RTO Fine for Using Tinted Glass

The Regional Transport Office (RTO) has laid down rules and regulations that individuals must follow to drive cars legally on Indian roads. If you violate these, it can lead to several fines and penalties. For instance, as per Indian law, if you do not have proper motor insurance, you are liable to a fine of ₹2,000 and imprisonment of up to three months.

Another vital rule to follow on the roads concerns the use of RTO-approved sun control film for cars. In May 2012, the Supreme Court passed a judgment regulating the use of tinted glass in cars. As per the rule, cars must have visibility through the glass as mentioned below:

• The front and rear glasses must allow a minimum of 70% of visual light transmission.
• The side glasses must have minimum visibility of 50%.

Therefore, even if the Indian summer makes you feel that you need window tinting, you must go ahead with it only after reading the legalities. The RTO-approved sun control film for car price varies from one garage to another.

A tinted window prevents sunlight from entering the vehicle’s cabin. Unfortunately, most car manufacturers do not provide a tinted window from the get-go. As a result, car owners get sun films installed. These films help to lower the interior temperature. Moreover, they protect the car’s interior from wear and tear caused by sunlight exposure. Another benefit of window tinting is maintaining the privacy of the car occupants.

Some manufacturers offer factory-fitted tinted glass in top-spec variants of cars. These manufacturers include Hyundai and Maruti Suzuki. They use RTO-approved car glass film to ensure that you do not have to pay penalties or fines.

If your car does not have an RTO-approved car glass film, you will have to pay a penalty of ₹100 for the first time you violate the law. Many car drivers feel that this is a nominal and affordable charge, but the penalties increase with further offences.

If you violate the rule for a second time, you will need to pay charges of ₹300. With the third offence, you will need to pay ₹300 as a fine, and your driving license will be suspended. Thus, make sure you know the required specifications and avoid violating the rule.

There are several reasons why the Supreme Court passed a rule forbidding the use of tinted glasses in a car. The first is fear of crimes. Many criminal activities occurred inside cars with heavily tinted windows. Additionally, the sun film restricted visibility for the driver and increased the risk of accidents due to poor visibility.

Some car owners worry if tinted glasses can cause trouble when buying insurance for the car. While tinted windows don’t make any difference to the premium of your car insurance, they may cause trouble during insurance claims. Some authorities and regulatory bodies suggest that owners must be debarred from claiming insurance on vehicles with window tinting that exceeds the permissible limit.

If you got a sun film added to your car windows and wish to remove it now, follow the instructions given below. These procedures will not lead to any scratches on the glass.

• Heat gun

With a heat gun, you can melt the glue of the sun foil. After the glue melts, it is easier for you to peel off the tinted foil. The hairdryer is an alternative for car owners who do not have a heat gun.

• Soapy water

After you remove the tinted foil, you can use soapy water to get rid of the glue that remains on your window. At the end of the process, you will have clear and clean glass that lets you drive the car without any hassles. Many car owners try to scrape the film using a sharp tool. You can do the same to remove the sun foil, but the risk of scratching the glass exists.

In a country like India, driving during the summers without tinted glass can feel irritating and uncomfortable. Fortunately, brands have introduced a new product that meets the requirements. The Dark Green UV Cut Glass lowers the thermal load of the car’s interior. It eliminates UV radiation by 80%. And what’s best is that it maintains 50% visibility. However, the price for the film is on the higher side. Before applying window films, make sure that you choose products from reliable brands and that it meets Government standards.

Some other options to protect you from UV rays are fixed rolled-up mesh curtains and magnetic temporary mesh curtains.

While the hot summers of India can make it difficult for you to sit inside the car, be wise about the use of tinted glass. RTO guidelines mandate a minimum of 70% visibility for the front and back glass and 50% visibility for the side glasses. The purpose of the law is to prevent accidents caused by low visibility on the road and criminal activity. Having valid insurance for the car is another vital rule to follow.

At Tata AIG, you could opt for own-damage car insurance, third-party car insurance, or comprehensive car insurance. Before buying motor insurance, always have a clear understanding of your motor insurance premium and the benefits of that particular car insurance policy. Tata AIG makes it easy for you to proceed with car insurance renewal online so that you never have to pay the penalty for driving without motor insurance.