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Official info on Windshield Tint?

12K views 17 replies 12 participants last post by  Jimmym10 
#1 ·
ok, so a buddy of mine is trying to scare me.

He says if i get into an accident with windshield tint, my insurance company can and will drop me and refuse to pay.

I've also heard that you're automatically at fault with WS tint. Is this a state law?

I have USAA, but i think it would be beneficial to everyone to look up definitive information on it.

I'm going to be google searching, but please dont post unless you have a LINK to back up what you have to say about it. This way we can squash the convo, one way or another.
 
#2 ·
I've found that its illegal... duh.

But nothing on liability or Insurance etc. Anyone?
 
#3 ·
I don't think any insurance company is going to list every possible thing someone could do that would nullify the policy. There would be too much to list! Your best bet is to call your insurance company (not telling them who you are of course) and ask them. They can probably get out of covering you if they find ANYTHING illegal about your ride.
 
#4 ·
I had a 2007 Aspen until I got my 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland just before Christmas 2010. One of the first things that I noticed was the absence of the tint strip at the top on my Front Windshield. Every vehicle that I have owned prior to the Grand Cherokee 2011 has had a tinted strip at the top of the front windshield. This tint strip helps when driving in to the sun early in the morning or late afternoon. Has something in terms of regulations governing Front Windshield Tinting changed since 2007 and the present?
 
#5 ·
I had a 2007 Aspen until I got my 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland just before Christmas 2010. One of the first things that I noticed was the absence of the tint strip at the top on my Front Windshield. Every vehicle that I have owned prior to the Grand Cherokee 2011 has had a tinted strip at the top of the front windshield. This tint strip helps when driving in to the sun early in the morning or late afternoon. Has something in terms of regulations governing Front Windshield Tinting changed since 2007 and the present?
He's not talking about a strip along the top...he's talking about tinting the entire windshield.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Nothing super factual to back this up liked you asked for, i.e. websites, BUT it is def illegal in MD to tint the entire windshield.

As for the insurance... insurance companies write thier policies in such a vague and legal-jargin way that they have loop-holes to get out of anything if they want.

As an example I found these while searching:

"Yes, they can refuse to pay a claim if you were operating your motor vehicle while committing a crime. It really depends upon whether cell phone use is a felony, misdemeanor, or just a driving infraction. As an infraction, I believe they would have to pay claims."

and

"I have never seen a personal auto policy with this type of exclusion on it.

But if they wrote that into the policy, then yes, they could deny the claim. It's called a "warrant", and it's a condition, that if you violate it, it negates coverage."

These were both found while searching for causing an accident while on a cell phone but I imagine the same basic principle applies.

FWIW, I just found this.. again, who knows its validity... http://forum.e46fanatics.com/archive/index.php/t-283336.html
 
#8 ·
I dont have any website proof but I know from first hand when I totaled my F150 a few years back at the time of the accident I had 20% on my windshield and 5% every where else my insurance company covered the cost to have my truck and the other vehicle repaired. The claims adjuster even commented to me about how nice the truck looked completely blacked out. When I had to have the truck reinspected they wanted to remove the windshield tint but by that time I had a medical waiver. Long story short I never had any out of pocket cost and the insurance people clearly noticed the tint
 
#9 · (Edited)
if you are in an accident and your winshield is tinted completely, in most cases you will be cited at fault because of your visibility not being 100% clear. There is nothing illegal about the strip on the top of the windshield other than its not allowed to be lower than like an inch in many states from the AV1S marker on the windshield. I work at an insurance company and most insurance comapnies will not cover, replace parts of the vehicle like tint because it is not part of the original car; however you can claim it say some one breaks into your car and the window and the tint needs replaced...problem is the insurance will only allow for state legal % put back on whether you have that % or not, they will not retint it back dark than legal. You can purchase aftermarket parts coverage from some insurance providers that covers things like aftermaket stereos, rims, etc... Fully tinting the windshield may make the whole vehicle look better, but when getting some things done to the car check in your city and state what the legal %s and restrictions are before you just go out and get things done.
 
#11 ·
your insurance regs will not be posted, but i know they can place responsibility on you if: you have stuff hanging from your mirror, you are on the phone(where it is outlawed) you have tinted tail lights for a rear end accident or if you have tinted headlights. its almost a certainty that a police officer will find you at fault for any accident if your windshield is tinted, it is illegal in all 50 states to tint below the AS-1 line on the glass.
 
#12 ·
Just got off the phone with USAA.

They said tint has zero bearing on thier coverage. They said it's just like if i got in an accident wearing dark sun glasses.

They said i may be ticketed, or found at fault, but they would never "drop" me or not pay.

That's pretty much all I wanted to know. But i'm still a little nervous about this "automatically at fault" crap! haha
 
#13 ·
Of course they wouldn't drop you. We pay more on insurance then they'll ever pay us for vehicle damage.

Oh they want your money. Shit no they won't let you go.
 
#15 ·
Not sure. You can get something light like 50%. All my other windows are dark so 50% looks dark.

I might go with 40% if I replace the windshield due to a small crack.
 
#16 ·
Just shooting from the hip but;

As long as your tint was not the cause of the accident then you should be cause. By when I say "cause of the accident", I mean you hit a person in a crosswalk due to the fact that you could not see out of the window due to tint on your windshield. But as long as your not at fault and/or wasn't driving careless/reckless then you should be fine. At the same time, some may think that having window tint not only on your windshield but on your front side windows is reckless within itself. With that said, don't worry about it and put it on, you should be fine.
 
#17 · (Edited)
I was in a fender bender with my tint. Cop said nothing. They are not concerned with why it happens but rather who is at fault.

But I do live in the south and cop cars down have tint as low as 15% on some of there windows in some cities and some have tint on the whole windshield.

Like I said, the insurance company want your money. There is no way in hell they will drop you because you put film on your windows.
 
#18 · (Edited)
I have had a buddy of mine get into a fender bender with wind shield tint, and the cop did recognize who was at fault (my buddy) and the windshield tint, and on the police report it was noted. His insurance was going to drop him due to having illegal modifications on his car, however i do not really know how he got out of it but his insurance went up by like $100 a month (only was $130 originally), and no injuries were report (cosmetic auto-body damage only). Not sure if this was because of the tint, the accident or both. But the fact is that the insurance has something against you if the cop acknowledges the windshield tint, and they can use it against you if they want. I also think it depends what state you live in, different states allow different things, and if you are in a big city it may go further then the state requirements.
 
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