# Tinted Windows in Massachusetts **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 2, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tinted-windows-in-massachusetts/20253 "2008-10-02T13:16:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TexasChuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@TexasChuck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TexasChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 1:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tinted-windows-in-massachusetts/20253/1 "2008-10-02T13:16:57Z")
About 8 years ago while living in Austin my daughter bought a car with tinted windows. A few years later she moved to Cambridge MA and for the first few years the car passed inspection. However this year it was rejected on the basis of the windows and she was given 60 days to fix. This seems impossible or very expensive for an eight year old car. Any suggestions would be appreciated? ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 1:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tinted-windows-in-massachusetts/20253/2 "2008-10-02T13:41:29Z")
If the tint was applied(typically) it can be removed. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 1:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tinted-windows-in-massachusetts/20253/3 "2008-10-02T13:52:48Z")
Yes, the tint law in MA is stricter than the one in TX (see by-state laws here: [http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/](http://www.tintcenter.com/laws/) ). A MA tint shop should be able to help with getting off the old tint. Good luck with the back window if it has the defrost wires! The same site has DIY instructions for removing - looks like a LOT of work, so I’d get a shop to do it: [http://www.tintcenter.com/articles/bt\_removal.html](http://www.tintcenter.com/articles/bt_removal.html) ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tinted-windows-in-massachusetts/20253/4 "2008-10-02T16:00:08Z")
Our friends had the same experience. They moved from MD to TX and bought a new car. They returned a couple of years later, and had to get the tint changed to pass MD law. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 4:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tinted-windows-in-massachusetts/20253/5 "2008-10-02T16:24:34Z")
The laws vary widely - 25% transmission required in (hot) TX, 70% in NY and CA. Not much common ground. I don’t know if I’d do it just to get a 30% reduction (and that includes window and tint). ---
**Author:** ![TexasChuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/838e76/32.png) [@TexasChuck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TexasChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tinted-windows-in-massachusetts/20253/6 "2008-10-02T16:29:14Z")
Thanks for the replies. I’m not certain but since it was a new car off the dealer’s lot I assume the tinted windows were original equipment – not an applied film. But I don’t know enough about tinting to know if that is even possible. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tinted-windows-in-massachusetts/20253/7 "2008-10-02T17:24:52Z")
70% in NY…but ONLY for any window BEHIND the driver (actually a lot of states have this law). All windows from the drivers seat forward can NOT be tinted beyond factory tint. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tinted-windows-in-massachusetts/20253/8 "2008-10-02T19:01:20Z")
Someone may correct me on this but I’m pretty certain that “factory” automotive glass tinting is always an applied coating. Cathedrals worldwide are evidence that tinting (coloring) glass (SiO2) is possible. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tinted-windows-in-massachusetts/20253/9 "2008-10-02T19:25:54Z")
Do you have the original receipt? If it was ‘factory’ there’s no way to fix it, I’m surprised it’d fail because of factory tint. Maybe try a different location? ---
**Author:** ![thechums](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@thechums](https://community.cartalk.com/u/thechums)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 2:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tinted-windows-in-massachusetts/20253/10 "2008-10-03T14:57:34Z")
Factory tint is legal everywhere. Your daughter’s car had additional tint applied by the dealer or the dealer’s subcontractor, not the factory. The tint is removable (they charge about $40 around here, in Texas) to remove tint, so it cannot be that big of a deal. Maybe 2 or 3 hours. One poster cautioned about the rear glass and the defroster - yes, that is a problem. Here they always tell the customer that you will likely not have a defroster when they are done. Rick in El Paso, TaxUs, USA ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 3:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/tinted-windows-in-massachusetts/20253/11 "2008-10-03T15:48:51Z")
> The tint is removable > (they charge about $40 around here, in Texas) to remove tint, so it cannot be that big of a deal. Maybe 2 or 3 hours. At $80/hr (current mechanic rate here in NH)…and it cost $40…then it probably takes them \< .5/hrs.