The law on tinted glasses and sun film on cars in India

I was caught for having sun film on my car glass. It was put by the car company. Is it illegal?

As per a recent Supreme Court judgement clarification, the use of black films of any VLT (Visual Light Transmission) percentage or any other material upon the safety glasses, windscreens (front and rear) and side glasses of all vehicles throughout India is prohibited.
Even though it may have been fit by your car vendor or local mechanic, it is illegal and must be removed at the earliest.

Since when was the putting of the sun film made illegal?

The putting of sun film of any kind was never legal.

This was clarified in a Supreme Court Judgement of 4th May, 2012 – Avishek Goenka Vs. Union of India & Anr.

Manufacturers, mechanics etc. misled the public into believing that if an external film of permitted VLT (Visual Light Transmission) percentage was put, then it was legal. The Motor Vehicles Rules were interpreted to further the cause of the manufacturers and vendors. The Supreme Court in its judgement has shed some light on this point as well:

19. ….. Even if we assume, for the sake of argument, that Rule 100 is capable of any interpretation, then this Court should give it an interpretation which would serve the legislative intent and the object of framing such rules, in preference to one which would frustrate the very purpose of enacting the Rules as well as undermining the public safety and interest. Use of these black films have been proved to be criminal’s paradise and a social evil. ….

21. In the present case as well, even if some individual interests are likely to suffer, such individual or private interests must give in to the larger public interest.

What has always been permitted, is the use of tinted glass and not an external film put on top of the glass.

The law on tinted glasses and sun film on cars in India

The law on tinted glasses and sun film on cars in India

Can I have tinted glasses?

Yes. Tinted glass is allowed to be used in the vehicle as per the specifications below:

Rule 100. [(2) The glass of the windscreen and rear window of every motor vehicle shall be such and shall be maintained in such a condition that the visual transmission of light is not less than 70%. The glasses used for side windows are such and shall be maintained in such condition that the visual transmission of light is not less than 50%, and shall conform to Indian Standards [IS: 2553— Part 2—1992];

This rule applies to the manufacture of the safety glasses for the windshields (front and rear) and the side windows respectively. Use of films or any other material upon the windscreen or the side windows is prohibited. It is the VLT of the safety glass without any additional material being pasted upon the safety glasses which must conform with manufacturing specifications.

What about VIPs, politicians, Consulate Cars etc.? They roam around freely with very dark glasses

The Supreme Court has clearly stated that while there is no specific law which exempts persons to use the black films for security reasons, the responsibility is upon the police and Home Ministry to grant such an exemption.

The cases of the persons who have been provided with Z and Z+ security category may be considered by a Committee consisting of the Director General of Police/Commissioner of Police of the concerned State and the Home Secretary of that State/Centre.
Certificates should be provided only in relation to official cars of VIPs/VVIPs, depending upon the category of security that such person has been awarded. The State / Central  government is free to make any regulations.

This means that people who do not have Z or Z+ security cover are not permitted to use external sun films.

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30 Responses

  1. vikram says:

    Is there anyway to challenge this ruling
    I mean… Instead of taming the animal the supreme court has decided on executing it. Thus harming a common mans interest

  2. admin says:

    Which ruling are you referring to? The law on sun film is passed by the parliament. This case has just explained the law.

  3. Sandeep says:

    Am from Kerala and settled in Goa. I have one two wheeler and four wheeler. Two wheeler. Is of Kerala registration and am using the same in Goa. I have payed the road tax during. Purchase. Of vehicle. Any problem. In using the vehicle. In Goa for a period. Of two years.

    Also Goa registered four wheeler can I use in kerala and Karnataka during my visit. To my home.

  4. Aidroos says:

    Sandeep, you can drive them around.
    In case you plan on moving to any other state apart from Goa, you are required to pay road tax in that state, which is not native to your vehicle registration.

  5. Prithvi says:

    With global warming, the temperatures are rising. Without Sun film, the AC has to work double to keep us cool. This results in more pollution and in more global warming.

    It is true that criminals benefit from this black film, but everyone isn’t a criminal.

    We need to challenge this. Otherwise, this Summer, we will begin to see deaths because of heat instead of criminals.

  6. admin says:

    Glass tinting is permitted, if done by the manufacturer. Sun film or external application on the glass is not permitted.

  7. Chandrahas says:

    I having Alto K10 car. i want put 30 % tint glass. its illigal?plz reply me.

