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Indiana bars driving with sunscreening or tint on the windshield, a side wing, a front-door side window or the rear back window when the material has over 25% visible-light reflectance (on the nonfilm side) and under 30% light transmittance. No tolerance is stated; rear side windows are not listed. Windshield treatment may cover only the top, down to the AS-1 line. Medical and FMVSS 205 factory-glass exceptions apply, with papers carried in the vehicle.
Source: Ind. Code § 9-19-19-4; Ind. Code § 9-19-19-3 (nontransparent material and clear view; Indiana Code 2026, Title 9 PDF); Ind. Code §§ 9-19-19-7 and 9-19-19-8 (classification of violations; Indiana Code 2026, Title 9 PDF); Ind. Code § 34-28-5-4 (infraction judgments; Indiana Code 2026, Title 34 PDF). Summary last checked against these sources on September 28, 2026.
| Window | Rule |
|---|---|
| Windshield | Any treatment allowed under subsection (c) for a windshield may be applied only to the uppermost part of the windshield and may extend no further than the AS-1 line (9-19-19-4(d)). The statute gives no inch figure. The windshield is also one of the windows covered by the reflectance and light-transmittance test in subsection (c). |
| Front side windows | A person may not drive a motor vehicle whose side window that is part of a front door, or side wing, is covered by or treated with sunscreening material or tinted with material that has a total solar reflectance of visible light of more than 25%, measured on the nonfilm side, and light transmittance of less than 30% in the visible light range (9-19-19-4(c)). The statute joins the two figures with 'and' and states no measurement tolerance. |
| Rear side windows | Section 9-19-19-4(c) lists the windshield, side wing, side window that is part of a front door and rear back window; it does not list side windows behind the front doors and states no figure for them. Separately, a person may not drive with sunscreening material or other nontransparent material on the side or rear windows that obstructs the driver's clear view of the highway or an intersecting highway (9-19-19-3(b)). |
| Rear window | The rear back window is covered by the same test as the front-door side windows: sunscreening or tint with more than 25% visible-light reflectance, measured on the nonfilm side, and less than 30% light transmittance is not allowed (9-19-19-4(c)). The section does not distinguish cars, SUVs and trucks. |
| Reflectance | The statute's only reflectance figure is the 25% total solar reflectance of visible light, measured on the nonfilm side, which subsection (c) pairs with the under-30% light-transmittance figure (9-19-19-4(c)). |
| Installers | A person may not tint or otherwise cover or treat with sunscreening the windows described in subsection (c) or (d) so that driving the vehicle afterward violates those subsections (9-19-19-4(e)). It is not a violation if the work is done for a person who gives the installer a physician's or optometrist's statement described in subsection (b). Violating subsection (e) is a Class A infraction (9-19-19-8). |
VLT (visible light transmission) is the percentage of visible light that passes through a window or film; a higher number means lighter tint. Most state limits are measured on the finished window (glass and film together). Where a rule is stated for the film itself, the table says so. Some states also limit reflectance, the share of light bounced back off the surface (a mirror-like look).
Section 9-19-19-4(c) governs a person who drives a motor vehicle whose windshield, side wing, side window that is part of a front door, or rear back window is treated or tinted. It does not apply to a manufacturer's tinting or glazing that complies with or is permitted by FMVSS 205 (49 CFR 571.205), but proof from the manufacturer, supplier or installer that it complies must be carried in the vehicle (4(a)). A vehicle may be stopped to determine compliance, but the vehicle, its contents, the driver or a passenger may not be inspected, searched or detained solely because of a violation of the section (4(f)). Separately, signs, posters or other nontransparent material no larger than 4 inches square may be placed in the lower corner of the windshield, side wings or side or rear windows farthest from the driver's position (9-19-19-3(b)).
Section 9-19-19-4 does not apply to the driver of a vehicle that is owned by an individual required for medical reasons to be shielded from the direct rays of the sun, or in which such an individual is a habitual passenger (4(b)). The medical reasons must be attested to by a physician or optometrist licensed to practice in Indiana, the certification must be carried in the vehicle, and the certificate must be renewed annually. An installer does not violate the chapter when the work is done for a person who submits that physician's or optometrist's statement to the installer (4(e)).
Except as provided in section 8, a person who violates the chapter commits a Class C infraction (9-19-19-7(b)); section 7(a) says that section does not apply to a person who owns or operates a vehicle that contains parts and accessories and is equipped as required under U.S. Department of Transportation regulations. Tinting or treating a vehicle so that driving it violates subsection 4(c) or (d) is a Class A infraction (9-19-19-8). Under IC 34-28-5-4, a judgment of up to $500 may be entered for a Class C infraction, except as provided in subsection (f) of that section, which limits the amounts for a moving violation constituting a Class C infraction; this page has not checked whether a tint violation counts as a moving violation. A judgment of up to $10,000 may be entered for a Class A infraction. Court costs are not covered here.
A person may not drive a motor vehicle whose windshield, side wing, front-door side window or rear back window is covered by or treated with sunscreening material or tinted with material that has more than 25% total solar reflectance of visible light, measured on the nonfilm side, and less than 30% light transmittance in the visible light range (IC 9-19-19-4(c)). The statute states no measurement tolerance.
Section 9-19-19-4(c) lists the windshield, side wing, side window that is part of a front door and rear back window; it does not list side windows behind the front doors and states no percentage for them. IC 9-19-19-3(b) still bars sunscreening material or other nontransparent material on the side or rear windows that obstructs the driver's clear view of the highway or an intersecting highway.
Subsection (c) joins the two figures with 'and': material with a total solar reflectance of visible light of more than 25% and light transmittance of less than 30%. The statute text does not say how a window that crosses only one of the two figures is treated, and this page has not checked how Indiana courts or police apply the wording.
The tint section does not apply to the driver of a vehicle owned by, or habitually carrying, an individual required for medical reasons to be shielded from the direct rays of the sun (IC 9-19-19-4(b)). A physician or optometrist licensed to practice in Indiana must attest to the medical reasons, the certification must be carried in the vehicle, and the certificate must be renewed annually.
Yes. A vehicle may be stopped to determine compliance with the tint section, but the vehicle, its contents, the driver or a passenger may not be inspected, searched or detained solely because of a violation of that section (IC 9-19-19-4(f)).
The tint section does not apply to a manufacturer's tinting or glazing that complies with or is permitted by FMVSS 205 (49 CFR 571.205). Proof from the manufacturer, supplier or installer that the tinting or glazing complies must be carried in the vehicle (IC 9-19-19-4(a)).
Running a tint shop in Indiana? See shop software for Indiana.
This page summarizes Indiana statute and regulation text for general information and is not legal advice. It covers passenger vehicles with aftermarket film (film added after the vehicle left the factory) and includes SUV, van and truck rules where the state sets different ones. Some vehicle types, such as limousines, buses, commercial and law-enforcement vehicles, and factory glass are treated differently in some states, and whether a vehicle registered in another state is covered depends on the state; see “Who this covers” above. Federal glazing rules (FMVSS 205, 49 CFR 571.205) apply separately from state law, and 49 U.S.C. 30122 bars manufacturers, distributors, dealers, rental companies and motor vehicle repair businesses from knowingly making inoperative any part of a device or element of design installed to comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard, so installers should check both. Laws change and enforcement varies; confirm current requirements with the state before tinting. Before tinting, ask the installer to measure your glass and confirm the finished window will meet the limit; afterward, ask for a reading on a light-transmission meter and keep it.