TN · tint law reference

Tennessee window tint laws

Last verified September 13, 2026 · Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-107 (Tinted motor vehicle windows)

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.

Tennessee window tint limits by window and vehicle type
Window Sedans SUVs, vans & trucks
Windshield Minimum 70% VLT, except manufacturer's standard shade band Minimum 70% VLT, except manufacturer's standard shade band
Front side 35% VLT or lighter 35% VLT or lighter
Back side 35% VLT or lighter 35% VLT or lighter
Rear 35% VLT or lighter 35% 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

    none specified in sources reviewed

    Colors

    none specified in sources reviewed

    Medical exemption

    Physician certification submitted to Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security (Driver.Improvement@tn.gov) with doctor's note, registration copy, and license number; reviewed by the department's medical review board; ~3–4 weeks processing; approved applicants receive a certificate/decal. Windshield itself cannot be exempted (per official safetysupport.tn.gov page).

    Stickers & certification

    Professional installers must affix a compliance label to the lower right corner of the driver's window and provide a signed receipt stating 'Complies with Tennessee Code Annotated, § 55-9-107, at date of installation'

    Measurement tolerance

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

    Penalties

    Refusing an officer's field light-transmittance test is a Class C misdemeanor; violation itself is enforced similarly (exact fine amount not confirmed in sources reviewed)

    Notes

    Statute applies uniformly to all window tinting (no explicit sedan vs SUV/van split found). Tennessee's official codified law is published through a licensed commercial publisher (not freely hosted on a tn.gov statute-text page), so full verbatim text was read via FindLaw's mirror; the medical-exemption process and windshield exemption were confirmed directly on the official Tennessee Dept. of Safety help-center page (safetysupport.tn.gov, tn.gov domain).

    Tennessee tint questions

    What is the darkest legal tint in Tennessee?

    For a sedan in Tennessee, 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.

    Is 20% tint legal in Tennessee?

    No, not on the front side windows. Tennessee 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 Tennessee?

    Tennessee's rule for the windshield: Minimum 70% VLT, except manufacturer's standard shade band

    Does Tennessee allow a medical exemption for darker tint?

    What the source says: Physician certification submitted to Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security (Driver.Improvement@tn.gov) with doctor's note, registration copy, and license number; reviewed by the department's medical review board; ~3–4 weeks processing; approved applicants receive a certificate/decal. Windshield itself cannot be exempted (per official safetysupport.tn.gov page). Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.

    Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Tennessee?

    Professional installers must affix a compliance label to the lower right corner of the driver's window and provide a signed receipt stating 'Complies with Tennessee Code Annotated, § 55-9-107, at date of installation'

    Nearby states

    Where this comes from

    Statute cited: Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-107 (Tinted motor vehicle windows)

    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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