steppers

Does anybody know a rough cost for tinting the windows on a scooby and where would be the best place to go somewhere in surrey/kent

Cheers

Steppers

Boyakasha

iTrader: (2)

I wouldn't bother, they have just changed the law and your insurance will also be void if you have an accident.

chiark

well, possibly! Check with your insurance company for sure.

cheeseboy

@steppers, send RB5286 an email mate - he is in that region and from memory does this sort of thing...

RB5286: rb5286@blueyonder.co.uk

Neal

Boyakasha

iTrader: (2)

You could go for the JDM look and have your rears done, but most of the insurance companies are stating 70% minimum on all the side windows and 75% on the rear which is **** all tint.

steppers

Cheers folks. Looks like i'd better phone me insurers 1st

Steppers

rb5 286

iTrader: (2)

cheers cheeseboy, i dont fit em but am doing a group buy on the window tints, £190 for 5 windows. let me know if u r interested and i'll give u more details on where the company thats doing em for us is

Boyakasha

iTrader: (2)

Why do a group buy for something that is illegal, the law comes into effect in June so if you get stopped they will make you roll down your side windoows and drive to a garage etc to have the film removed.

Nezz10

http://www.mavster.plus.com/tint.htm

Steve vRS

Just like if you have a decat exhaust!

Steve

Boyakasha

iTrader: (2)

Correct, that is why I left my downpipe cat on my 03 STi, only other way I would do it is to get a sports cat. With a the decat it is a bit of a long shot if you had an accident but with the tinted windows the assessor can see them straight away, plus if you had caused the accident they may try and blame the tints as the cause

Steve vRS

I'm getting my fronts taken off next week

I'm leaving the rears on as they are good for keeping the sun off my son!

The rear tints can be as dark as you like according to the new legislation.

Steve

chiark

Steve, from rumours I hear, it's definitely worth telling insurers of rear tints too. Not that this'll stop the idiots in MINIs with limo black on the windows...

S.B.

Or go type r Rear tint standard not a mod

Steve vRS

The insurers know about all my mods, tints included. There get out is that if the car is unroadworthy, the insurance is void. They are happy for the rear tints to be left on as this does not make the car unroadworthy.

Shame having to remove the front tints. People can now see me driving a Skoda

steve

lordharding

iTrader: (1)

A Shame as i was getting the green wagon done this year too

found this on legal/boring aspects of the law

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Window Tinting - Amendments to legislation


During the early part of 2004, Section 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations will be amended to include “Window Tint Films” where such materials attached to the glass are capable of reducing the visible light transmission of forward windows to below prescribed levels (70% VLT for front side windows). These changes will be back-dated to become applicable from 1st January 2004.

This will effectively ban the practice in future of applying virtually any tinted films to windows forward of the B-Post on any vehicle that is to be driven on UK roads.

The reasons for these changes is the recent proliferation of vehicles that are excessively tinted. Some vehicles may be so heavily tinted that they present a real danger when used on public roads. The action being taken by the Government follows a fatality that occurred recently where a heavily tinted car was involved in a collision with a motorcycle and the window tints were held to blame due to the vision of the driver being impaired.

There is, however, a recognized difference between “light window tints” which may be considered safe for road use and “excessively dark window tints” which are not.

There has also been a great deal of debate in recent years about the legitimacy of window tints that do not obscure the vision of the driver. A clear case has been argued that road-safe window tints do not actually conflict with existing regulations. The Department of Transport have argued however, that Section 32 was always intended to cover materials attached to the glass, despite the fact that no mention of this is made in the Regulation itself. The only solution remaining would be to amend the Legislation.

Consequently and in order to clarify the solution the Government have finally decided to up-date the Regulations to specifically include Tinted Films since, in the view of the Police and the Department of Transport, this is the only way in which the problems of excessive tints can be remedied.

Unfortunately however, even tint films that maybe considered to be safe for road use will now be viewed as in conflict with the Regulations, enabling the Police and Vehicle Inspectorate to take action against vehicle owners.

This has significant implications for the owners of vehicles that have window tints and also those that are responsible for installing or selling window tints.


Implications for the Installer and Motor Retailer.

From when the amendments to Section 32 come into force, any Motor Retailer that sells a vehicle that has window tint films applied which reduce visible light transmission levels to below prescribed levels forward of the B-Post is committing an offence and runs the risk of prosecution under Section 75 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act with reference to Section 41 (which defers to Construction and Use Regulations).

In a similar way, anyone responsible for the fitment of window tints which reduce visible light transmission level to below prescribed levels on windows forward of the B-Post is committing an offence and can also be prosecuted under Section 76 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act.


Implications for the vehicle owner.

After much discussion, a sympathetic Enforcement Policy has been agreed between the Department of Transport and The Glass and Glazing Federation to ensure that all vehicle owners that have had tints applied in the past may be dealt with fairly. This applies in particular where the infringement is with respect to tints that do not pose a significant threat to Road Safety, despite being in contravention with the amended Regulations.

In any event, after the date of the amendment to Section 32, the owner of the vehicle that has window tints applied forward of the B-Post is liable to be challenged by either a Police Officer or by an Inspector from the Department of Transport Vehicle Inspectorate, where their vehicle is noticed being driven on Public Roads.

