RI · tint law reference
Rhode Island window tint laws
Last verified September 13, 2026 · R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 31-23.3-2 through 31-23.3-6
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 | Per RI DMV: nontransparent/sunscreen material banned on windshield except the uppermost 6 inches (statute §31-23.3-2 itself bans covering the windshield outright; the top-6-inch carve-out is stated on the official DMV guidance page implementing the DMV's administrative rules under §31-23.3-3) | Same as sedan |
| 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 — neither the statute nor the DMV page states a numeric reflectivity cap
Colors
none specified
Medical exemption
Owner or legal guardian submits a physician- or optometrist-signed affidavit (RI-licensed) to the Division of Motor Vehicles attesting to a physical condition requiring a sunscreening device exceeding the normal standard; DMV review/approval results in an identification sticker (for the driver's-side window) or certificate. Per DMV: exemption does NOT apply to the windshield.
Stickers & certification
Installer must affix a label (≤1.5 sq. in.) to the front window's lower-left corner (viewed from outside) showing the installer's name and percentage of light transmittance; medical exemption holders separately get a DMV identification sticker/certificate
Measurement tolerance
This state does not state a measurement tolerance in the sources we checked.
Penalties
Up to $250 fine for a vehicle owner operating with noncompliant tint; up to $250 fine for a business/installer that installs noncompliant tint (per-offense)
Notes
The statute (§31-23.3-3) delegates the actual numeric VLT standard to DMV-issued rules/regulations rather than fixing it in the statute text itself; the 70% figure and windshield top-6-inch rule come from the DMV's own official implementing guidance page. §31-23.3-4 exempts windows behind the driver in trucks, buses, trailers, mobile homes, campers, multipurpose vehicles, charter buses, funeral vehicles, and limousines from the 70% floor, conditioned on dual outside mirrors meeting federal standards — sedans get no such exemption.
Rhode Island tint questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Rhode Island?
For a sedan in Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island?
No, not on the front side windows. Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island?
Rhode Island's rule for the windshield: Per RI DMV: nontransparent/sunscreen material banned on windshield except the uppermost 6 inches (statute §31-23.3-2 itself bans covering the windshield outright; the top-6-inch carve-out is stated on the official DMV guidance page implementing the DMV's administrative rules under §31-23.3-3)
Does Rhode Island allow a medical exemption for darker tint?
What the source says: Owner or legal guardian submits a physician- or optometrist-signed affidavit (RI-licensed) to the Division of Motor Vehicles attesting to a physical condition requiring a sunscreening device exceeding the normal standard; DMV review/approval results in an identification sticker (for the driver's-side window) or certificate. Per DMV: exemption does NOT apply to the windshield. Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.
Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Rhode Island?
Installer must affix a label (≤1.5 sq. in.) to the front window's lower-left corner (viewed from outside) showing the installer's name and percentage of light transmittance; medical exemption holders separately get a DMV identification sticker/certificate
Nearby states
Where this comes from
Statute cited: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 31-23.3-2 through 31-23.3-6
- dmv.ri.govhttps://dmv.ri.gov/node/1636
- webserver.rilegislature.govhttps://webserver.rilegislature.gov/statutes/title31/31-23.3/31-23.3-2.HTM
- webserver.rilegislature.govhttps://webserver.rilegislature.gov/statutes/title31/31-23.3/31-23.3-3.HTM
- webserver.rilegislature.govhttps://webserver.rilegislature.gov/statutes/title31/31-23.3/31-23.3-4.HTM
- webserver.rilegislature.govhttps://webserver.rilegislature.gov/statutes/title31/31-23.3/31-23.3-5.HTM
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.