A Summary Of Nebraska Window Tint Law
Nebraska State Window Tinting Laws
Front Window VLT: Any VLT above 70% for passenger cars and SUVs. Vans and trucks not stated. Back Window VLT: No law. Side Window VLT: Any VLT above 70%. Back Passenger Window VLT: No law. Back Window Tint Reflection: No law. 2-Way VLT: Not Stated.
The law on window tint in Nebraska and Omaha
Under Nebraska state law, there are no restrictions on tint darkness for the rear side windows, back windows, or rear window of passenger cars, vans, trucks, or SUVs. The regulations for the amount of window tint that is legal for vehicles only apply to the front windshield as well as the driver and passenger windows on either side of the vehicle. The darkness of window tint is measured by what is known as VLT (Visible light transmission). The darker the tint, the more VLT it has. In Nebraska, the minimum level of VLT that is allowable for the front windows on either side of the vehicle is at least 35%. That means that 35% of the light must be allowed through for the tint to be legal. For the front windshield, the only area that can legally have tint is the top five inches of the windshield. That area can have a tint that is 35% VLT or darker. All tint in Nebraska, including the front windshield, must be non-reflective, meaning that it cannot reflect incoming sunlight. The rear windows and back window can have any level of tint darkness as there are no restrictions in the law. Because the tint laws in Nebraska do not contain specific requirements for the percentage of VLT or the amount of reflectivity on other side windows, other regulations apply. Any tint that is added to the windows of a vehicle must be added by a dealer in Nebraska or a manufacturer’s agent that is registered as such with the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days of the tint being applied. If you want to install window tint from another state, it must first be approved by a Nebraska DMV inspector. One thing that drivers should be aware of is that 2-way tint (also called mirror tint) is completely illegal for use on the windows of Nebraska vehicles. 2-way tint is the type of tint that appears to be a mirror from the outside of the vehicle . The reflection from the mirror tint causes issues for law enforcement and for other civilian drivers. Since this type of tint is so heavily reflective, officials in Nebraska have deemed it to be unsafe for use on passenger vehicles. Some exceptions may apply to this rule in certain circumstances, but typically most states will ban 2-way tint entirely. The window tint laws in Nebraska are enforced by police officers statewide. While you might be able to get away with having tint that is slightly darker than the legal limit in Omaha, in other areas of the state, officers may decide to pull you over and issue you a ticket. In many cases, vehicle owners who are pulled over for having too dark of window tint will be issued a citation for an equipment violation. The officers in Nebraska have a lot of discretion in issuing these tickets. Some officers may require vehicle owners to pay their fines, while others may simply require that the owner remove the window tint. If you are issued an equipment violation as the result of the tint on your vehicle, you will be ordered to go to the DMV to have the tint removed. Some law enforcement agencies in Nebraska have their own tint meters that may be taken out and used to test the percentage of VLT that your tinted windows allow to be let through the tinted film. If the tint meter reveals that the tint is too dark, you could be issued a ticket. There are other potential issues with having tint that exceeds the darkness limits imposed by state law. In Nebraska, window tint is inspected annually when vehicle owners bring their vehicles in for emissions testing and to renew their licenses. During this testing, the window tint may also be tested. If it is discovered that the tint exceeds the 35% limit for the front windows, vehicle owners may be issued a ticket. Other states have also taken a hard line against vehicles that have too much tint darkness. Sometimes, police in other states may pull over a driver who is passing through their state whose tint exceeds that state’s limit. This is an issue for interstate travelers who are driving through or to Nebraska with darker window tint.
Nebraska Level Of Window Tint Darkness & Reflectiveness
Only back window and rear passenger window of sedans, SUVs and vans can have any darkness. All other windows must have 70% or higher VLT. Any VLT of over 7% is allowed for SUVs and vans. No tint is allowed on the windshield except no less than 35% VLT above the AS-1 line or top 5 inches of the windshield. A standard sedan is defined as a vehicle with a trunk that is sealed off from the passenger compartment and has four doors.
Exceptions To Window Tint Law
Visible light transmission, or VLT, is by far the most common exemption to the legal window tint laws in Nebraska. Your tint must allow for at least 35 percent VLT for the tint on the driver and passenger front windows, and no less than 20 percent on back windows and the rear windshield. Most of your car’s windows are found to be at least 99 percent VLT, so fifty percent VLT tint is barely acceptable.
The only other exemption is a medical one. If you can prove that your tint is a medical necessity to avoid eye damage caused by the sun, you might be able to get tinted windows with Nevada DMV approval.
