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 | No sign, poster, nontransparent material, window application, reflective or nonreflective film is allowed on the windshield, except tinted film along the top edge that does not extend more than 4 inches from the top of the windshield (or lower than the factory shade band, whichever is closer to the top) | Same as sedan — statute draws no distinction by vehicle body type |
| Front side | No aftermarket film | No aftermarket film |
| 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
Rear window and any side window to the rear of the driver: total solar (visible-light) reflectance must be under 35% (a reflectance of 35% or more, e.g. silver/gold reflective film, is prohibited). No numeric reflectance ceiling is given for the front windshield/front side windows because aftermarket film is banned there outright (only the top-4-inch strip and factory glass are allowed).
Colors
Not specified by color; the statute bans reflective and nonreflective film generically on the covered areas rather than naming specific colors
Medical exemption
Yes — a special window treatment/application determined necessary by a physician or optometrist for a light-sensitive/photosensitive person is exempt, provided the owner/operator carries a signed letter from the physician/optometrist and the treatment does not obstruct the driver's clear view of the road
Stickers & certification
No statewide compliance sticker/label program exists in this section; the medical exemption relies on carrying the physician/optometrist letter in the vehicle, not a state-issued sticker
Measurement tolerance
This state does not state a measurement tolerance in the sources we checked.
Penalties
Not specified within MCL 257.709 itself — the section does not state a fine amount for a violation; Michigan generally treats Vehicle Code equipment violations like this as civil infractions under other sections of the code that were not fetched/verified here.
Notes
Michigan is unusual in setting no minimum VLT percentage anywhere: aftermarket tint on the windshield and front side windows/sidewings is banned outright except a 4-inch top strip, while the rear window and side-rear windows may be tinted to ANY darkness as long as total solar reflectance stays under 35%. Out-of-state-registered vehicles are exempt from this section entirely. A vehicle with obstructed rear visibility (e.g., from tint or cargo) must have two outside rearview mirrors, one on each side.
Michigan tint questions
Can I tint the windshield in Michigan?
Michigan's rule for the windshield: No sign, poster, nontransparent material, window application, reflective or nonreflective film is allowed on the windshield, except tinted film along the top edge that does not extend more than 4 inches from the top of the windshield (or lower than the factory shade band, whichever is closer to the top)
Does Michigan allow a medical exemption for darker tint?
What the source says: Yes — a special window treatment/application determined necessary by a physician or optometrist for a light-sensitive/photosensitive person is exempt, provided the owner/operator carries a signed letter from the physician/optometrist and the treatment does not obstruct the driver's clear view of the road Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.
Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Michigan?
No statewide compliance sticker/label program exists in this section; the medical exemption relies on carrying the physician/optometrist letter in the vehicle, not a state-issued sticker
Where this comes from
Statute cited: MCL 257.709
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.