NC · tint law reference

North Carolina window tint laws

Last verified September 13, 2026 · N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-127

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.

North Carolina window tint limits by window and vehicle type
Window Sedans SUVs, vans & trucks
Windshield May be tinted only along the top, not extending more than 5 inches below the top or below the AS-1 line (whichever is longer); untinted UV-blocking clear film also allowed May be tinted only along the top, not extending more than 5 inches below the top or below the AS-1 line (whichever is longer); untinted UV-blocking clear film also allowed
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

    Light reflectance of tinted windows must be 20% or less

    Colors

    Tint film/material must be nonreflective and must not be red, yellow, or amber

    Medical exemption

    A person who is photosensitive to visible light may obtain a 5-year medical exception permit from the Drivers Medical Evaluation Program (doctor-completed evaluation form); renewal requires medical recertification

    Stickers & certification

    Medical exception permit holders must be given a DMV sticker for the lower left corner of the rear window, placed between the window and the tint; failure to display it is an infraction with a $200 fine. No certification/sticker requirement stated for standard (non-medical) compliant tint

    Measurement tolerance

    A window measuring more than 32% VLT (by an approved light meter) is conclusively presumed to meet the 35% minimum requirement

    Penalties

    Violation (installing noncompliant tint subject to inspection, or driving with noncompliant tint) is a Class 3 misdemeanor; a defense exists if the tint is removed within 15 days of the charge and compliance is certified by DMV/Highway Patrol

    Notes

    35%/20% reflectance rules (subdivisions (b)(1) and (b)(2)) do not apply at all to rear/back-side windows of a 'multipurpose vehicle' (defined as a ≤10-passenger vehicle on a truck chassis or with off-road features, expressly including minivans and pickup trucks) for the windows behind the driver — so those windows can be any darkness; the windshield restriction still applies without exception to all vehicle types, including multipurpose vehicles. Full statute text read directly from the official NC General Assembly (ncleg.gov) enacted-statutes page/PDF.

    North Carolina tint questions

    What is the darkest legal tint in North Carolina?

    For a sedan in North Carolina, 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 North Carolina?

    No, not on the front side windows. North Carolina 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 North Carolina?

    North Carolina's rule for the windshield: May be tinted only along the top, not extending more than 5 inches below the top or below the AS-1 line (whichever is longer); untinted UV-blocking clear film also allowed

    Does North Carolina allow a medical exemption for darker tint?

    What the source says: A person who is photosensitive to visible light may obtain a 5-year medical exception permit from the Drivers Medical Evaluation Program (doctor-completed evaluation form); renewal requires medical recertification Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.

    Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in North Carolina?

    Medical exception permit holders must be given a DMV sticker for the lower left corner of the rear window, placed between the window and the tint; failure to display it is an infraction with a $200 fine. No certification/sticker requirement stated for standard (non-medical) compliant tint

    Nearby states

    Where this comes from

    Statute cited: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-127

    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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