AL · tint law reference

Alabama window tint laws

Last verified September 14, 2026 · Ala. Code §§ 32-5C-1 to 32-5C-7 (Act 96-534, eff. Aug. 15, 1996; § 32-5C-4 am. Act 2016-392); ALEA Admin. Code r. 760-X-1-.17

Legal tint limits at a glance

VLT is the share of light the window must let through — a lower number is darker film, and the reading includes the factory glass.

Alabama window tint limits by window and vehicle type
Window Sedans SUVs, vans & trucks
Windshield Only the uppermost 6 inches may be covered, and only with a transparent item that is not red or amber; no other material may reduce light transmission through the front windshield (§ 32-5C-2(1), § 32-5C-3(4)) Same as sedan: transparent, non-red/amber material on the uppermost 6 inches only
Front side 32% VLT or lighter 32% VLT or lighter
Back side 32% VLT or lighter No VLT limit
Rear 32% VLT or lighter No VLT limit

Dual side mirrors required if the rear is tinted? Yes — this state requires dual outside mirrors when the rear window is tinted.

Is my tint legal here?

Film darkness and glass darkness multiply. Enter the film you are considering and the VLT of the bare glass to get the number a meter would read.

70 for tinted OEM glass, 80 for clear

Net VLT 14% 20% film × 70% glass

    Pass/fail compares net VLT against the limits on this page only. Some states apply a measurement tolerance — see Measurement tolerance below — and none of this replaces a meter reading on your own glass.

    The rest of the rule

    Reflectivity

    Light reflectance may not exceed 20% on the rear windshield or the side/door windows (§ 32-5C-2(2))

    Colors

    Red and amber — the 6-inch windshield strip must be a transparent item that is not red or amber (§ 32-5C-3(4)); no color restriction on other windows

    Medical exemption

    yes - ALEA may grant an exemption on application supported by the written statement of an Alabama-licensed physician, for a vehicle the person owns or is a habitual passenger in; ALEA issues a uniquely numbered decal that must be displayed on the windshield (a fee may be charged). Exemptions for light-sensitive porphyria extend to every window/windshield area the physician prescribes (§ 32-5C-4; ALEA Driver License Division Medical Records Unit, 334-676-7396)

    Stickers & certification

    yes - a vehicle with light-reducing material on its windows or rear windshield must display a label, visible from outside, certifying compliance with § 32-5C-2; ALEA's guidance is that the label is affixed by the tinting dealer. Film manufacturers must first register the material and its label with ALEA (§§ 32-5C-5, 32-5C-6)

    Measurement tolerance

    ±3% (statute allows a 'measurement tolerance of at least 3 percent'); the officer must be equipped with a working light-transmission meter before stopping the driver (§ 32-5C-2(2))

    Penalties

    Misdemeanor: first conviction up to $100 and/or 10 days; second conviction within one year up to $200 and/or 30 days; third or subsequent within one year up to $500 and/or 3 months (§ 32-5C-7)

    Notes

    The statute sets one 32% floor for all side/door windows and the rear windshield and makes no distinction by body style. The darker-behind-the-driver allowance for SUVs/vans comes from the § 32-5C-3(6) exception for tint 'permitted by federal law or regulation' (FMVSS 205 for multipurpose passenger vehicles), which ALEA's official Highway Patrol page applies to 'Multi-purpose Passenger and Recreational Vehicles': darker tint behind the driver as allowed by the vehicle manufacturer under federal law, with outside rearview mirrors required on each side. ALEA also states the vehicle manufacturer determines the classification. Chapter 5C applies only to vehicles registered in Alabama (§ 32-5C-3(7)); factory-tinted glazing is exempt (§ 32-5C-3(6)). The official ALEA rule 760-X-1-.17 is served as a PDF whose text layer could not be extracted locally; every number in it is stated on the ALEA web page that was read directly.

    Alabama tint questions

    What is the darkest legal tint in Alabama?

    For a sedan in Alabama, front side windows must let at least 32% of light through, back side windows at least 32%, and the rear window at least 32%. Lower VLT means darker glass, so those percentages are floors, not targets, and the meter reads the film and the factory glass together. SUVs, vans and trucks are listed separately: front side 32%, back side no VLT limit, rear no VLT limit.

    Is 20% tint legal in Alabama?

    No, not on the front side windows. Alabama requires at least 32% VLT there and 20% is darker than that, before you even account for the factory glass, which makes the reading darker still. The back side windows have a 32% floor, so 20% is too dark there too.

    Can I tint the windshield in Alabama?

    Alabama's rule for the windshield: Only the uppermost 6 inches may be covered, and only with a transparent item that is not red or amber; no other material may reduce light transmission through the front windshield (§ 32-5C-2(1), § 32-5C-3(4))

    Does Alabama allow a medical exemption for darker tint?

    What the source says: yes - ALEA may grant an exemption on application supported by the written statement of an Alabama-licensed physician, for a vehicle the person owns or is a habitual passenger in; ALEA issues a uniquely numbered decal that must be displayed on the windshield (a fee may be charged). Exemptions for light-sensitive porphyria extend to every window/windshield area the physician prescribes (§ 32-5C-4; ALEA Driver License Division Medical Records Unit, 334-676-7396) Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.

    Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Alabama?

    yes - a vehicle with light-reducing material on its windows or rear windshield must display a label, visible from outside, certifying compliance with § 32-5C-2; ALEA's guidance is that the label is affixed by the tinting dealer. Film manufacturers must first register the material and its label with ALEA (§§ 32-5C-5, 32-5C-6)

    Nearby states

    Where this comes from

    Statute cited: Ala. Code §§ 32-5C-1 to 32-5C-7 (Act 96-534, eff. Aug. 15, 1996; § 32-5C-4 am. Act 2016-392); ALEA Admin. Code r. 760-X-1-.17

    Checked against the state's own statute or DMV page on September 14, 2026. Laws change; if you find a newer rule, email admin@getpeelboard.com.

    Legal disclaimer: general information, not legal advice; verify with your DMV.

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