Is sun film legal in India?
Yes, sun film is allowed on cars in India, but only up to a limit. The law does not care about the film on its own. It cares about how much light comes through your glass once the film is on it.
What the law says
Rule 100 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules sets minimum visible light transmission levels for car glass. There are two numbers to remember.
- Windscreen and rear window: at least 70% VLT.
- Side windows: at least 50% VLT.
In 2012 the Supreme Court of India banned tinted films on car windows. The rules were later amended to allow safety glazing. That means films are permitted again, as long as the glass stays at or above the levels above.
What VLT means
VLT is short for visible light transmission. It is simply how much light passes through. A higher number means more light comes through and the glass looks clearer. A lower number means less light and a darker look.
Why combined measurement matters
VLT is measured through the glass and the film together, not the film on its own. This is the part most people get wrong. Car glass already blocks some light before any film is applied, so a film's own rating is not the number that matters.
Because the limits are measured combined, a darker film that looks fine on paper can put a car below the legal limit.
How to check your own car
The only way to know where a car stands is to measure it with a VLT meter. The meter is held on the glass and it reads what actually comes through. Do that before the film goes on and again after, and there is nothing left to guess.
If you are choosing a shade, ask to see the reading on your own glass rather than picking a number off a chart. Our window films are all fitted this way.
Questions people ask
Want to know where your car stands? Send us your car details and we will measure your glass with a VLT meter.
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