Five percent tint is one of the most common questions people bring to Rayze SST. They see limo-dark glass on a car, want that look, and then wonder whether SC law will let them drive it.

The short answer is no on the front windows. Five percent VLT on the driver or passenger glass is not legal in South Carolina, and officers writing fix-it tickets for tint violations are not rare on I-95 through Florence. Fines run from $25 to $200 depending on the stop, plus the cost of having the film removed.

What VLT means and where the line is

VLT is visible light transmission. Five percent means five out of every hundred units of visible light pass through. From outside the car at night, the driver is essentially invisible. South Carolina law sets the front side window minimum at 27 percent. Five percent is not close.

Where 5 percent is actually legal on your car

The rear of the vehicle is a different rule. Rear side windows and the rear window have no minimum darkness requirement, as long as the vehicle has two working side mirrors. Five percent on the back glass of a sedan or SUV is within the law. Most people who want that dark look go 5 percent ceramic on the rear and run 35 percent on the fronts. The back looks the way they want. The front windows stay compliant.

What about 20 percent fronts?

Twenty percent also fails South Carolina’s 27 percent threshold. We see this regularly with people moving from Georgia or North Carolina, where 20 percent front side windows are legal. If your car was tinted in another state and the fronts are at 20 percent, you will need to have that film removed or replaced to comply here.

What legal front-window tint actually looks like

Most people who want a darker front go with 35 percent. It provides real heat rejection and enough privacy to matter while staying clearly within the law. Fifty percent is lighter but still cuts glare and blocks UV. Either is a reasonable choice depending on how dark you want to go.

Medical exemptions

South Carolina allows a medical exemption for drivers or passengers with conditions that require reduced light exposure. You need documentation from a licensed physician. Not a common situation, but it is a real option for people who need it.

If you have questions about what you can legally run on your specific vehicle, come by. We will give you a straight answer before you book anything.