Window tint laws for 50 states and D.C.
Window tint limits for vehicles on the road are set by each state, measured as visible light transmission (VLT): the percentage of light that passes through the window. A higher number means lighter tint. Most limits apply to the finished window (glass plus film), so film sold at a given percentage can measure darker once it is on factory glass; some states, such as California, also set a separate figure for the film itself. Separate federal glazing rules apply to vehicle and glass manufacturers and to businesses that install tint. Each state page cites its sources and shows when its summary was last checked.
Last checked against state sources: September 28, 2026. Each state page shows its own check date.
What is the legal tint limit in each state?
| State | Front side windows | Rear side windows (cars) | Rear window (cars) | SUVs, vans, trucks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AlabamaCode of Ala. §§ 32-5C-1 to 32-5C-7 | At least 32% light transmission, with a measurement tolerance of at least 3 percent | 32% | 32% | Same as cars |
| Alaska13 AAC 04.223; AS 28.05.011(a)(2); AS 28.90.010(c)-(d) | At least 70% light transmittance through the window including glazing (plus or minus 3% device allowance) | 40% | 40% | Same as cars |
| ArizonaAriz. Rev. Stat. § 28-959.01 | 33% light transmission and 35% reflectance, each plus or minus 3% (see page) | No % limit | No % limit | Same as cars |
| ArkansasArk. Code Ann. § 27-37-306; § 27-37-307; § 27-37-304 | At least 25% net light transmission (1994 and later models); no tolerance stated | 25% | 10% | Same as cars |
| CaliforniaCal. Veh. Code §§ 26708, 26708.2, 26708.5, 26708.7, 26710, 26701(d), 34500, 34500.7, 415, 40000.1, 42001, 40303.5, 40610, 40611, 40616, 49 C.F.R. 393.60 | Clear film: 88% film alone; 70% glass+film | No % limit | No % limit | Same as cars |
| ColoradoColo. Rev. Stat. §§ 42-4-227, 42-4-226(2), 42-4-1701(3)-(5) (2024 ed.) | 27% light transmittance (see page) | 27% | 27% | Same as cars |
| ConnecticutConn. Gen. Stat. § 14-99g | Not less than 35% light transmission, plus or minus 3%, not mirror-like, 27% reflectance plus or minus 3% (see page) | 35% | No % limit | Same as cars |
| Delaware21 Del. C. § 4313 | 50% or greater VLT for the tint or other material (since Aug. 17, 2026) | No % limit | No % limit | Same as cars |
| District of ColumbiaD.C. Code § 50-2207.02 | At least 70% light transmittance (55% on mini-vans); no tolerance stated | 50% | 50% | Same as cars |
| FloridaFla. Stat. §§ 316.2951-316.2957 (including § 316.29545) | At least 28 percent (plus or minus 3 percent) | 15% | 15% | Rear side 6%, rear window 6% |
| GeorgiaO.C.G.A. § 40-8-73.1 as amended by 2026 Ga. Act 640 (HB 1161) § 3, effective July 1, 2026; O.C.G.A. § 17-10-3(a)(1); Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 570-22-.05 and 570-22-.06 | 28 percent, plus or minus 3 percent | 15% | 15% | Same as cars |
| HawaiiHaw. Rev. Stat. § 291-21.5 (as amended by L 2025, c 129, § 2) | At least 35%, plus or minus 6% (film plus glass) | No % limit | No % limit | Same as cars |
| IdahoIdaho Code § 49-944 | Nonreflective film, at least 35% light transmission and at most 35% luminous reflectance, each plus or minus 3% | 20% | 35% | Same as cars |
| Illinois625 ILCS 5/12-503 (current through P.A. 103-32, eff. 1/1/2024) | 35% (paired rule, see page) | 35% | 35% | Same as cars |
| IndianaInd. Code § 9-19-19-4 | Under 30% light transmittance with over 25% reflectance barred; no tolerance stated (see page) | No % limit | 30% | Same as cars |
| IowaIowa Code § 321.438 (as amended by 2026 Iowa Acts ch. 1100, H.F. 766) | At least 50% light transmittance from July 1, 2026 (no tolerance stated) | No % limit | No % limit | Same as cars |
| KansasK.S.A. 8-1749a | At least 35% total light transmission, film and glass together (no tolerance stated); nonreflective | 35% | 35% | Same as cars |
| KentuckyKRS 189.110; KRS 189.010(20)-(23); KRS 189.990(1)(a) | At least 35% as tested on 1/8-inch clear glass (plus or minus 3 percent) | 18% | 18% | Same as cars |
| LouisianaLa. R.S. 32:361.1 (as amended by Acts 2025, No. 143 / HB 119, eff. Aug. 1, 2025) | 25% (down from 40%, eff. 8/1/2025) | 25% | 12% | Same as cars |
