Tinted Helmet Visor Rules: ECE 22.06 Light Transmission
Whether a tinted motorcycle helmet visor is legal depends on how much light it lets through and on the market where it is sold. Under UN Regulation No. 22 in its 06 series, a clear visor must transmit at least 80% of visible light. Darker visors are permitted down to 35% only if they carry the “daytime use only” marking. Individual countries can add their own rules on top. This guide explains the thresholds, the marking, and what an importer should check before selling smoke, dark or mirrored visors as replacement parts.
The three numbers in the 06 series
The 06 series of UN Regulation No. 22 (often written ECE 22.06) sets the visor requirements that matter most for a range plan:
| Lens | Light transmitted | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Visor, standard | 80% or more | No restriction marking required |
| Visor, tinted | Less than 80%, at least 35% | Must be marked “DAYTIME USE ONLY” and/or carry the daytime-use symbol |
| Internal sun shield | More than 20% | Separate requirements for the drop-down shield |
For photochromic and similar visors that change tint, the text classifies the visor by its darkened state. The regulation also requires user information to warn that visors marked “daytime use only” are not suitable during the hours of darkness or in poor visibility.
National rules can be stricter
A visor that meets the regulation is not automatically legal to ride with everywhere. In Great Britain, the government’s helmet and visor safety advice (last updated 22 July 2025) says visors transmitting less than 50% of visible light do not fully comply with the relevant standards and cannot legally be used on the road. Visors marked “daytime use only” should be used only in daylight.
So a 35% visor can carry a valid daytime-use marking and still be unsuitable for UK road use. Distributors who supply more than one country should list each visor’s tint by market rather than offering one catalog to all of them.
Mirrored and coloured visors
Iridium, gold, red and blue visors sell on looks, and that is exactly why they need a tint check. The colour of the mirror coating says nothing reliable about how much light passes through. A light mirror can still sit above 80%; a dark one may only be legal as a daytime visor, or not at all on the road in some markets. Do not group visors by colour name in your listings. Group them by tint category and marking.
Replacement visors are often listed in several colours per model, as in the CYRIL accessories range. When you include visors in an order, confirm the tint and marking per colour and per destination before they go into your catalog.
A checklist for importers
- List every visor colour you plan to import, by helmet model.
- Record the stated transmittance and whether the visor carries the daytime-use marking or symbol.
- Check the target market’s own rule. The UK’s 50% figure is one example; others may differ.
- Confirm that the visor is covered by the approval documents for the helmet it fits. A visor sold as a separate part may need its own documentation.
- Make sure the user information supplied with the visor carries the night-use warning in the language of the market.
- Write product listings that state “daytime use only” where it applies, not just a colour name.
Our guide to reading helmet safety labels covers the helmet side of the same check, and matching certification documents explains how to keep the paperwork tied to the right part.
What to tell riders
At the counter, the message is short: a dark or mirrored visor is for daylight. Riders who commute home after dark should keep a clear visor on the helmet or choose a model with a drop-down sun shield, which can be raised when the light goes. Our article on dual-visor helmets explains that option.
Need visors for a specific market? Send CYRIL the models, colours and destination countries so the tint and document questions can be answered per item.