What is the RTO Fine for Using Tinted Glass in Cars

Posted on: Mar 17, 2023 | 3 mins | Written by: HDFC ERGO Team

What is the RTO Fine for Using Tinted Glass in Cars

Many cities in India experience extreme temperatures. The summers in many places are harsh, and the temperatures are high. Travelling in cars in this kind of weather is very difficult. The air conditioning also is not very effective, and excess heat can damage the car. However, a car insurance policy is the best way to safeguard yourself from any damage. As many would know, comprehensive car insurance is a must-have, and taking adequate measures to keep the car in good condition is a must too.

Many people, in their endeavour to keep their car cool, get car window tint, i.e. to add a sun film to the car’s windows. But one must know that making such modifications to the car is not allowed by the RTO, and you might end up paying a fine for black tinted glass.

What are the RTO rules for car glass film?

The RTO, or the Regional Transport Office, has set rules for all aspects of driving a vehicle on Indian roads. If any two or four-wheeler driver does not follow the rules, they will need to pay penalties and RTO fines. Like other things, they have clear rules and regulations they have rules for using films on car glass. The rules for the same have been set keeping in mind the Supreme Court Judgement of 2012. As per the guidelines, RTO approved glass film can be applied on cars if you ensure that the minimum visibility of the side glasses is 50% and that of the rear and front glasses is 70%.

In summer, many people like to get films, but they must remember the rules else they will have to pay a fine for tinted glass.

What is tinted glass?

We have spoken about the RTO fine, but it is very essential to understand what exactly car window tint is. This is a kind of glass that prevents sunlight from entering the car. Direct sunlight makes the car very hot in summer. As most of the cars come with plain glasses, users get film installed in the car windows. This helps to regulate the temperature of the vehicle and increase the efficacy of the air conditioners. Also, this avoids damage to the vehicle due to excessive heat, especially in places where the temperatures in summer are very high. Some manufacturers do provide RTO approved car glass film. Thus, these are compliant with the rules and avoid a fine for tinted glass.

What is the fine for tinted glass in a car?

While you know you may attract a fine for violating the rules of the RTO, it is important to know what are the fines. The following are the details of the fine for tinted glass as imposed by RTO.

1. Rs. 100 for the first time

2. Rs. 300 for the second time

3. Rs. 300 plus licence suspension for the third time

Licence suspension is a big thing, and thus, one must always keep in mind the rules and get to that stage.

Why are tinted windows not allowed in India?

The RTO rules for tinted glass are made due to two main reasons. These have also been supported by the Supreme Court. The two main reasons are:

1. The black tinted glasses, or the glass film, can reduce visibility and, thus, make driving difficult. This leads to accidents and is considered unsafe.

2. The heavily tinted glass vehicles in the past have been known to be involved in crimes as these make the escape for criminals easier. Thus, to avoid crimes, the kind of glasses that can be used in cars are specified by the RTO.

3. Another reason why there is an RTO fine is that when the cars have tinted glasses or film, the visibility is less, and this does not allow the traffic police to carry out their responsibilities properly.

Do tinted glasses have an impact on car insurance?

There are two aspects of insurance that determine how car insurance is affected by tinted glasses. The first is if it gets difficult to get a car insurance policy. The answer here is No; tinted glasses do not have any impact on car insurance.

The second aspect is claimed. A car insurance policy is only helpful if it is easy to get claims which means the insurance company pays for the losses as per the terms and conditions. When it comes to tinted glasses, there can be an issue in claim settlement. If the tinted glasses are not in compliance with the standards of the RTO, a claim can be denied outright. Thus, using proper tinted glasses helps avoid a fine for tinted glass and ensures smooth claim settlement.

How to remove tinting from your car?

It is common for people to get glass films installed but later realise the ones they have are not permitted by the RTO. Sometimes when you pay the RTO fine, you realise that the choice was wrong, and you need to remove it to avoid the subsequent ones that can lead to cancelling of the license. You can always get professional help to get these removed as it is not a very difficult process and, in fact, can be done at home too.

1. You can use a hot gun to melt the glue used for the film. Once the glue melts, it gets simple to peel the film.

2. Once the glue melts and you have peeled the film, you will find that some glue is still left on the glass, and this can affect visibility and also does not look nice. One way is to scratch it, but this carries the risk of scratch marks on the glass, which again can affect driving. The best way to get rid of these glue marks is to clean the glass with soapy water.

4 Best Alternatives to sun films for Cars?

Since the Supreme Court ruling of 2012, traffic police across the country have been a lot stricter, when it comes to adding any kind of tints on the windows. Here are a few alternatives, that you can consider for beating the sun.

1. Sunshade protector

There are a lot of windshield sun share protectors available, which are ideal for cars that are parked in the sun for longer periods of time. If your office or society parking is out in the sun, it can get quite uncomfortable when you get inside the car. However, these windshield protectors are usually foldable and portable. And these can help keep the temperatures inside the car to a bearable limit.

2. Dark green UV cut glass

The UV cut glass is a replacement for the existing windshield and window glasses of your car. The glass was developed by experts from Japan and can block up to 82% of the UV rays and lower the cabin temperature. It adheres to the Supreme Court ruling of 70% VLT for the front windshields and 50% VLT for windows.

3. Suction side shades for windows

These are some of the most commonly available products in the market and a more affordable option at that. You can easily mount these on the windows and remove them when not needed. The shades can block the harsh sun rays and let you drive a bit more comfortably than before.

4. 3M Crystalline series

The crystalline series from 3M is quite efficient and can block up to 60% of solar energy and 97% of the infrared rays, which produce heat. Making it even more effective than some of the other black tints. The film adheres to the Supreme Court ruling of VLT and is a good example of RTO approved sun film for car.

Conclusion

If summers bother you, tinted glasses and glass films are options you can consider, but you will need to be very careful about not breaking any laws. Getting a car insurance policy is not a problem, but there can be an RTO fine, or there can be a problem at the time of claim settlement. Thus, all you need to do is get the films or glasses that are approved and do not create issues of any kind when driving the car. Ensure that you have at least third party insurance for your vehicle because the chances of traffic police checking all documents are quite high if you get pulled over for using tinted glass.

FAQs

1. What is the penalty for using tinted glass?

For the first instance, you will be charged a fine of INR 100.

2. Can VIPs use tinted glass on their vehicles?

Individuals having Z or Z+ levels of security can use dark films on their vehicles for security purposes.

3. What are the legal limits for films?

The Visible Light Transmittance for the windshield and rear window is set at 70% and the same for side windows is 50%.

4. Which RTO regulation prevents vehicle owners from using tinted films?

Rule 100 of the Central Motor Vehicles Regulations 1989, has the guidelines for using tinted glass in India.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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