What a window tint ticket costs in South Carolina
No one can honestly quote you a single number, and we are not going to invent one. South Carolina fixes the offence — misdemeanor triable in magistrate's court, graded by who you are under S.C. Code 56-5-5015, with not less than $200, or up to 30 days, for a consumer; not less than $1,000, or up to 30 days, or both, for a professional window tinter. The total on the citation comes from the fee schedule of the court that issued it, which varies by county.
| What the statute fixes | South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Offence | Misdemeanor triable in magistrate's court, graded by who you are |
| Amount set by statute | Not less than $200, or up to 30 days, for a consumer; not less than $1,000, or up to 30 days, or both, for a professional window tinter |
| Correctable (fix-it) | Not verified |
| Licence points | Not verified |
| Statute | S.C. Code 56-5-5015 |
Why the figures online disagree
A tint citation's total is a base amount plus court costs and surcharges, and those are set per county by the citing court rather than by the tint statute. That is why three pages about the same state will quote three different numbers, all of them sourced from each other rather than from a schedule. The number that binds you is the one the clerk of the court named on your citation gives you — so that call is the first thing worth making.
What South Carolina does settle
Note the direction of these numbers: they are floors, not ceilings, and the consumer's floor of $200 is double the $100 ceiling that Chapter 56 applies to a traffic misdemeanor with no penalty of its own. South Carolina deliberately prices tint above the default. A professional installer starts at five times the consumer's figure. A 2025 bill, H. 3149, would revise these penalties; we could not confirm it passed, so the figures above are the ones to plan around.
What to do next
- 1
Ring the clerk of the court named on the citation and ask for the amount and the appearance date. Do not rely on a figure from a blog.
- 2
Ask the same clerk whether the citation can be dismissed on proof that the film was brought into compliance — some courts allow it even where the statute is silent.
- 3
Have the film replaced with film that meters legal through the glass, and keep the receipt in case the court will take it.
The limits you were measured against
Front side windows 27% VLT minimum, back side windows 27% VLT minimum, rear window 27% VLT minimum — metered through the film and the glass together. Factory side glass already blocks some light before any film goes on, which is how film sold as “legal” ends up metering under the limit.
Check what film will meter legal in South Carolina →Frequently asked questions
How much is a window tint ticket in South Carolina?
There is no single statewide figure, and anyone quoting one is guessing. South Carolina fixes the offence — misdemeanor triable in magistrate's court, graded by who you are under S.C. Code 56-5-5015, with not less than $200, or up to 30 days, for a consumer; not less than $1,000, or up to 30 days, or both, for a professional window tinter — and the total you pay is set by the fee schedule of the court that issued the citation, which varies by county and is not published statewide. Call the clerk of the citing court for the figure that applies to you.
Is a tint ticket in South Carolina correctable?
We could not verify that South Carolina treats it as a correctable violation, so do not assume removing the film clears the citation. Ask the clerk of the citing court before the appearance date.
Does a tint ticket put points on your licence in South Carolina?
We could not verify whether South Carolina assigns licence points for this, so we are not going to guess. The clerk of the citing court can tell you.
What tint got me cited in South Carolina?
The limits are front side windows 27% VLT, back side windows 27% VLT, rear window 27% VLT, measured through the film and the glass together — which is why film sold as legal can still meter under.
Can a medical exemption get a South Carolina tint ticket dismissed?
South Carolina does have a medical exemption, but it is something you hold before the stop, not a defence you assemble afterwards. If you qualify, get it in place so the next stop goes differently.
Sources
- S.C. Code 56-5-5015 (Title 56, Chapter 5) (official)
- S.C. Code Title 56 Chapter 5, archived 2013 edition (official)
Reference only, not legal advice. We do not publish an estimated ticket total because no statewide schedule exists to support one. For the amount that applies to you, ask the clerk of the court on your citation.