Tinted Windows: The Rules in Spain

As summer approaches, there is often a temptation to consider window tinting for your vehicle, which does help to make the interior cooler in the sun, but there are strict standards which you must abide by in Spain for vehicle window tinting.

In brief, the front windows, which are the windscreen and side windows at the front of the vehicle, cannot have window tints fitted. The rear windows, including the back and those in the rear of the saloon, may be tinted, but must comply with strict rules.

If the vehicle has light tinting on the glass as part of the manufacturing process, this is already acceptable as the tint would have gone through the testing and compliance process already.

By definition, tinted windows are created when dark sheets that are glued onto the original glass of the vehicle so that they provide a shade for the occupants from sunlight, whilst providing some privacy.

There are benefits to the process, not only because of the shade provided, but tinted windows which have had the laminate provided also offer extra protection from shattering, as the glued laminate often keeps the glass together. They also offer protection from UV rays and create a cooler atmosphere inside the vehicle, as well as the additional privacy.

When it comes to approval during the mandatory vehicle inspection, the legal requirements are very clear. The vehicle must have a certificate provided by the manufacturer of the laminate that must be completed by the installer.

Another prerequisite for the test is that all car window laminates are properly sealed on the windows, in other words, there must be no bubbling, cracking, or peeling of the tint.

The reason is that if the laminate or tinting becomes damaged, then it reduces the visibility through the windows.

Can you tell which picture in the gallery is not allowed in Spain?