Are sunshades illegal in India?

Indian summers are terribly hot, and if you’re going to be travelling by car in this inferno, you have probably thought about installing sunshade in your car. These shades, that are usually fitted to the side windows of your car, act as a barrier to the sunlight, essentially blocking the heat, and assist your air conditioner in cooling the car better. However, is it legal to use these sunshades on a bright, sunny summer day in India?

The dos and don’ts as mandated by law

Rule number 100 of The Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) of 1989 clearly states that sunshades and curtains are not legal in India. According to the rule, any motor vehicle’s visible light transmission (VLT) for the windshield and the rear glass must be 70%, and 50% for the side windows. VLT is a measurement for the amount of light that can pass through glass and is represented as a percentage of total visible light. The higher the VLT, the higher the amount of light that is able to pass through, whereas a lower VLT indicates a lower amount of visible light through the glass.

Additionally, in 2012, the Supreme Court of India also banned the use of tinted glass and any other substitutes that obstruct light and visibility, making items like sunshades illegal. This decision was made in an attempt to mitigate the number of crimes in moving vehicles and ensure the well-being of citizens and passengers. Using sunshades on your car may bring you relief in the hot sun, but it may also attract fines and penalties if caught by the traffic police.

However, if your car comes equipped with sunshades from the manufacturer, you can continue to use them without attracting any penalization as they are legal.

Other things to know about sunlight blocking materials

Even though any illegal modifications to windows, such as window tint or sunshades, are illegal, your car may already come factory fitted with counteractive measures for the sun’s harmful rays. Asahi India Glass (AIS), a glass manufacturing company which was established in 1984, is a leading supplier of Dark Green UV cut glasses to the Indian automotive sector. 

The product is designed to eliminate more than 82% of the harmful UV rays from the sun, enhancing the protection for passengers in the cabin. This glass can alleviate harmful skin diseases and ailments, such as sunburn, premature skin ageing, damage to the eyes, and skin cancer, which are caused by direct exposure to sunlight. The use of this glass also leads to a drop of temperature in the cabin of about 2 degrees. Not only does it protect the inhabitants of the vehicle, it also safeguards the car’s interiors from sustaining damage from the sunlight.