Most vehicles come standard with some tint installed by the manufacturer. Therefore, if your car has factory-installed tint, you’re likely to be fine. However, police may require you to show proof that your window tint is manufacturer-installed.
Penalties For Violating The Window Tint Law
Penalties for non-compliance are relatively light and include:
• $150 fine for front windshield tint violations
• $75 fine for windshield tint violations
• $100 fine for tint under 35%VLT on other windows
In addition, if a vehicle inspection station finds that a vehicle failed inspection based on tint and the tint is subsequently removed, the cost will likely increase. That’s because it will require a re-test and such testing costs about $20-$25 .
While there is no "hassle" charge in Nebraska, in most instances they will require you to remove the tint and return for a re-test (failing an inspection can also make for an insurance rate hike).
There are tint ticket fees and they are as follows:
• $30 in Omaha
• $60 in Lincoln
• $75 in Douglas County
• $92 in Sarpy County
• $100 in Montgomery County
• $150 in Columbus
• $250 in Scottsbluff, Hastings, Grand Island, Cheyenne County, Fremont and other cities/counties
Therefore, it is always a good idea to review state laws, and local laws, and obtain only the best product available to you when doing this in your home state.
Choosing Legal Window Tint Options
To ensure you choose a legal window tint for your vehicle in Nebraska, the first step is to do your research. Make sure you understand the window tint laws in your state and be certain they are up to date before having any work performed on your vehicle. Second, choose a reputable window tint retailer that can answer your questions and provide you with truly professional window tint application. Finally, be sure to have your vehicle tinted by a professional who is familiar with Nebraska window tint laws and has a good reputation. However, remember that even if your buyer’s vehicle was tinted by a reputable window tint retailer that is familiar with the law, you should still verify that your buyer has complied with window tint laws.
Before deciding on legal window tint, it is a good idea to verify your state’s legal limits on VLT percentages, the minimum reflectivity for tinted windows, and other specific laws that apply to window tint. Once you have a good understanding of Nebraska’s window tint laws, consider these tips:
- Make sure you know the tint laws for the windows in the front of your vehicle and the rear windows.
- Find out why Nebraska has the laws that it does — and avoid stereotyping. You may find that when it comes to window tint laws, each state is different and prohibits window tint for different reasons.
- Check out the websites of Nebraska window tint manufacturers. Many times, they will have detailed information on your state’s window tint laws.
- To be certain your window tint will keep your vehicle legal, you can contact the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles.
- If you’re willing to be very safe, go with the darkest legal tint for Nebraska — limo tint.
- Be sure to ask about the various options for all the windows, including the windshield.
- Understand that there may be different legal requirements for tinted windows for cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs.
- Consider certified professional window tint installers and ask for professional assistance with your Nebraska window tint installation.
Nebraska Window Tint Law Changes
While the current laws in Nebraska are clear, there is always the potential that they might change in the future. With an ever-increasing number of young drivers on the roads, there is also an increase in demand for more light on passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs. While it’s still too early to see the effects this will have on the laws, the potential is there for more clarity on how much light can come through. Both Nebraska and Iowa have seen increases in the amount of light that passes through the windows. In Nebraska, as recently as 2011, the maximum level of light coming through the windows on any vehicle was 35 percent. This was then reduced to 28 percent in 2014, and is currently sitting at 20 percent. This change brings Nebraska in line with the required amount of light in the neighboring state, Iowa. As well as this, the state may also move towards making vehicle windows more tint-friendly in both the front and back windows. This is something that’s become somewhat of a norm in Iowa, where both front and back windows should allow for a minimum of 35 percent light. Currently, the suggested level of light removable on the right and left sides of the vehicle is 50 percent . Whether or not this will change in the future is unclear, but if the limit continues to move closer to that of Iowa, it could be seen as a positive for vehicle owners who wish to tint their windows more than they currently are. Although it has remained fairly consistent over the last few years, the tint laws in the state, and across the country, could be reviewed at any point. As well as this, newer technologies are always entering the marketplace, and while these should meet the current requirements throughout the state, those that exceed these requirements could be banned in Nebraska. There is also the risk that the authorities in the state will increase the amount of light allowed to penetrate through the glass on the rear windows. Currently, there is no dictate around the amount of tint that vehicles can have on the rear windows. This means that there are less restrictions on tinting on windows around the back of a passenger vehicle. The ever-changing worldwide technologies in cars, as well as the increasing demand for even more light, could see the laws around window tinting in Nebraska change slightly in the near future. But for now, it is best to keep within the laws already in place.