PA · tint law reference

Pennsylvania window tint laws

Last verified September 13, 2026 · 67 Pa. Code §§ 175.263–175.265 (Subchapter O, Vehicle Sun Screening Devices); enforcement standard per PennDOT Vehicle Window Tint Fact Sheet

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.

Pennsylvania window tint limits by window and vehicle type
Window Sedans SUVs, vans & trucks
Windshield Non-reflective material allowed only along the top edge, not extending more than 3 inches below the top of the windshield and not encroaching on the AS-1 area; PennDOT applies a 70% VLT floor as the practical citation threshold Same restriction as sedan on the windshield
Front side 70% VLT or lighter 70% VLT or lighter
Back side 70% VLT or lighter No limit stated
Rear 70% VLT or lighter 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

    none found — the regulation is qualitative ('must permit a person to see/view inside the vehicle'), no numeric reflectance cap located in the code text

    Colors

    none found in the regulation text (some secondary sources claim red/amber/blue bans, but this was not confirmed on the primary code page — treat as unverified)

    Medical exemption

    Certificate of exemption issued by PennDOT; requires vehicle description (make/year/model/VIN) plus certification from a licensed physician or optometrist; only 'colorless' UV-filtering sun screening product qualifies (no dark/tinted film via this route); certificate must be carried in the vehicle and shown on request/inspection; becomes void upon sale/transfer of the vehicle. Contact: PennDOT Medical Unit, (717) 787-9662.

    Stickers & certification

    For pre-1998 rear windows treated with permanent film, a label permanently installed between the film and glass must show the manufacturer's name/registration number and the statement 'Complies with VESC-20' per the PennDOT fact sheet

    Measurement tolerance

    This state does not state a measurement tolerance in the sources we checked.

    Penalties

    Summary offense; fines up to $110 (per secondary sources — the code's regulatory text itself does not state a dollar figure; the general summary-offense fine schedule under Title 75 applies)

    Notes

    The Pennsylvania regulatory code does NOT itself specify a numeric VLT — its language only bars anything that keeps someone from seeing into the vehicle. The 70% figure is PennDOT's own published enforcement standard (April 2025 fact sheet), which differentiates by vehicle type: passenger cars need 70% on all four window groups (pre-1998 rear windows instead need a 'Complies with VESC-20' label). Trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles, medium/heavy trucks & buses, and 'all other vehicles' need 70% on windshield and front side only — no requirement on rear side/rear window.

    Pennsylvania tint questions

    What is the darkest legal tint in Pennsylvania?

    For a sedan in Pennsylvania, front side windows must let at least 70% of light through, back side windows at least 70%, and the rear window at least 70%. 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 70%, back side no stated number, rear no stated number.

    Is 20% tint legal in Pennsylvania?

    No, not on the front side windows. Pennsylvania requires at least 70% 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 70% floor, so 20% is too dark there too.

    Can I tint the windshield in Pennsylvania?

    Pennsylvania's rule for the windshield: Non-reflective material allowed only along the top edge, not extending more than 3 inches below the top of the windshield and not encroaching on the AS-1 area; PennDOT applies a 70% VLT floor as the practical citation threshold

    Does Pennsylvania allow a medical exemption for darker tint?

    What the source says: Certificate of exemption issued by PennDOT; requires vehicle description (make/year/model/VIN) plus certification from a licensed physician or optometrist; only 'colorless' UV-filtering sun screening product qualifies (no dark/tinted film via this route); certificate must be carried in the vehicle and shown on request/inspection; becomes void upon sale/transfer of the vehicle. Contact: PennDOT Medical Unit, (717) 787-9662. Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.

    Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Pennsylvania?

    For pre-1998 rear windows treated with permanent film, a label permanently installed between the film and glass must show the manufacturer's name/registration number and the statement 'Complies with VESC-20' per the PennDOT fact sheet

    Nearby states

    Where this comes from

    Statute cited: 67 Pa. Code §§ 175.263–175.265 (Subchapter O, Vehicle Sun Screening Devices); enforcement standard per PennDOT Vehicle Window Tint Fact Sheet

    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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