Failed a Roadworthy Because of Your Tint? Here's How to Fix It

It's a common one in Melbourne: you go to sell your car or clear a defect, and the roadworthy comes back failed because of the window tint. Frustrating, but very fixable. Here's what's going on and how to get back on the road fast.

Why tint fails a roadworthy

Two reasons, usually:

1. It's too dark. The film is below Victoria's legal VLT — most often the front side windows, which must stay at 35% VLT or lighter. This frequently happens with cars bought from interstate, where the rules differ, or older jobs done with no light meter.
2. It's damaged. Even tint that was legal when fitted can fail if it's bubbling, peeling, cracked or discoloured. Degraded film is treated as a safety issue, and cheap dyed film is the usual culprit — it oxidises and can darken over time.

How a defect notice works in Victoria

If your tint is pinged — at a roadworthy or by police — you may get a defect notice. The process, per VicRoads:

• The non-compliant film has to be professionally removed and the windows brought back to legal spec.
• You then take the car to a licensed vehicle tester for inspection. Pass, and you get a roadworthy certificate (valid 30 days).
• You clear the defect with VicRoads (a clearance fee applies).
• Do it within the timeframe on your notice — generally 28 days — or your registration can be suspended.

It sounds like a hassle, but it's straightforward when it's handled by someone who does it every day.

The fix: remove, then re-tint legal

You don't have to choose between road-legal and good-looking. The smart move is to remove the illegal or damaged film and re-tint to legal VLT in a quality film — so you pass the roadworthy and keep the look.

Tint Now handles exactly this. We offer tint removal on its own, or removal plus a rear-window retint in one visit, fitted to Victorian legal standards. And because we're fully mobile, we come to your home or office — no towing a defected car across Melbourne to a workshop.

Don't just go darker — go smarter

If the reason you wanted dark tint was heat, you don't need to break the law. A quality ceramic film at a legal shade rejects more infrared heat than a cheap illegal one. You get the comfort and you pass the roadworthy. Book a mobile visit and we'll sort it.