Ask an expert

I purchased a car 12 months ago which had tints on the windows. At the time of purchase a new Warrant of Fitness was issued and the car passed another inspection without any problems 6 months later.

However, when I took the car for its next inspection (same inspection centre) it failed due to the amount of tint on the windows.

I don’t see how they can past the tint on one inspection and reject it 6 months later.

Mark

From the "Ask Jack" archives - 4 March 2011

I suggest you take the car back to the testing authority concerned and asked them to explain why the tinting was rejected.

The AA Vehicle Testing Stations use approved electronic test equipment to measure the amount of tint. I suspect other Vehicle Testing Stations have and use the same sort of equipment.

I have no idea how a local garage judges the amount of allowable tint when carrying out WoF inspections, but I suspect it is very much a judgement call each individual inspector makes.

Not great for you when you are getting mixed messages.

Another option is to take the car to an auto glass specialist or a Vehicle Testing Station and pay for them to test the amount of tint.

All adds up to an expensive warrant but possibly the only way to know for sure if the amount of tint is legal or not.

If the testing authority concerned does not have the right equipment you could argue they should pay for the proper test to be carried out which will confirm for sure whether or not the rejection was justified.