Window tint laws in Canada vary between provinces. While all provinces allow you to tint your back-side windows and rear windshield, very few provincial governments allow tints in the front windshield and side mirrors at all.
This article covers what you need to know about window tint laws in Canada.
Key Takeaways
- Each province in Canada can set their own laws regarding tinted windows.
- Only factory-tinted windows are legal in Canada as they darken the window using pigments, not films that can affect how glass breaks upon collisions.
- The only provinces that allow front windshield tinting are British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Quebec and Yukon.
Are Tinted Windows Legal in Canada?
Yes, tinted windows are legal in Canada. However, as mentioned earlier, only a few provinces allow tints on the front windshield and side windows.
Moreover, it’s worth noting that even when tinted windows are legal in a Canadian province or territory, they’re still subject to specific guidelines for them to be considered legal. Some provincial governments only allow tints that are of a certain height, while others forbid windows whose VLT levels are too low.
Hence, it’s necessary to keep up to date with your provincial government’s policies about window tints before buying a new car or modifying your current one.
Are Factory Tinted Windows Legal?
Yes, factory-tinted windows are legal in Canada. In fact, they’re the only type of window tints that are legal as they’re tinted by adding pigments to the glass itself, not by applying a dark film to the window’s exterior, as aftermarket tints do.
Wondering why aftermarket tints on windshields and front side windows are illegal in Canada?
Well, the most straightforward reason is none other than safety concerns.
According to an Alberta Transportation representative, “front side windows on a vehicle are designed to shatter into small pieces the size of a fingernail upon impact.”
However, when covered by tinted films, glasses typically shatter into larger pieces, which makes them more likely to cause serious injuries in the event of a collision. Due to this, the government doesn’t allow aftermarket tints on Canadian cars.
Canada Window Tint Laws By Province
Legal Window Tint in Ontario
In Ontario, tint isn’t allowed to be used in the windshield or front side windows. However, you can make your back side windows and rear windshield as dark as possible.
How Much Tint is Legal in Alberta?
Alberta also doesn’t allow tints in the windshield or front side windows. For back side windows and rear windshield, though, any tint is allowed.
Tinted Window Laws in BC
Cars in British Columbia can only have tint on the top 7.5cm of the front windshield. Back side windows and the rear windshield can have any type of tint but note that you’re not allowed to have any tinting in the front side windows.
Window Tint Laws in Manitoba
In Manitoba, you can only add tint on the top 12.7cm of your front windshield and use a 50% VLT of tint on your front side windows. Like all provinces, any tint is also allowed on the back side windows and rear windshield.
New Brunswick Window Tint Laws
You’re allowed to use a 70% VLT of tint for both your windshield and front side windows in New Brunswick. For the back side windows and rear windshield, on the other hand, any tint can be used.
Newfoundland and Labrador Window Tint Laws
No tint is allowed on the front windshield and side windows of Newfoundland and Labrador cars. However, you may use any tint on the rest of your vehicle’s windows.
Tinted Window Laws in the Northwest Territories
In the Northwest Territories, no tint is allowed on the front windshield and windows. The back side windows and rear windshield, though, can have any type of tint.
Nova Scotia Tinted Window Laws
The provincial government of Nova Scotia doesn’t allow tint on the front windshield and front side windows. But as with all provinces and territories, you may use any tint on the rest of your windows.
You cannot use tint on the front windshield and windows of your car in Nunavut, but you’re free to use any type of tint on the back side windows and rear windshield.
Quebec Window Tint Laws
In Quebec, the top 15 cm of your windshield can be tinted, and you may also use a 70% VLT of tint on your front side windows. The rest of your car’s windows can have any type of tint.
Prince Edward Island Tinted Window Laws
The PEI government doesn’t allow any type of tint on the windshield and front side windows. However, any tint is allowed on the back side windows and rear windshield.
Saskatchewan Tinted Window Laws
You cannot tint your front windshield and front side windows in Saskatchewan, but you can legally use tint on the rest of your windows.
Yukon Window Tint Laws
In Yukon, you can use a 70% VLT of tint on your front windshield, front side windows, and your rear windshield. For the back side window, though, you may use any type of tint.
Pros and Cons of Tinted Windows in Canada
Pros:
- You can have better privacy with tinted windows.
- Tinted windows reduce the glare of the sun, letting drivers and passengers see the road better.
- With tinted windows, you can better preserve your vehicle’s interior as they block the harmful UV rays from the sun.
Cons:
- It may be harder to drive at night with darker windows.
- Tinted windows can affect the resale value of your car.
- You’ll have to pay more to tint windows if they’re not already tinted.
FAQs
The darkest tint you can have in Canada are those with a 70% VLT (Visible Light Transmission) rate. That’s because those that have lower VLT rates are considered too dark to be safe for driving.
Yes, 30% is a relatively dark tint. Windows that have this tint level block 30% of light, and they’re the darkest your windows can be for them to be considered legal in Canada.
The cost of tinting car windows in Canada widely varies, depending on which company you choose for the job. In general, it costs anywhere from $25 to $150 dollar per window to tint car windows.
Tinting the windows of an entire car can take anywhere from two to four hours to finish. The exact time will vary depending on the company that does the tinting for you.
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