DC · tint law reference

District of Columbia window tint laws

Last verified September 13, 2026 · D.C. Code § 50-2207.02 (implemented via Title 18 DCMR)

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.

District of Columbia window tint limits by window and vehicle type
Window Sedans SUVs, vans & trucks
Windshield Non-reflective tint permitted above the AS-1 line or within 5 inches of the top of the windshield Statute specifically calls out 'mini-vans' with looser limits; same AS-1/5in windshield-strip allowance
Front side 70% VLT or lighter 55% VLT or lighter
Back side 50% VLT or lighter 35% VLT or lighter
Rear 50% 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

    Not addressed in D.C. Code § 50-2207.02 (aggregator sites cite 25–35% reflectance limits, but this was not confirmed on the primary statute text)

    Colors

    none specified in the statute

    Medical exemption

    A letter on letterhead signed by a physician, physician assistant, ophthalmologist, or optometrist certifying that sunlight/bright-light protection is medically necessary for the registered owner or a household member; kept in the vehicle (per DC DMV page and statute subsection (h))

    Stickers & certification

    No compliance sticker or film-manufacturer certification requirement was found

    Measurement tolerance

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

    Penalties

    $50 initial citation for operating/parking a non-compliant vehicle; up to $1,000 if non-compliant after a required 5-business-day re-inspection (1st violation); up to $5,000 for subsequent violations; registration suspension for failure to respond within 30 days; adjudicated as a moving violation but no license points assessed

    Notes

    The statute distinguishes only 'mini-vans' (55%/35%) from all other vehicles (70%/50%) — it does not create a separate category for SUVs/trucks generally, so ordinary SUVs likely fall under the standard 70%/50% rule rather than the mini-van rule; the suv_van bucket uses the mini-van figures, which is an interpretive choice, not a direct statutory SUV category. Police may immediately remove a vehicle from the street if tint poses a safety/health risk (subsection f); DMV must reject non-compliant vehicles at inspection.

    District of Columbia tint questions

    What is the darkest legal tint in District of Columbia?

    For a sedan in District of Columbia, front side windows must let at least 70% of light through, back side windows at least 50%, and the rear window at least 50%. 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 55%, back side 35%, rear 35%.

    Is 20% tint legal in District of Columbia?

    No, not on the front side windows. District of Columbia 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 50% floor, so 20% is too dark there too.

    Can I tint the windshield in District of Columbia?

    District of Columbia's rule for the windshield: Non-reflective tint permitted above the AS-1 line or within 5 inches of the top of the windshield

    Does District of Columbia allow a medical exemption for darker tint?

    What the source says: A letter on letterhead signed by a physician, physician assistant, ophthalmologist, or optometrist certifying that sunlight/bright-light protection is medically necessary for the registered owner or a household member; kept in the vehicle (per DC DMV page and statute subsection (h)) Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.

    Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in District of Columbia?

    No compliance sticker or film-manufacturer certification requirement was found

    Nearby states

    Where this comes from

    Statute cited: D.C. Code § 50-2207.02 (implemented via Title 18 DCMR)

    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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