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Louisiana law (R.S. 32:361.1) sets a 25% minimum light transmission for front side windows, down from 40% after an August 1, 2025 amendment, plus a 20% reflectance cap. Ordinary cars must keep rear side windows at 25% and the rear window at 12%, but trucks, motor homes, and multipurpose passenger vehicles (an SUV or van only if it qualifies as one) have no minimum for windows behind the driver.
Source: La. R.S. 32:361.1 (as amended by Acts 2025, No. 143 / HB 119, eff. Aug. 1, 2025); La. R.S. 32:361.2 — Medical exemption (Louisiana State Legislature). Summary last checked against these sources on September 23, 2026.
| Window | Rule |
|---|---|
| Windshield | A transparent, non-red/amber strip may be affixed no more than 5 inches down from the top of the windshield; the statute states no numeric VLT minimum for that strip itself. Below the strip, (B) bars any color-altering or light-transmission-reducing material outright. R.S. 32:361.1(B), (C)(2). |
| Front side windows | Minimum 25% VLT, "all tolerances included" — lowered from 40% by Act 2025, No. 143 (HB 119), effective August 1, 2025. Applies to every vehicle type, with no truck/SUV carve-out. R.S. 32:361.1(C)(1). |
| Rear side windows ("side window behind the driver") | Ordinary passenger cars/sedans: minimum 25% VLT, all tolerances included — R.S. 32:361.1(C)(1). Trucks, buses, trailers, motor homes, and multipurpose passenger vehicles (the statute never names SUVs or defines the term, so an SUV, minivan, or crossover is covered only if it qualifies as one) are excluded from this minimum for windows behind the driver — no statutory floor applies. R.S. 32:361.1(D)(4). |
| Rearmost window (backlite) | Ordinary passenger cars/sedans: minimum 12% VLT, all tolerances included — R.S. 32:361.1(C)(1). Same D(4) carve-out removes any statutory floor for trucks, buses, trailers, motor homes, and multipurpose passenger vehicles. |
| Reflectance (all windows) | Every sun-screening device is capped at a maximum luminous reflectance of 20%, regardless of which window it is applied to. R.S. 32:361.1(C)(1). |
| Installer label / sticker | Required. Whoever installs aftermarket sun-screening film must affix a label — no larger than 1.5 square inches, printed with the installer's name and the city where the business is located — to the lower right corner of the driver's side window. R.S. 32:361.1(D)(2)-(3). |
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).
Applies to motor vehicles operated or registered in Louisiana with aftermarket sun-screening film on the windshield or windows. Publicly owned law-enforcement vehicles (including Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement vehicles) are exempt from all light-transmittance limits, R.S. 32:361.1(C)(4). Vehicles tinted on or before December 31, 1993 in compliance with the law then in force are grandfathered if the owner holds a compliance certificate, R.S. 32:361.1(I)/(J). The statute never defines "truck," "bus," or "multipurpose passenger vehicle," so vehicle-class boundary cases rely on ordinary/industry usage rather than a statutory definition.
Medical exemption: R.S. 32:361.2 lets a vehicle owner, spouse, or family member who drives the vehicle apply for a case-by-case exemption for a documented light-sensitivity condition (e.g., light-sensitive porphyria). It requires a notarized affidavit from a licensed physician or optometrist stating the medical necessity, a notarized release authorizing the department to obtain related medical records, and written consent to a criminal-history/fingerprint check; people convicted of certain violent crimes or drug offenses are not eligible. A department-issued decal must be displayed on the vehicle and a copy of the affidavit kept in the vehicle at all times. Standard exemptions are reviewed and expire every three years; a porphyria-based exemption instead lasts as long as the person owns the vehicle. Separately, Louisiana has a "security exemption" statute, R.S. 32:361.3, whose title turned up in the legislature's own index, but the mirror we tried to read it on returned a 403 error, so its specific eligibility criteria are not confirmed here and are omitted rather than guessed.
Individual operator: fined not more than $150 for a first offense, not more than $250 for a second offense, and not more than $350 for a third or subsequent offense, R.S. 32:361.1(E). Sellers, installers, manufacturers, or distributors who violate the Section are fined $1,000 for a first offense and $2,000 for a second offense, and are prohibited from conducting that business in Louisiana after a third or subsequent offense, R.S. 32:361.1(G).
At least 25% VLT, "all tolerances included." This is a 2025 change: Act No. 143 (HB 119) lowered the front-side minimum from 40% to 25%, effective August 1, 2025. R.S. 32:361.1(C)(1).
The percentage minimums for "windows behind the driver" (the back side windows and rear window) do not apply to trucks, buses, trailers, motor homes, or multipurpose passenger vehicles. The statute never names SUVs or defines multipurpose passenger vehicle, so an SUV, minivan, or crossover is exempt only if it qualifies as one. R.S. 32:361.1(D)(4). The 25% front-side minimum and 20% reflectance cap still apply to every vehicle type.
The side window behind the driver must let in at least 25% light, and the rearmost window at least 12%, both "all tolerances included." R.S. 32:361.1(C)(1). Unlike trucks and multipurpose passenger vehicles, sedans don't get the D(4) carve-out for these windows.
Reflective tint is allowed, but every sun-screening device is capped at a maximum luminous reflectance of 20%, on any window where it's applied. R.S. 32:361.1(C)(1).
Yes. Whoever installs aftermarket film must affix a label, no larger than 1.5 square inches, showing the installer's name and business city, to the lower right corner of the driver's side window. R.S. 32:361.1(D)(2)-(3). The statute ties this to installation of film, so factory-tinted glass (with no installer placing film) isn't covered by this labeling requirement.
Yes, under a separate statute, R.S. 32:361.2. It requires a notarized affidavit from a licensed physician or optometrist, a notarized release of related medical records to the department, and a criminal-history check (certain violent-crime or drug convictions disqualify an applicant). A decal must be displayed and the affidavit kept in the vehicle; standard exemptions are reviewed case-by-case and expire every three years.
Read the full Louisiana breakdown
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This page summarizes Louisiana 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.