  8. Arpan says:

    With skin allergy due to sunlight,and major sinusitis issue due to hot sun rays coming Inside the car and other side air condition. Which my Dr advice to keep Ac off because both sun rays one side and Ac other side effects my sinusitis immediately.
    Secondly due to sunlight my skin becomes red and get a rash and causes a lot of discomfort
    They should allow dark windows after police verification about the person using dark window due to medical reasons
    I feel a person who gets police verification done then government should allow such cases

  9. Avinash Singh says:

    This is a serious thing with me as i have undergone a facial surgery due to a cycle accident, however, my doctor has advised me to not to go directly in sunlight or more possible void it in best situation, as I got that handwritten and I went to the district magistrate of azamgarh UP, he then consulted withe government doctor and granted me the permission to use black film on my screen! My only question is that if i leave state and go to haryana or delhi I WILL FACE harrasment but what the best thing to do? Should I go DM to DM every state and take permission or what else I can do?? You damn well know that the police will be harrasing me if i put the film!! So what the best solution you can tell!! As I am not a z or z+ security person!! But on medical ground can I put sun film although I have the permission?

  10. Praveen says:

    If a vehicle is spotted with sunflim of above the mentioned levels. How much will be the penalty if police notices it?

  11. Amit says:

    Can I have tinted glasses?

    Yes. Tinted glass is allowed to be used in the vehicle as per the specifications below:

    Rule 100. [(2) The glass of the windscreen and rear window of every motor vehicle shall be such and shall be maintained in such a condition that the visual transmission of light is not less than 70%. The glasses used for side windows are such and shall be maintained in such condition that the visual transmission of light is not less than 50%, and shall conform to Indian Standards [IS: 2553— Part 2—1992];

    Is this still valid, coz I am buying a new car and there is an option of tinted glass. Can I buy it?

  12. Darshan says:

    I was travelling from nasik to goa during diwali. I have maruti ignis vehicle and I have fitted 30 percent tint glass for my vehicle. Police stopped me at kolhapur bypass and said my no plate is fancy and I have tint for my car. When I argued with his higher authority they released me without charging thing. My vehicle no is 1111. They said all characters and no should come in a single line. Mine 1111 is in bigger font compare to other. When I said I am from automobile industry and I know the rules of tint or license plate font they said I can go. If we argued with them legally they cant do anything. But I will suggest safety is important for us.

  13. Dakshina Moorthi says:

    So according to indian motor vehicle act, an general public should who owns a 4 wheeler is not allowed to fix tint flim on his/her vehicle right, Or is he allowed to do in such percentage such as 50% and 70%

  14. Bhupendra Singh says:

    Gujarat me koi rule nhi h kya sabhi gaddiyo me 100% black films lagi h kya waha p allowed h nhii na kyuki sab jagah ban h toh waha kyu?? Police wale bhi apni car m black films lagwate h unko allowed h kya vo kuch crime nhi kr skte…jab rules h toh sbke liye hona chaiye naa or criminal ko agr crime krna hoga toh vo toh kese bhi kro kr hi lega… par us wajh se aam aadmi ko pareshaniya dekhni pdti hai

  15. Vinoth Kannan says:

    I have Ford figo car… inbuilt Sun film M3.3 which is allowed or not? If I asked ford… says it’s within permissible level… please confirm

  16. Deepak Budhija says:

    Salman khan , Akshay kumar , Amitabh bachachan any many more actors used z black glasses car ,inke liye koi kanun nahi hai …? Plz treat be equally…

  17. Sahil says:

    Hello sir / mam …. I wanna say that why all actors , vip’s , ministers , or any political leaders use 100% black windows . But why? ?? Due to security reasons .??? Everyone want to keep himself or herself safe… not rich persons … common person also. .. why other ordinary people from developed countries like America , Canada etc .. use 100% black windows? ?? They also want to keep themself safe. … so I just wanna say that government should allow everyone to use films. . It does not lead to any crime. . Nowadays ac does not work properly. .. temperature is more then 47°… Some people have skin diseases which their doctor does not allow to them to go in sunlight. .what can they do. ..?? Please reply me

  18. Adv tehmina says:

    sir whay if the film is not on the side windows … bt on the back window of the car … what is the law regarding that …i need to know

  19. Anand says:

    All the above can be effective only during the day.During night, what is the effect of tint glass regulations be brought about, no one paid attention to this concept as cars move during night time also.Therefore, the regulations need to be reviewed in my opinion for 24*7 without any bias and exemption to use on medical grounds.

  20. K k upadhyay says:

    Whate about rear scteen behind the back seat. Whether this is also prohibited?

  21. Aditya says:

    Just because of criminals the normal people have to suffer plus the heat in India is too much tints should be legal

    The law should allow tints if the cops feel suspicious about any vehicle they have the full right to check it

  22. Vikram says:

    Does SDM allowed to use black films on windows. I recently seen SDM south West Delhi using blacke films on his official car.

