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 | All aftermarket sun-screening devices on the windshield are prohibited, except factory-installed tinted glass/its equivalent replacement, or manufacturer-standard tinting on the upper portion of the windshield | Same as sedan — the statute contains no separate provision or distinction for SUVs, vans, trucks, or any other vehicle body type |
| Front side | 35% VLT or lighter | 35% VLT or lighter |
| Back side | No limit stated | No limit stated |
| Rear | No limit stated | 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
Front sidewing vents/front side windows immediately left and right of the driver: luminous reflectance must be 35% or less (±3%); no reflectance figure is given for other windows because the statute does not regulate them
Colors
Not specified in the statute
Medical exemption
Yes — a Department of Public Safety permit may be issued, based on a physician's prescription, to a person with a serious medical condition, allowing front side windows darker/more reflective than the 35%/35% standard. The permit extends to the titleholder and relatives within the second degree of consanguinity/affinity residing in the household.
Stickers & certification
Not addressed — this statute does not establish a compliance sticker/label program
Measurement tolerance
±3 percentage points on both the 35% light-transmission floor and the 35% reflectance ceiling for front side windows
Penalties
Any violation of the section is a class C misdemeanor. Vehicles bearing a historical license plate are exempt from the section entirely.
Notes
Confirmed by reading the full statute text: RSMo §307.173 ONLY regulates (a) the windshield (aftermarket tint banned except factory/top-strip exceptions) and (b) the 'front sidewing vents or windows located immediately to the left and right of the driver' (35% VLT / 35% max reflectance, ±3%). It contains no language at all about rear side windows, the rear window, or any distinction for vans/SUVs/multipurpose vehicles — those windows are simply not addressed by this statute, which is why back_side_vlt and rear_vlt are null rather than a discovered number (there being no statutory restriction to report, not a research gap).
Missouri tint questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Missouri?
For a sedan in Missouri, front side windows must let at least 35% of light through, no number is stated for the back side windows, and none for the rear window. 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 Missouri?
No, not on the front side windows. Missouri 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. Behind the driver the statute states no VLT number, so 20% may be allowed on the back side and rear windows — read the notes on this page and confirm with the DMV.
Can I tint the windshield in Missouri?
Missouri's rule for the windshield: All aftermarket sun-screening devices on the windshield are prohibited, except factory-installed tinted glass/its equivalent replacement, or manufacturer-standard tinting on the upper portion of the windshield
Does Missouri allow a medical exemption for darker tint?
What the source says: Yes — a Department of Public Safety permit may be issued, based on a physician's prescription, to a person with a serious medical condition, allowing front side windows darker/more reflective than the 35%/35% standard. The permit extends to the titleholder and relatives within the second degree of consanguinity/affinity residing in the household. Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.
Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Missouri?
Not addressed — this statute does not establish a compliance sticker/label program
Where this comes from
Statute cited: RSMo §307.173
- revisor.mo.govhttps://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=307.173
- revisor.mo.govhttps://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=307.173&bid=16503
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.