LA · tint law reference
Louisiana window tint laws
Last verified September 13, 2026 · La. R.S. 32:361.1 (medical exemption at R.S. 32:361.2)
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, not red or amber, on top 5 inches of windshield only | Same as sedan |
| Front side | 25% VLT or lighter | 25% VLT or lighter |
| Back side | 25% VLT or lighter | No limit stated |
| Rear | 12% VLT or lighter | No limit stated |
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
All sun screening devices: luminous reflectance not more than 20%
Colors
Red or amber (windshield strip only)
Medical exemption
Yes, via R.S. 32:361.2: requires an affidavit from a licensed physician or optometrist identifying a WHO ICD-9-CM-listed condition (or explaining an unlisted one); photophobia claims must explain why sunglasses are insufficient and why tint won't impair night driving; applicant must pass a criminal background/fingerprint check (violent-crime/drug convictions disqualify); exemption reviewed every 3 years except light-sensitive porphyria (valid for vehicle ownership duration, and porphyria patients may tint the top 6 inches of windshield); DPS issues a decal that must be displayed at all times; new owners must reapply or remove tint.
Stickers & certification
Mandatory: manufacturers must certify compliance to LA DPS/Office of Motor Vehicles via independent lab data; installers must affix a label (max 1.5 sq in) with installer name/city to the lower right corner of the driver's window.
Measurement tolerance
This state does not state a measurement tolerance in the sources we checked.
Penalties
Operators: up to $150 (1st offense), $250 (2nd), $350 (3rd+). Sellers/installers/manufacturers/distributors: $1,000 (1st), $2,000 (2nd), prohibited from the business upon 3rd+ conviction.
Notes
Stated VLT minimums (25%/25%/12%) are defined 'all tolerances included,' i.e., the statute folds any measurement tolerance into the published percentages rather than stating a separate tolerance figure. The light-transmittance requirement (but not the reflectance or windshield rules) does not apply to windows behind the driver on trucks, buses, trailers, motor homes, and multipurpose passenger vehicles — this is the source of the suv_van back/rear = 'any darkness' distinction. Vehicles tinted on/before 12/31/1993 under then-existing law are grandfathered with a certificate. Current text reflects the 2025 Act 143 amendment.
Louisiana tint questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Louisiana?
For a sedan in Louisiana, front side windows must let at least 25% of light through, back side windows at least 25%, and the rear window at least 12%. 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 25%, back side no stated number, rear no stated number.
Is 20% tint legal in Louisiana?
No, not on the front side windows. Louisiana requires at least 25% 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 25% floor, so 20% is too dark there too.
Can I tint the windshield in Louisiana?
Louisiana's rule for the windshield: Transparent material, not red or amber, on top 5 inches of windshield only
Does Louisiana allow a medical exemption for darker tint?
What the source says: Yes, via R.S. 32:361.2: requires an affidavit from a licensed physician or optometrist identifying a WHO ICD-9-CM-listed condition (or explaining an unlisted one); photophobia claims must explain why sunglasses are insufficient and why tint won't impair night driving; applicant must pass a criminal background/fingerprint check (violent-crime/drug convictions disqualify); exemption reviewed every 3 years except light-sensitive porphyria (valid for vehicle ownership duration, and porphyria patients may tint the top 6 inches of windshield); DPS issues a decal that must be displayed at all times; new owners must reapply or remove tint. Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.
Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Louisiana?
Mandatory: manufacturers must certify compliance to LA DPS/Office of Motor Vehicles via independent lab data; installers must affix a label (max 1.5 sq in) with installer name/city to the lower right corner of the driver's window.
Where this comes from
Statute cited: La. R.S. 32:361.1 (medical exemption at R.S. 32:361.2)
- legis.la.govhttps://legis.la.gov/Legis/law.aspx?d=88294
- legis.la.govhttps://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=88295
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.