IA · tint law reference

Iowa window tint laws

Last verified September 13, 2026 · Iowa Code § 321.438

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.

Iowa window tint limits by window and vehicle type
Window Sedans SUVs, vans & trucks
Windshield Windshield must allow at least 70% of light through (non-reflective tint typically limited to top strip per secondary sources; not independently confirmed in statute text in this pass) Same 70% windshield rule as sedan
Front side 70% VLT or lighter 70% VLT or lighter
Back side 0% VLT or lighter 0% VLT or lighter
Rear 0% VLT or lighter 0% 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

    Front windows may not be 'excessively reflective' -- no specific percentage found in the statute or administrative rules

    Colors

    Not specified in the sources reviewed

    Medical exemption

    yes - physician certification generally required per secondary sources (not independently confirmed against statute text in this pass)

    Stickers & certification

    Not specified in the sources reviewed

    Measurement tolerance

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

    Penalties

    Scheduled fine of $70 per violation

    Notes

    Iowa's front side windows require 70% VLT with no minimum darkness restriction on rear side windows or the back windshield (any darkness permitted there), per House File 766 amendments described as effective July 1, 2026. The official PDF at legis.iowa.gov could not be parsed by the fetch tool (binary/compressed stream); figures are drawn from WebSearch summaries of the official Iowa Legislature site and bill text, which should be treated as provisional pending direct text confirmation.

    Iowa tint questions

    What is the darkest legal tint in Iowa?

    For a sedan in Iowa, front side windows must let at least 70% of light through, back side windows at least 0%, and the rear window at least 0%. 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 Iowa?

    No, not on the front side windows. Iowa 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. The back side windows have a 0% floor, so 20% film can be legal there.

    Can I tint the windshield in Iowa?

    Iowa's rule for the windshield: Windshield must allow at least 70% of light through (non-reflective tint typically limited to top strip per secondary sources; not independently confirmed in statute text in this pass)

    Does Iowa allow a medical exemption for darker tint?

    What the source says: yes - physician certification generally required per secondary sources (not independently confirmed against statute text in this pass) Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.

    Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Iowa?

    Not specified in the sources reviewed

    Nearby states

    Where this comes from

    Statute cited: Iowa Code § 321.438

    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.

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