| Maine29-A M.R.S. § 1916 | At least 35% light transmittance, net of glass and material (no tolerance stated in the statute) | No % limit | No % limit | Same as cars |
| MarylandMd. Code, Transp. § 22-406(i); COMAR 11.14.02.14D, 11.14.04.16D and 29.02.01.11F | At least 35% light transmittance (added tint) | 35% | 35% | Rear side No % limit, rear window No % limit |
| MassachusettsMass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 9D | Not less than 35% light transmittance or not more than 35% reflectance (as worded; no tolerance stated) | 35% | 35% | Same as cars |
| MichiganMCL 257.709 (Michigan Vehicle Code, Act 300 of 1949, § 709, as amended through 2010 PA 258) | Banned below top-4″ strip (70%* site proxy, see note) | No % limit | No % limit | Same as cars |
| MinnesotaMinn. Stat. § 169.71, subds. 4, 4a and 5 | At least 50% light transmittance, plus or minus 3% | 50% | 50% | Same as cars |
| MississippiMiss. Code Ann. § 63-7-59, as amended by Laws 2026, ch. 340 (SB 2453), effective July 1, 2026 | 28% or more light transmittance (all windows; no tolerance stated) | 28% | 28% | Same as cars |
| MissouriMo. Rev. Stat. § 307.173 | 35% or more light transmission, plus or minus 3% (film with the glass) | No % limit | No % limit | Same as cars |
| MontanaMont. Code Ann. § 61-9-405 | 24% or more light transmission, 35% or less luminous reflectance; no tolerance stated | 14% | 14% | Same as cars |
| NebraskaNeb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,257 | At least 35% light transmission and no more than 35% luminous reflectance (no tolerance stated) | 20% | 20% | Same as cars |
| NevadaNev. Rev. Stat. § 484D.440 | Nonreflective, at least 35% total light transmission (film plus glass), with a tolerance of 7 percent | No % limit | No % limit | Same as cars |
| New HampshireN.H. RSA 266:58-a | Aftermarket tint: light transmittance not less than 70% (no tolerance stated) | 35% | 35% | Same as cars |
| New JerseyN.J.S.A. 39:3-74; N.J.S.A. 39:3-75.1 | Film only with a medical exemption (MVC position; statute bars non-transparent material, no %); exempt film at least 60% | No % limit | No % limit | Same as cars |
| New MexicoNMSA 1978, § 66-3-846.1 | Sun screening material not less than 20% light transmission (no tolerance stated); nonreflective; outside mirrors on both sides | 20% | 20% | Same as cars |
| New YorkN.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 375(12-a) | 70% | 70% | 70% | Same as cars |
| North CarolinaN.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-127(b)-(g) | At least 35% total light transmission | 35% | 35% | Same as cars |
| North DakotaN.D. Cent. Code § 39-21-39 (as amended by 2025 H.B. 1340, eff. Aug. 1, 2025), with § 39-21-38; N.D. Cent. Code §§ 39-06.1-02, 39-06.1-05, 39-06.1-06, 39-06.1-08 and 39-06.1-09 (penalties) | 35% (glass + tint) | No % limit | No % limit | Same as cars |
| OhioOhio Adm. Code 4501-41-03 (with 4501-41-02, -04 and -05); Ohio Rev. Code § 4513.241, § 4513.24, § 2929.24 and § 2929.28; Ohio Adm. Code 4901:2-5-03 and 49 C.F.R. 393.60(d) (commercial motor vehicles) | 50%, plus or minus 3% (glass + film) | No % limit | No % limit | Same as cars |
| Oklahoma47 Okla. Stat. § 12-422 | At least 25% light transmission and at most 25% luminous reflectance (material with the glazing); no tolerance stated | 25% | 25% | Same as cars |
| OregonOr. Rev. Stat. §§ 815.221, 815.222 | Film at least 50%, and at least 35% total through the glass with film (no tolerance stated) | 50% | 50% | Same as cars |
| Pennsylvania75 Pa.C.S. § 4524; 67 Pa. Code §§ 175.261–175.265 (Table X) | 70% (±3% meter tolerance) | 70% | 70% | Same as cars |
| Rhode IslandR.I. Gen. Laws §§ 31-23.3-1 to 31-23.3-6 | At least 70% total visible light transmittance (no tolerance stated) | 70% | 70% | Same as cars |
| South CarolinaS.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-5015 | At least 27% combined light transmission (film plus factory glass), single nonreflective film | 27% | 27% | Same as cars |
| South DakotaS.D. Codified Laws §§ 32-15-2.4, 32-15-2.5, 32-15-2.9 | At least 35% combined light transmittance, with an enforcement tolerance of 9 percent | 20% | 20% | Same as cars |
| TennesseeTenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-107 | Tint material at least 35% visible light transmittance (no tolerance stated) | 35% | 35% | Same as cars |
