CA · tint law reference
California window tint laws
Last verified September 14, 2026 · Cal. Veh. Code § 26708 (as amended by Stats. 2025, ch. 417 (SB 506), eff. Jan. 1, 2026); see also § 26708.2 (sun screening devices)
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.
| Window | Sedans | SUVs, vans & trucks |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Transparent material on the topmost portion only: its bottom edge must be at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat (measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest, seat in its rearmost and lowermost position, vehicle level); not red or amber; no opaque lettering and no lettering that distorts vision; and it may not add glare for oncoming or following drivers. The statute uses this 29-inch measurement, not an AS-1 line or a 4-inch strip (§ 26708(c)) | Same 29-inch rule as sedan |
| Front side | 70% VLT or lighter | 70% VLT or lighter |
| Back side | No VLT limit | No VLT limit |
| Rear | No VLT limit | 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
No numeric limit; windshield material may not reflect sunlight or headlight glare into the eyes of occupants of oncoming or following vehicles to any greater extent than the windshield without it (§ 26708(c)(4))
Colors
Red and amber on the windshield strip; front side window material must be clear, colorless and transparent (§ 26708(c)(2),(d))
Medical exemption
yes - two routes in the statute: (1) sun screening devices meeting § 26708.2 on the side windows either side of the front seat, if the driver or a front-seat passenger carries a letter or document signed by a licensed physician and surgeon (medical condition) or a licensed optometrist (visual condition) certifying the need to be shaded - these may not be used during darkness; and (2) clear, colorless, transparent 88%-VLT film on the windshield, side or rear windows if the driver carries a letter signed by a licensed dermatologist certifying that a medical condition requires it (§ 26708(b)(10),(e))
Stickers & certification
yes for front side window film - the driver must have in their possession or in the vehicle a certificate signed by the installing company (or by the film manufacturer if the owner installed it) certifying compliance and identifying the installer and the film manufacturer by full name and street address. The film itself must have at least 88% visible light transmittance and the glazing with film applied must meet FMVSS 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including its 70% minimum light transmittance and AS-14 abrasion resistance (§ 26708(d))
Measurement tolerance
This state does not state a measurement tolerance in the sources we checked.
Penalties
Not stated in § 26708
Notes
§ 26708(a)(1) is a blanket prohibition on any object or material on the windshield or side or rear windows; every darkness allowance is an exception in subdivisions (b)-(e). Side windows to the rear of the driver are excepted outright (§ 26708(b)(4)), so any darkness is allowed there on any vehicle; the rear window is excepted when the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides giving a view at least 200 feet to the rear (§ 26708(b)(8)) - hence the nulls and the dual-mirror flag. There is no separate rule for SUVs, vans or trucks. Practically, dark aftermarket film on the front side windows is not legal at any VLT: only clear, colorless film of at least 88% VLT may be applied there, and the glazing must still pass FMVSS 205's 70% floor. Also excepted: corner stickers (7-inch squares in the lower corners of the windshield and rear window farthest from the driver, 5-inch square nearest the driver), a wide-angle lens on vehicles over 80 inches wide, electronic toll/CHP communication devices, portable GPS and video event recorders in defined positions, and vehicle safety technology under 49 C.F.R. 393.5.
California tint questions
What is the darkest legal tint in California?
For a sedan in California, front side windows must let at least 70% of light through, no number is stated for the back side windows, and none for the rear window. Lower VLT means darker glass, so those percentages are floors, not targets, and the meter reads the film and the factory glass together.
Is 20% tint legal in California?
No, not on the front side windows. California requires at least 70% VLT there and 20% is darker than that, before you even account for the factory glass, which makes the reading darker still. Behind the driver the statute states no VLT number, so 20% may be allowed on the back side and rear windows — read the notes on this page and confirm with the DMV.
Can I tint the windshield in California?
California's rule for the windshield: Transparent material on the topmost portion only: its bottom edge must be at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat (measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest, seat in its rearmost and lowermost position, vehicle level); not red or amber; no opaque lettering and no lettering that distorts vision; and it may not add glare for oncoming or following drivers. The statute uses this 29-inch measurement, not an AS-1 line or a 4-inch strip (§ 26708(c))
Does California allow a medical exemption for darker tint?
What the source says: yes - two routes in the statute: (1) sun screening devices meeting § 26708.2 on the side windows either side of the front seat, if the driver or a front-seat passenger carries a letter or document signed by a licensed physician and surgeon (medical condition) or a licensed optometrist (visual condition) certifying the need to be shaded - these may not be used during darkness; and (2) clear, colorless, transparent 88%-VLT film on the windshield, side or rear windows if the driver carries a letter signed by a licensed dermatologist certifying that a medical condition requires it (§ 26708(b)(10),(e)) Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.
Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in California?
yes for front side window film - the driver must have in their possession or in the vehicle a certificate signed by the installing company (or by the film manufacturer if the owner installed it) certifying compliance and identifying the installer and the film manufacturer by full name and street address. The film itself must have at least 88% visible light transmittance and the glazing with film applied must meet FMVSS 205 (49 C.F.R. 571.205), including its 70% minimum light transmittance and AS-14 abrasion resistance (§ 26708(d))
Nearby states
Where this comes from
Statute cited: Cal. Veh. Code § 26708 (as amended by Stats. 2025, ch. 417 (SB 506), eff. Jan. 1, 2026); see also § 26708.2 (sun screening devices)
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.