Reference

Window Tint Laws by State (2026)

Every state writes its tint rule as a VLT minimum — Visible Light Transmission, the share of light a window lets through. A 70% window is nearly clear; a 5% window is limo dark. Lower number, darker glass. Because there is no federal tint limit, each state sets its own floor per window, and many of them treat SUVs, vans and trucks differently from sedans.

The numbers below are read off each state's own statute, administrative code or DMV page, and every page is dated so you can see how fresh it is. Where a statute simply does not state a limit, we say so rather than filling in a number.

All 51 jurisdictions

Showing all 51

How to read a tint law

1. The number is a floor, not a ceiling

"35% front side" means the front door windows must transmit at least 35% of visible light. 20% film there is illegal because 20 is less than 35. Darker film is always the violation, never lighter film.

2. Film plus glass is what gets measured

An officer's meter reads the whole window. Factory glass is usually around 70–80% VLT before any film, so net VLT = film % × glass % ÷ 100. A 35% film on 70% glass measures about 24.5%. Every state page here has a calculator that does this for you.

3. Windows are regulated one at a time

Windshield, front side, back side and rear window each get their own rule. Behind the driver is commonly looser — sometimes unlimited — and the windshield is commonly limited to a strip along the top edge, at or above the AS-1 line marked on the glass.

4. Reflectivity and colour are separate rules

A film can pass on VLT and still be illegal for being mirrored, metallic, red or amber. Many states cap reflectance with its own percentage and ban specific colours on the windshield strip.

5. Body type changes the answer

Sedan rules and SUV/van/truck rules diverge in most states behind the driver. If your vehicle is a wagon, a crossover or a pickup, check which column your state's statute actually puts it in — some states classify by manufacturer designation, not by what it looks like.

6. Paperwork counts as compliance

Some states require an installer sticker in the door jamb, a film-manufacturer certification, or a medical-exemption letter carried in the glovebox. Legal film with missing paperwork is still a citation in those states.

Tint law questions

What does VLT mean on a window tint law?

VLT is Visible Light Transmission — the percentage of visible light that passes through the window. A 5% VLT film lets 5% of light through and is very dark; a 70% VLT window is nearly clear. Tint laws set a minimum VLT, so a lower number is darker and a "35% limit" means the window must let at least 35% of light through. The measurement is almost always the film and the glass together, not the film on its own, so a 35% film on factory glass usually measures below 35%.

Do window tint laws apply to SUVs, vans and trucks?

Often differently than to sedans. Many states let multi-purpose vehicles — SUVs, vans, pickups — run darker film behind the driver than a sedan may, while holding the front side windows and windshield to the same rule. Some states draw no distinction at all. Each state page here lists sedans and SUVs, vans and trucks in separate columns so you can see which applies to your vehicle.

Can I get a medical exemption for darker tint?

Most states have some form of medical exemption for light-sensitive conditions, but the process is not the same twice: some need a physician certification carried in the vehicle, some issue a permit or sticker through the DMV or state police, and a few have no exemption on record at all. Check the "Medical exemption" section of your state page for what that state actually requires, then confirm with the agency named there.

How is window tint measured by police?

With a VLT meter clipped over the glass, which reads the film and the glass together. That is why factory glass matters: a 20% film on glass that is already 70% VLT reads about 14%, not 20%. Several states publish a measurement tolerance that officers apply to the reading — where a state states one, it is listed on that state's page under Measurement tolerance.

Does out-of-state tint matter when I drive through?

Generally you are subject to the law of the state you are driving in, not the state that registered the car, so tint that is legal at home can be cited on a road trip. A few states write an explicit exception — Michigan, for example, exempts out-of-state-registered vehicles from its tint section. If you cross state lines often, read the pages for the states you drive in, not just your own.

Legal disclaimer: this is general information, not legal advice. Tint statutes change and enforcement practice varies by jurisdiction — verify with your state DMV or state police before relying on anything here.