  23. Finny Daniel says:

    This is bulshit rule.. coz manufacturing company can make 50% or 70% visibility tinted glasses.. do you think this can solve the problem or resist the problem of the criminal activities of the nation ? This is torturing people in the country. Even if you put sunfilm of 50 or 70 % and the manufacturer do the same percentage of tinted are same visibility. Why one rule for manufacturer and customer choice to put the film? This is india. Law follow according to the money. Thats all

  24. Common Public says:

    The law in India is biased. Indian law is to comfort only the rich people and let the middle class and the poor to suffer. If the Rules were made strict there is no need of such rules. just to make the police people to grow their tummy level a more wider Govt says the public not to use the sun film. Police people themselves use the sun film and put a board on their car saying “POLICE” so that no one will ask them anything. VIP people a use the complete dark glass because they have money. but poor and middle class people like us are not human and since we dont have money or power only we should follow the rules. Hats of to the INDIAN GOVT and their LAW’s. Jai Hind. Mera Bharath Mahaan

  25. Common Citizen says:

    This law needs to revisit. why police family members are allowed to put a board “POLICE” How come these people can afford expesive cars worth a cost 18 – 20 lacks with black glasses.

  26. Tatong says:

    This should be change sonner,we should stand for it…can a normal people bear sun?what’s different un that…and in this summer who likes to let sun burn …can’t even sit in the car…govt’s should took this decisionmaking seriously…supreme court this is not a good move…public should rise our voice…it should be rectify sooner…

  27. G.KIRAN says:

    HOW MUCH PERCENT TINT GLASS WE CAN USE FOR A CAR ACCORDING TO THE RULES MADE BY SUPREME COURT OF INDIA. WHY CANT SUPREME COURT MAKE SOME OTHER RULES FOR SUMMER SEASON THAT WE CAN USE SOME DARK FILM IN SUMMER BECAUSE OUTSIDE SUN LIGHT IS VERY MUCH AND DUE TO THE RAISE IN TEMPERATURES SKIN DISEASES APPEAR ON OUR BODY AND WHY CANT COURT THINK FROM THAT MEDICAL GROUNDS AND FROM PEOPLES SIDE AND TAKE A DECISION AND WEARING A BLACK FILM MEANS HE A CRIMINAL IN GOVERNMENTS IDEA MEANS ALL THE POLITICAL PERSONS AND THE POLICE PERSONS ARE ALSO CRIMINALS BECAUSE THE RULE MAKERS ARE THE FIRST PERSONS TO BREAK RULES WHY CANT THEY BE PUNISHED AND WHY ONLY A COMMON PEOPLE BECAUSE HE IS NOT HAVING MONEY ONLY THOSE WHO ARE HAVING MONEY AND POWER ARE NOT HAVING ANY RULES AND EACH AND EVERY RULE IS FOR COMMON MAN AND HE ONLY HAVE TO PAY FINE’S FOR THE GOVERNMENT. THESE RULES SHOULD BELONG TO EACH AND EVERY PERSON NO EXEMPTION SHOULD BE THERE FOR RICH PEOPLE AND POLITICIANS.

  28. Concerned citizen says:

    Wow. What a logical law. I m proud to be Indian. India is a country only for rich people who can afford luxury cars. I belong to a middle class family and own a Santro. Tinted glass are not possible in my car and i cannot afford to buy a new car. This Summer temperature is predicted to rise upto 48 degree celsius. I have 2 kids and they both get rashes and headache after i pick them from school. My skin is almost burnt everyday and my wife suffer from sinus headache so cannot turn AC on for more than 5 minutes in the car with her. The average time these days from point A to B in India is 45 minutes. Think about the problem my family face everyday. Please suggest if there is any way this law can be changed or altered for everyone convenience. This law was given by parliament so that no criminal would escape in such manner. I ask Indian Government since this law is passed how many criminals were they able to track just because they did not have black films.

  29. Abdul Khader says:

    being the major share of the common citizen those who are using the cars in India is suffering from the heat and harmful rays directly hitting to them. Why nobody is not approaching the the honorable supreme court of India with a review petition? while there are hundreds of unnecessary petitions are submitted to the honorable court in daily basis, the government and the honorable court should punish the criminals those who are doing the unlawful activities and it should be the prime responsibility of the government instead of punishing the large number of common citizens. This rule is similar like “burn your house to smoke out a rat”

  30. desai prabhu says:

    Tinted windows is just another excuse to rip off common citizens .That day is not far where car tyres will be illegal too.

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