SD · tint law reference
South Dakota window tint laws
Last verified September 13, 2026 · S.D. Codified Laws § 32-15-3.2 (and §§ 32-15-2.4–32-15-5, sunscreening devices)
Confirm this one. We could not confirm every detail on the state's own site. Confirm with your state DMV before relying on this.
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 | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line |
| Front side | 35% VLT or lighter | 35% VLT or lighter |
| Back side | 20% VLT or lighter | 20% VLT or lighter |
| Rear | 20% VLT or lighter | 20% VLT or lighter |
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 and back side windows may not have a metallic or mirrored appearance
Colors
none specified in sources reviewed
Medical exemption
South Dakota provides a medical exemption process for darker tint (per secondary sources); exact application procedure not independently confirmed on a primary page
Stickers & certification
Film manufacturers must certify film sold in South Dakota (per secondary sources; not independently confirmed on primary text)
Measurement tolerance
9% (reported enforcement tolerance; not independently confirmed on primary text)
Penalties
Reported as $100–$200 fine for first offense (not independently confirmed on primary text)
Notes
IMPORTANT LIMITATION: sdlegislature.gov serves statute pages via a JavaScript single-page app; the fetch tool could only retrieve a loading shell, not the rendered statute text, despite multiple attempts. All numeric values here are corroborated across multiple independent secondary summaries that agree with each other, but none were confirmed by directly reading rendered primary-source text. Treat this state's numbers as less certain than the others in this set.
South Dakota tint questions
What is the darkest legal tint in South Dakota?
For a sedan in South Dakota, front side windows must let at least 35% of light through, back side windows at least 20%, and the rear window at least 20%. 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 South Dakota?
No, not on the front side windows. South Dakota 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 20% floor, so 20% film can be legal there.
Can I tint the windshield in South Dakota?
South Dakota's rule for the windshield: Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line
Does South Dakota allow a medical exemption for darker tint?
What the source says: South Dakota provides a medical exemption process for darker tint (per secondary sources); exact application procedure not independently confirmed on a primary page Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.
Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in South Dakota?
Film manufacturers must certify film sold in South Dakota (per secondary sources; not independently confirmed on primary text)
Where this comes from
Statute cited: S.D. Codified Laws § 32-15-3.2 (and §§ 32-15-2.4–32-15-5, sunscreening devices)
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.