IL · tint law reference

Illinois window tint laws

Last verified September 13, 2026 · 625 ILCS 5/12-503

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.

Illinois window tint limits by window and vehicle type
Window Sedans SUVs, vans & trucks
Windshield No sign/tint/reflective or nonreflective material on windshield or side windows immediately adjacent to the driver, except a non-reflective tinted film on the uppermost 6 inches of the windshield Same 6-inch non-reflective strip rule as sedan
Front side 35% VLT or lighter 50% VLT or lighter
Back side 35% VLT or lighter 30% VLT or lighter
Rear 35% VLT or lighter 30% VLT or lighter

Dual side mirrors required if the rear is tinted? Not stated in the sources we checked.

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 reflective or metallic-appearance film permitted on front side windows (non-reflective required)

    Colors

    Not specified in the sources reviewed

    Medical exemption

    Not confirmed in the sources reviewed

    Stickers & certification

    Not specified in the sources reviewed

    Measurement tolerance

    5% measurement tolerance applied by law enforcement per secondary sources (not independently confirmed against statute text)

    Penalties

    Not specified in the sources reviewed

    Notes

    Illinois offers a binary choice rather than a single VLT floor: Option A = 50% VLT front side windows paired with all windows behind the driver at 30%+ VLT; Option B = uniform 35% VLT front and rear. Direct fetch of ilga.gov failed (TLS certificate error) in this session; the paired-option structure and figures are corroborated by multiple independent secondary-source summaries agreeing on the same numbers, but were not confirmed against the statute's literal text in this pass.

    Illinois tint questions

    What is the darkest legal tint in Illinois?

    For a sedan in Illinois, front side windows must let at least 35% of light through, back side windows at least 35%, and the rear window at least 35%. 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 50%, back side 30%, rear 30%.

    Is 20% tint legal in Illinois?

    No, not on the front side windows. Illinois requires at least 35% 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 35% floor, so 20% is too dark there too.

    Can I tint the windshield in Illinois?

    Illinois's rule for the windshield: No sign/tint/reflective or nonreflective material on windshield or side windows immediately adjacent to the driver, except a non-reflective tinted film on the uppermost 6 inches of the windshield

    Does Illinois allow a medical exemption for darker tint?

    What the source says: Not confirmed in the sources reviewed Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.

    Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Illinois?

    Not specified in the sources reviewed

    Nearby states

    Where this comes from

    Statute cited: 625 ILCS 5/12-503

    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