MD · tint law reference
Maryland window tint laws
Last verified September 13, 2026 · Transportation Article §22-406
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 | Tint below the AS1 line or below 5 inches from the top is not permitted (per the limiting clause in (i)(4)(iv), the operative practical standard for the windshield) | Same windshield rule as sedan |
| Front side | 35% VLT or lighter | 35% VLT or lighter |
| Back side | 35% VLT or lighter | No limit stated |
| Rear | 35% 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
Not addressed anywhere in this statute
Colors
Not addressed anywhere in this statute
Medical exemption
Yes: written certification from a Maryland-licensed physician, in the format required by the Automotive Safety Enforcement Division of the Dept. of State Police, detailing medical need; valid up to 2 years (indefinite if the physician deems the condition permanent). Certification requirement does not apply to easily-removable tinting used to shield a child under 10 from the sun.
Stickers & certification
No general certification/sticker required for standard tinting; only the medical exemption requires written physician certification carried in the vehicle.
Measurement tolerance
This state does not state a measurement tolerance in the sources we checked.
Penalties
An officer who observes a violation may stop the driver, issue a citation, and issue a safety equipment repair order (§23-105); the statute does not itself state a specific dollar fine.
Notes
Maryland regulates by VEHICLE REGISTRATION CLASS, not a generic 'sedan vs. SUV/van' label: vehicles registered under Transportation Article §13-912 (passenger vehicles) must keep ALL windows at ≥35% VLT, while vehicles registered under §13-913, §13-917, or §13-937 (trucks/multipurpose-type registrations) are only restricted on the windows immediately to the right or left of the driver — rear side and rear windows on those registration classes have no stated VLT floor, which is the basis for the suv_van back/rear = unrestricted entries above.
Maryland tint questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Maryland?
For a sedan in Maryland, 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 35%, back side no stated number, rear no stated number.
Is 20% tint legal in Maryland?
No, not on the front side windows. Maryland 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 Maryland?
Maryland's rule for the windshield: Tint below the AS1 line or below 5 inches from the top is not permitted (per the limiting clause in (i)(4)(iv), the operative practical standard for the windshield)
Does Maryland allow a medical exemption for darker tint?
What the source says: Yes: written certification from a Maryland-licensed physician, in the format required by the Automotive Safety Enforcement Division of the Dept. of State Police, detailing medical need; valid up to 2 years (indefinite if the physician deems the condition permanent). Certification requirement does not apply to easily-removable tinting used to shield a child under 10 from the sun. Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.
Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Maryland?
No general certification/sticker required for standard tinting; only the medical exemption requires written physician certification carried in the vehicle.
Where this comes from
Statute cited: Transportation Article §22-406
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.