| TexasTex. Transp. Code § 547.613 and 37 Tex. Admin. Code § 21.3 | 25% or more, in combination with the window | No % limit | No % limit | Same as cars |
| UtahUtah Code § 41-6a-1635 | At least 35% light transmittance, with no more than a 5% variance observed by a peace officer metering it | No % limit | No % limit | Same as cars |
| Vermont23 V.S.A. § 1125 | Film banned (no % allowed; medical exemption only) | No % limit | No % limit | Same as cars |
| VirginiaVa. Code § 46.2-1052 | 50% | 35% | 35% | Same as cars |
| WashingtonRev. Code Wash. (RCW) § 46.37.430 | 24% or more light transmission (net: factory tint plus film), 35% or less reflectance; no tolerance stated | 24% | 24% | Same as cars |
| West VirginiaW. Va. Code § 17C-15-36a | At least 35% light transmission; nonreflective type, reflectivity no more than 20% (no tolerance stated) | 35% | 35% | Same as cars |
| WisconsinWis. Admin. Code Trans 305.32 and 305.34 | At least 50% through glass and film combined, with a 3% measuring tolerance | 35% | 35% | Same as cars |
| WyomingWyo. Stat. § 31-5-962 | At least 28% total light transmission through film and glass together (no tolerance stated); nonreflective, luminous reflectance 20% max | 28% | 28% | Same as cars |
Percentages are the minimum light that must pass through the window. “No % limit” means the state sets no minimum percentage for that window; other conditions, such as outside mirrors on both sides, may apply. Windshield rules, reflectance limits, tolerances, medical exemptions and factory-glass rules are on each state page.
What do 5%, 20%, 35% and 70% tint look like? See the tint percentage chart →
What does a tint ticket cost? See tint ticket fines by state →
Run a shop or blog? Add a free tint law lookup to your site →
Window tint law questions
What does a window tint percentage (VLT) mean?
VLT, or visible light transmission, is the percentage of light that passes through the window. A higher number means lighter tint: 70% lets most light through, 20% is dark. Most state limits apply to the finished window (glass plus film), so film sold at a given percentage can measure darker once it is on factory glass.
Which state allows the darkest front side window tint?
Of the places covered here, New Mexico has the lowest front side window minimum, at 20% VLT. Tolerances and vehicle classes can change the exact figure, so check the state page before installing.
Which states have the strictest front side window tint limits?
Alaska, California, District of Columbia, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont set the highest front side window minimum, 70% VLT. Some of them also limit or ban film on those windows outright; each state page explains the exact rule.
Can the back windows be darker than the front windows?
In 28 of the 51 places covered here, yes: the rear side windows of a car can be darker than the front side windows. In 15 of them (Arizona, California, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas, Utah and Vermont) the state sets no minimum percentage for the rear side windows or the rear window, though other conditions, such as outside mirrors on both sides, may apply.
Do SUVs and trucks follow different tint rules than cars?
Usually not, for the figures covered here. Florida and Maryland are the places where SUVs, vans or trucks get different rear-window figures than cars; the table shows both. Some states also treat glass tinted at the factory differently, which the state pages cover.
Can I get a medical exemption for darker tint?
Many states let a person with a qualifying medical condition get a permit, or carry a physician's statement, for darker tint. Some states have no such process, and the rules on which windows and how dark differ. Each state page has a medical exemptions section with the source.
How current are these tint laws?
Each state page was checked against its statute and regulation text between September 19, 2026 and September 28, 2026, and shows its own check date and sources. Laws change, so confirm with the state before installing or buying film.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies; confirm current requirements with the state before installing or buying film.