt that shows the specs of the tint would carry any weight? Or the simple fact that it has passed at least 2 other NC inspections with the same tint would carry any weight?

I'm sick about this. The tint really sets the car off and it was a bonus that it was already on the car. I hate to pay someone to rip it out and replace it with lighter tint.

Anyone got any facts or words of encouragement that might help me out here?

 

well since a stock 8 doesnt come with tint, that inspector is full of ****

 

Well I guess if you can get documentation that the car passed inspections with the tint in the past. My other guess is that shades vary from manufacturer but it shouldn't be that big a difference. good luck

 

my windows have something in the glass that make them a little darker. my buddy who is a tinter by trade said that alot of car makers do this and to get around that problem you have to go to the next level of tint up to compensate for it.

ie if the law says 35% or lighter you have to at least get 40 to just get by

 

Okay, showing a little more ignorance here. So, 35% is not the amount of tint, it's actually the amount of light that passes through? I guess, given the darkness of it, that would make more sense.

So, given that, there is a note on the other side of the receipt that says "Reading Meter 298". The handwriting on the receipt is worse than mine so at least that is what I think it says. So, going under assumptions 298 is possible actually meaning 29.8% and, given my realization in the previous paragraph, 29.8% would actually be darker than the allowable 35%, not lighter.

Still, there has to be someone out there that will let it pass. It passed 2 or 3 other times before I got the car. I used to have really dark tint in a previous vehicle and I knew it wasn't legal when I had it put in. But, I had a buddy that owned a muffler shop and did state inspections too. He always signed off on it for me. He's out of biz now though (not due to those sort of practices). I gotta find somebody. I like how it looks and don't want to have it redone at my expense.

 

you know usually i complain about pa's automotive laws but in this case, pa actually doesn't include window tint as part of the inspection and my car (25%) passes without a problem. too bad any tint over stock is illegal here so i still have to keep a heads up with some cops...

 

Find a shop and pay like 20 bucks. No problemo

 

35% is the amount of light that passes through. the smaller the percentage of light transmission, the darker the glass.

50% tint is barely noticeable though. stock windows ARE tinted. ~92-93%.

 

^ +1

 

You are correct that NC law is 35%, they also give you 3% grace area from what I understand, as to take into account the glass being tinted slightly from the factory, so the absolute amount you can have is 32%. Some inspection shops will not even test for tint when they do the inspection, might want to try that or roll into another shop with your windows rolled down.

 

I'm going to try another shop or two since the inspection doesn't actually run out until next month. I guess my only other option would be to find somewhere to remove the tint from the driver and passenger windows and replace it with 30% or whatever such that it falls within the grace area.

 

doctors note. thats how i got by it in the state of michigan. find the right doc he will write you one. just tell them headlights cause headaches.

 

yeah I'd try another shop usually someone will let it slide prob just becasuse they are lazy and don't want to test...it

And Karstman7 I know exactly what u mean....I used t live in PA and they never said anything about tint in my inspections (on my GSX) but if a cop found you with it wow they would pull u over damn fast!

 

i like this idea

 

Took it to another shop this morning. Small shop without a lot of eyeballs watching over the inspection bay. Took it in with the windows rolled down and they were still rolled down when it came back with a passed inspection. Woo-hoo!

 

congrats.

 

I think it depends on the inspector and how you act...Maybe you should bring a pretty girl with you when you get inspected. Don't bring the matter up...take it to a different inspection station....There are bunches of ways around the problem like getting your local tint place to give you a note as to percentage you have....if your seats are dark it looks darker...if it's bright outside it looks dark...take it early in the morning or later at evening? It all depends on their mood...open the sun roof and let more light in the car....put the side widows DOWN...be creative !

 

Funny you should mention a pretty girl. When I went back and told my shop that the tint was installed in 06 and had passed inspection 3 times since then, the guy asked me if the car belonged to a nice looking woman. And, of course it did. Well it belonged to a woman anyway . The more I thought about what he said, the more it pisses me off. So, it's okay for a woman to get by with it but not okay for someone that has literally spent thousands of dollars with you over the past few years? These people take an hour and a half everytime I go in for an oil change and tire rotation. The place I took it to that passed me on the inspection charges 5 bucks more for an oil change but gets it done in about 15 minutes. I think someone new may have just earned my business while someone else just lost some potential, significant future bucks by taking me for granted.

 

I was gonna mention that as well. I noticed where the OP referred to the previous owner as "she".

 

Call Tony.

When you absolutely, positively have to be above the law....