HI · tint law reference

Hawaii window tint laws

Last verified September 13, 2026 · Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291-21.5 (as amended by Act 129, 2025)

Confirm this one. We could not confirm every detail on the state's own site. Confirm with your state DMV before relying on this.

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.

Hawaii window tint limits by window and vehicle type
Window Sedans SUVs, vans & trucks
Windshield Non-reflective tint allowed only on top 4 inches (AS-1 line) Same as sedan
Front side 20% VLT or lighter 20% VLT or lighter
Back side No limit stated No limit stated
Rear No limit stated No limit stated

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

    Not specified in the sources reviewed

    Colors

    mirrored, metallic, red, yellow, amber, or blue tint

    Medical exemption

    Not confirmed for the post-Act-129 statute in the sources reviewed (older HRS 291-21.5 version had a medical-necessity path per secondary sources; not verified against the amended text here)

    Stickers & certification

    Not specified in the sources reviewed

    Measurement tolerance

    This state does not state a measurement tolerance in the sources we checked.

    Penalties

    Act 129 increased the minimum and maximum fines for violations (exact dollar amounts not obtained)

    Notes

    Act 129 (signed 2025-05-29) is a major rewrite, effective for the 2026 model year per secondary reporting: it (1) lowers minimum front-window VLT from 35% to 20%, (2) exempts side windows behind the driver and the rear window on sedans from the sun-screening VLT requirement entirely (i.e., any darkness allowed there once dual mirrors are present), and (3) requires occupants to fully lower tinted windows at a traffic stop. Direct fetch of the official capitol.hawaii.gov codified-statute page returned 403; figures are drawn from bill-history reporting on the enacted Act 129 text and should be treated as provisional pending direct confirmation of the final codified HRS 291-21.5 language.

    Hawaii tint questions

    What is the darkest legal tint in Hawaii?

    For a sedan in Hawaii, front side windows must let at least 20% 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 Hawaii?

    On the front side windows, yes on paper: Hawaii allows 20% VLT or lighter there, and a film that measures 20% meets that floor. The catch is the measurement — an officer reads the film and the glass together, so a 20% film over typical 70% factory glass measures about 14% and would fail. Verify with a meter after install.

    Can I tint the windshield in Hawaii?

    Hawaii's rule for the windshield: Non-reflective tint allowed only on top 4 inches (AS-1 line)

    Does Hawaii allow a medical exemption for darker tint?

    What the source says: Not confirmed for the post-Act-129 statute in the sources reviewed (older HRS 291-21.5 version had a medical-necessity path per secondary sources; not verified against the amended text here) Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.

    Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Hawaii?

    Not specified in the sources reviewed

    Nearby states

    Hawaii does not border another US jurisdiction. See all 51 tint laws.

    Where this comes from

    Statute cited: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291-21.5 (as amended by Act 129, 2025)

    Checked against the state's own statute or DMV page on September 13, 2026. Laws change; if you find a newer rule, email admin@getpeelboard.com.

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

    ← All 51 state tint laws