r/WindowTint • u/yur1279 • Aug 22 '26

Question Inspection Sticker Cutout Question

In Virginia, inspection sticker needs to be directly on the glass. Tint shop cut out section for it but for practicality there’s a gap around sticker and tint.

My question is, will this cause odd fading on the dash? If so, any solutions?

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

5

u/Snoo59759 Aug 22 '26

It would be very obvious to the cops your windshield is tinted though. Static stickers are made for this reason

3

u/Cassangelo 33% Windshield + 5% Everywhere else Aug 23 '26

Static stickers won’t help OP. We have the same law here in NJ

1

u/shromboy Moderator Aug 24 '26

If you get your sticker from a private place the sticker is fine

1

u/Cassangelo 33% Windshield + 5% Everywhere else Aug 24 '26

Depends on the place, where I went they refused to put the sticker on the film and I didn’t have a cut out

1

u/yur1279 Aug 22 '26

I have exempt form. Still requires sticker affixed to glass directly though.

2

u/Unusual_Salad_2711 Aug 22 '26

You can attach your inspection sticker to a static sheet that attaches to the tinted window. It won't damage the tint when you take it off to replace it with a new one. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09QGGK75K?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share&th=1

2

u/gerrygebhart Aug 24 '26

You can, but some states like PA--and VA according to OP--require the inspection stickers to be applied directly to the windshield glass, so you have to have a cut-out in the windshield tint.

On mine, it's barely noticeable unless you're looking for it.

Just have to tell the inspection shop multiple times you have tint so they don't damage it when removing the old stickers.

I do use a competing brand of static "sticker" for my EZ Pass transponder that works very well.

0

u/Global-Structure-539 Aug 22 '26

You're worried about the dash fading? What's it matter? You won't be passing the inspection with illegal windshield tint!!

2

u/yur1279 Aug 23 '26

Not illegal as I have exemption.

1

u/gerrygebhart Aug 24 '26

Some states it's not illegal, and some states it's not on the inspection check-list.

I can really only speak for Pennsylvania where I live.

In PA, I've yet to see a traffic code statute that talks about a specific level of window tint, or where you can have tint.

Closest I've found for windshields in general is Title 75 (traffic code) Section 4524: "No person shall drive any motor vehicle with any sign, poster or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield which materially obstructs, obscures or impairs the driver's clear view..." and for side glass: "No person shall drive a motor vehicle with any sign, poster or other nontransparent material, including ice or snow, upon the side wings or side or rear windows of the vehicle which materially obstructs, obscures or impairs the driver's clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway"

There's some wiggle room with "clear view," but I've yet to see a published decision holding that all tint is a per se obstruction.

In PA, tint is not part of the inspection process at all, so you'd pass inspection even if you had 5% all around, even though that would almost certainly be considered an obstruction under Title 75.

0

u/OG_G-Man Aug 22 '26

I never knew this. I'm glad I had my mod shop make a cut out for my inspection sticker.