Where such a vehicle is stopped and the window tints applied are such that the visible light transmission level, when measured using an appropriate device, falls to below prescribed levels, the following enforcement guidelines have been agreed with and recommended by the Government.


Above 30% Visible Light Transmission (Less Severe Window Tints)

The owner or driver of such a vehicle will be required to have the tinted film removed from the windows under the direction of either a Rectification Notice or a Delayed Prohibition Notice, A period of grace will apply for a limited number of days (normally ten) during which time the vehicle may be driven whilst the rectification work is to be completed. In either case, the vehicle will need to be inspected by either a Police Officer or Vehicle Inspectorate Officer to confirm that the glass has been restored to a compliant condition. Prosecution is unlikely in such circumstances provided the vehicle owner complies fully.

Below 30% Visible Light Transmission (Excessively dark Window Tints)

The owner or driver of such a vehicle may be issued with an Immediate Prohibition Notice and immediately
prevented from driving the vehicle on public roads until the tints have been removed and either a Police Officer or Vehicle Inspectorate Officer confirms that the glass has been restored to a compliant condition. It is also possible, depending on the severity of the offence, that the owner may be prosecuted for driving a vehicle in a non-roadworthy or even a dangerous condition with the potential for Penalty Points and a Fine.

Driving such a vehicle on public roads before the tints have been removed and before a Prohibition Notice has been lifted will be a serious offence and the owner or driver is likely to be prosecuted.

Action that needs to be taken by the Window Tint Installer and Motor Retailer

Restrictions - From the beginning of 2004, all customers of a Window Tint Installer or a Motor Retailer that enquire about window tinting should be informed about the new Regulations. It will be unlawful to sell them a vehicle that has tints applied toward of the B-Post and may render the Tinter or Retailer liable to prosecution. The vehicle may also be deemed to be in a Non-Roadworthy condition leaving the owner liable to prosecution as well.

The owner of a vehicle that is in a non-roadworthy condition may find that they void their Insurance Cover if they continue to drive it on public roads. In the event of an accident, the Insurance Company may refuse to pay part or all of their claim.

Rectification - All Window Tint Installers and Motor Retailers that have supplied window tints toward of the B-Post are being asked by the Government and the Glass and Glazing Federation to contact all of their previous customers wherever possible, to inform them of the changes to Legislation and to offer them a chance to have their vehicle returned to have the front tints removed.

This is most important since this will give every customer a chance to become informed about the amendments to the Regulations whilst being able to change their vehicle into a compliant condition before they may be challenged in the future by a Policeman or an officer from the Vehicle Inspectorate.

Clear Security Films

Clear Security Films that only marginally reduce Visible Light Transmission levels on windows forward of the B-Post may be considered to be compliant with the amended Regulations subject to the quality of the fitment being to a standard that does not result in the vision of the driver being obscured in any way.


Glass & Glazing Federation


basically we cant have them .

crowt123

Only got the rar 3 and a 6" sunstrip on mine which is legal...no insurance increase and just got the same done on my wife's car again okay with insurance and perfectly legal...makes a big difference if you have young children.

rav4640

so, as i understand it this applys to film attched to windows, what if you had the glass changed to a tinted glass? no film, is this a way round it?

ZIPPY

30% tint is the maximum allowed on the front side windows but cough cough 35% should be allowed without a problem as it very marginal.

You can have what you want from the B pillar backwards,i've just had my car tinted and was told they wouldnt supply anything darker than 35% on the fronts for this very reason (Law change)

£190 for a group buy is not very good as i've just had 7 windows done for £190 all in as a one off customer,35% fronts 50% on all the others.

Zippy

Steve vRS

30 % tint maximum on the windows is the total tint including the film and any tint the window has as standard.

I bet the standard Subaru glass has at least a 15% tint so almost any tint film will render the car illegal.

Steve

Boyakasha

iTrader: (2)

Steve you will probably find it is more like 25%

I read somewhere that there are a few manufacturers in a sticky position as their standard glass is over the limit. I also know that some dealer up here are still getting their customers new cars tinted and not even telling them about the change in the law.

wrxmania

I think I read the Subaru standard tint on a new Impreza is 27% so unless you get a 3% tint (mmmm?) then impossible to be legal.

The Dealer in Scotland (who I bought mine from) and who is still getting cars tinted is Drive Subaru in Falkirk (David Morrison and Sons). I bought my car from them and SPECIFICALLY asked at the time if they were legal - reply was "Well, sort of" - ie NO, even in October.

Tints look great but I am not risking insurance issues etc for two bits of film.

My front tints were removed from my Impreza yesterday - they were originally fitted by Pentagon, who also removed them and fitted clear Supaglass. They have had a few people in to get theirs removed.

They said the legislation was passed on February 18th and applies immediately. None of their cars have tints, just clear Supaglass.

I asked about business and he said it was unaffected as the government have not advertised the change well at all (compared to Mobile phone use in cars etc).

I really liked my light smoke on the front and clear fronts mixed with smoke at the back is not as good but I now feel a bit relieved. Imprezas attract enough unwanted attention as it is.

My tints are on my insurance (as are all my mods) but they only cover up to 30% at the front anyway (Elephant) but anything at the rear - it does cost so at least I will not need to pay for it come renewal.

I would be wary if thinking of getting them fitted at the front- you will be breaking the law.

However, my UK car now has a Jap look to it - well tht's my consolation anyway!

Brian.