Will Tinting My Windows Change My Auto Insurance Rates?

Last Updated on October 18, 2018

Tinting the windows on your car can certainly be beneficial. It can prevent sun from shining into your vehicle and blinding you while you’re driving. It can also help to increase your privacy (prevent those prying eyes from looking in!). But, before you decide to go ahead and tint your windows, you might be wondering if it will affect your insurance rates at all. After all, the last thing you want to do is pay more for your auto insurance coverage than you need to!

Car Insurance and Tinted Windows

Will tinting your windows increase your car insurance premiums? The answer to that question is the same as most questions related to auto insurance: it depends.

Generally, as long as the degree of the tint is not against the law, and the application adheres to the recommendations that are made by the maker of your car, than your rates should not go up. But, make sure you check with your auto insurance provider, as the rules related to tinting do vary from provider to provider.

How to Find Out if Tinting Your Windows will Affect Your Auto Insurance

As mentioned, there is a chance that your auto insurance rates will go up if you tint your windows. With that said, it’s important to make sure that you find out if your coverage will be affected, and if so, how.

To find out how tinting your windows will affect your auto insurance rates, consider the following:

• Contact your insurance provider. Make sure you check in with your insurance provider. Depending on the provider, if your tint is too dark, your auto insurance could actually end up being cancelled. Why? – Because the darker the windows are, the more likely it is that an accident will occur. For that reason, it’s important to find out if your insurance is going to be affected if you tint your windows. The last thing you want to do is find out that your coverage is cancelled because you went too dark with the tint!
• Check with your state. Every state has different laws in place about the tinting of a vehicle’s windows. If the tint that you put on your windows is darker than what is deemed legal in your state, than you will have to worry about more than an increase in your auto insurance premiums. You could end up getting ticketed, or, if you are involved in an accident, you may be held liable for the incident. In these ways, tinting your windows can end up making your insurance rates go up, even if the tinting itself doesn’t increase your premiums.

As a general rule of thumb, if you want to avoid seeing an increase in your insurance premiums, or if you want to avoid having your coverage being dropped or getting stuck with even more severe repercussions, it’s always a wise idea to find out about the rules regarding tinting with your auto insurance provider and your state before you decide to darken those windows.

Reporting Tinting with Your Insurance Provider

After you consult with your state and your insurance provider, if you do decide to tint your windows, make sure you contact your insurance company again. You should always let your carrier know about any changes that you make to your vehicle.

Insurance companies take a lot of factors into consideration when they determine whether or not they are going to cover a car and driver. One of the factors they consider is the condition and the safety of the vehicle you are driving. If the windows on your vehicle were not tinted when your policy was originally instated, you need to let your provider know. If you do end up getting involved in an accident and a claim is filed, there’s a chance that your policy will be completely voided. You definitely don’t want to end up learning that your insurance is null when you actually need it!

The Bottom Line

Depending on the laws regarding tinting in your area and the rules your insurance company has in place regarding tinted windows, your premiums may or may not go up. If you are thinking about darkening the windows on your vehicle, it is always in your best interest to find out about the laws regarding tinting with your state, as well as with your insurance carrier.

As long as you it is compliant with the rules set forth by your state and your provider, tinting your windows should not affect your auto insurance premiums. However, it’s far better to confirm that you are in compliance with the rules and laws to avoid serious problems; even if the tint seems light to you, your state and insurance carrier might consider the tint too dark.