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Missouri allows a sun-screening device on the front side windows and vents next to the driver if, with the glass, it has light transmission of 35% or more and luminous reflectance of 35% or less, each plus or minus 3%. Section 307.173 sets no figure for rear side or rear windows. Windshield film is barred except on the upper portion the safety-glass maker normally tints; factory-tinted glass is allowed.
Source: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 307.173; 11 CSR 30-7.010 (Motor Vehicle Window Tinting Permits); 11 CSR 50-2.270(5)(C) (safety inspection: glazing); Mo. Rev. Stat. § 558.002.1(4) (class C misdemeanor fine); Mo. Rev. Stat. § 558.011.1(8) (class C misdemeanor jail term); Mo. Rev. Stat. § 700.010(13) (recreational vehicle definition). Summary last checked against these sources on September 28, 2026.
| Window | Rule |
|---|---|
| Windshield | All sun-screening devices applied to the windshield are prohibited (subsection 1), except factory-installed tinted glass, its equivalent replacement, or tinting material applied to the upper portion of the windshield that is normally tinted by the manufacturer of motor vehicle safety glass (subsection 2). The statute gives no inch figure for that upper portion. The safety-inspection rule tells stations to reject a vehicle if after-market vision-reducing material or other conditions that obscure the driver's vision are on the windshield (11 CSR 50-2.270(5)(C)). |
| Front side windows | Front sidewing vents or windows immediately to the left and right of the driver may have a sun-screening device that, in conjunction with the safety glazing, has a light transmission of 35% or more, plus or minus 3% (subsection 1). Except on a vehicle licensed with a historical license plate (subsection 5), a device beyond those requirements is prohibited without a permit issued under a physician's prescription. The statute does not say how the plus or minus 3% is applied. |
| Rear side windows | Section 307.173 states its light-transmission and reflectance figures only for the front sidewing vents and windows next to the driver; it states no figure for windows behind the driver, for any vehicle type. |
| Rear window | Section 307.173 states no light-transmission or reflectance figure for the rear window, for any vehicle type. |
| Reflectance | On the front sidewing vents and windows next to the driver, the sun-screening device must have a luminous reflectance of 35% or less, plus or minus 3% (subsection 1). The statute states no reflectance figure for other windows. |
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 307.173 covers any person operating a motor vehicle. It does not prohibit labels, stickers, decalcomania or informational signs, factory-installed tinted glass or its equivalent replacement, or tinted or solar screening material on recreational vehicles (defined in RSMo 700.010 by reference to ANSI A119.2) as long as that material does not interfere with the driver's normal view of the road (subsection 2). A vehicle licensed with a historical license plate is exempt from the section (subsection 5). The statute names no separate rule for SUVs, trucks or vans.
The Department of Public Safety may issue a permit for front side vents or windows with a sun-screening device that permits less light transmission than the section allows, to a person with a serious medical condition that requires a sun-screening device, if the person's physician prescribes it (RSMo 307.173(1)). Under 11 CSR 30-7.010, the applicant presents a prescription issued within one year of application, plus the vehicle, to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Motor Vehicle Inspection Division, and may be issued permit SHP-524 for front side vents or windows below 35% light transmission after the certifying officer or motor vehicle inspector verifies the prescription. One prescription covers more than one vehicle, but every vehicle must be presented. The officer or inspector affixes a sticker inside the windshield on the lower left side and a decal on the lower left corner of the rear glass or the left corner of the rear bumper, at the owner's option, and the permit holder keeps a copy of the form in the vehicle at all times. The permit stays valid during the current ownership of the vehicle (11 CSR 30-7.010(4)) and allows any titleholder, or a relative within the second degree who lives in the household, to drive it (RSMo 307.173(1)). Permits issued before August 28, 2001 that covered the windshield remain valid for the purpose of the rule.
Violating section 307.173 is a class C misdemeanor (subsection 4). Under Missouri's general sentencing statutes, the maximum fine for a class C misdemeanor is $750 (RSMo 558.002.1(4)) and the maximum jail term is 15 days (RSMo 558.011.1(8)). Court costs and other consequences are not covered here.
The front sidewing vents and windows immediately to the left and right of the driver may have a sun-screening device that, together with the safety glazing, has a light transmission of 35% or more and a luminous reflectance of 35% or less, each plus or minus 3% (RSMo 307.173(1)). The statute states no figure for windows behind the driver or the rear window. Windshield tint is prohibited except factory tint or tinting material on the upper portion the safety-glass maker normally tints (307.173(2)).
Section 307.173 states its light-transmission and reflectance figures only for the front sidewing vents and windows next to the driver. It states no figure for the rear side windows or the rear window of any vehicle, and it names no separate rule for SUVs, trucks or vans.
On the front side windows and vents next to the driver, the sun-screening device must have a luminous reflectance of 35% or less, plus or minus 3% (RSMo 307.173(1)). The statute states no reflectance figure for other windows and does not separately ban mirrored film.
Only the upper portion, and factory-tinted glass is also allowed. All sun-screening devices on the windshield are prohibited, except factory-installed tinted glass, its equivalent replacement, or tinting material on the upper portion of the windshield that the manufacturer of motor vehicle safety glass normally tints (RSMo 307.173(1)-(2)). The statute gives no inch figure. The safety-inspection rule tells stations to reject a vehicle if after-market vision-reducing material or other conditions that obscure the driver's vision are on the windshield (11 CSR 50-2.270(5)(C)).
Get a prescription from your physician, issued within one year of applying, stating you have a serious medical condition that requires tint below 35% light transmission on the front side vents or windows. Present it and the vehicle to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Motor Vehicle Inspection Division (11 CSR 30-7.010). The certifying officer or motor vehicle inspector verifies the prescription, completes permit SHP-524, affixes a sticker inside the windshield and a decal on the rear glass or rear bumper, and gives you a copy to keep in the vehicle. The permit lasts for your current ownership of the vehicle.
A violation of RSMo 307.173 is a class C misdemeanor (subsection 4). Missouri's general sentencing statutes set the maximum for a class C misdemeanor at a $750 fine (558.002.1(4)) and 15 days in jail (558.011.1(8)).
Running a tint shop in Missouri? See shop software for Missouri.
This page summarizes Missouri 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.