Maryland requires every window on a sedan to let at least 35% of light through — front side, rear side, and rear window all share the same floor. SUVs, vans, and trucks only need that 35% up front; their rear side windows and rear window are unrestricted. This comes from Transportation Code 22-406 and implementing regulation COMAR 11.14.02.14, applied the same statewide.
Maryland VLT limits by window
- Sedans / passenger cars: every window — front side, rear side, and rear window — must allow at least 35% VLT.
- SUVs, vans, and trucks: only the windows immediately to the right and left of the driver (front side windows) must meet the 35% VLT floor; rear side windows and the rear window are unrestricted, any darkness.
- Windshield: no aftermarket film below the AS-1 line, or below 5 inches from the top of the glass, whichever leaves less of the glass exposed.
- Color and reflectance: COMAR 11.14.02.14.D.1 bans red, yellow, amber, and reflective (mirrored) film on any window, regardless of VLT.
Medical exemptions Maryland allows a medical exemption with a written certification from a physician licensed in the state, detailing the medical need for darker tint. As of a 2025 law change (Chapter 452, effective October 1, 2025), the old flat two-year renewal cap no longer applies across the board: a certification for a **permanent** condition is now valid indefinitely, while a certification for a non-permanent condition is still capped at two years before it needs to be renewed. Either way, the certification has to be carried in the vehicle. Separately, removable tint used to protect a child under 10 from the sun is allowed regardless of VLT.
Enforcement and penalties Illegal window tint in Maryland is a traffic citation under Transportation Code 22-406, and an officer can also issue a Safety Equipment Repair Order (SERO) requiring the tint to be corrected within a set window rather than (or in addition to) writing a fine. Reported citation amounts vary by source and jurisdiction — one Maryland county sheriff's office cites a $70 citation as the alternative to a repair order — so treat any specific dollar figure as approximate and confirm the current preset fine with the Maryland District Court or your local agency rather than relying on a fixed number here.
What this means when you're quoting a job The SUV/van exception is the detail that trips up a shop used to Maryland's sedan rule — quoting "35% all around" under-sells what's legal on an SUV's rear glass, while quoting "any darkness in back" on a sedan puts an illegal rear window on the car. A [window tint shop software](/industries/tint) tool that separates the vehicle-type rule at quote time keeps the front desk from mixing the two up.
Frequently asked questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Maryland? On a sedan, every window needs at least 35% VLT. On an SUV, van, or truck, only the front side windows need 35% VLT — the rear side windows and rear window are unrestricted.
Is 20% tint legal on a sedan's back windows in Maryland? No. Maryland holds every window on a sedan, including the rear, to the same 35% VLT floor — there's no any-darkness option for sedans the way there is for SUVs and vans.
Can I get colored or mirrored tint in Maryland? No. COMAR 11.14.02.14.D.1 bans red, yellow, amber, and reflective tint on any window in the state.
How do I get a medical tint exemption in Maryland? A written certification from a Maryland-licensed physician detailing the medical need, kept in the vehicle. Since a 2025 law change, a certification for a permanent condition no longer expires after two years — only a non-permanent condition still carries that renewal cap.
What happens if I get a tint ticket in Maryland? An officer can write a citation, issue a Safety Equipment Repair Order requiring the tint to be corrected, or both — reported dollar amounts vary by source and county, so confirm the current preset fine with the Maryland District Court or your local agency rather than relying on a single figure.
This is general information based on Maryland's public statutes and reporting on Transportation Code 22-406 and COMAR 11.14.02.14, not legal advice — enforcement can vary and laws change over time, so confirm specifics with the Maryland MVA, Maryland State Police, or a licensed attorney before you install, buy, or contest a citation.
Related
- State-by-state window tint laws (VLT limits) - Maryland shop market + VLT summary - Window tint percentages: what VLT, 5%, 20%, 35% mean - Window tint laws by state: the 2025 reference