70% window tint
A window measuring 70% VLT lets 70% of visible light through and blocks 30%. A car's front side windows may measure 70% in 48 of the 51 places we cover, and a sedan's rear side windows in 51.
How it looks: Very light. Close to factory glass; often used for heat-rejection film.
Where 70% is legal on front side windows
Allowed (48 of 51)
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Too dark (3; the state’s minimum in brackets)
Michigan (no front film), New Jersey (no front film), Vermont (no front film)
Where 70% is legal on back windows
Sedan rear side windows: allowed (51 of 51)
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Sedan rear side windows: too dark (0)
None.
The rear windshield of a sedan may measure 70% in 51 of the 51 places, and an SUV, truck or van’s rear side windows in 51. Each state page has the full rules.
70% tint questions
What does 70% tint mean?
A window measuring 70% VLT lets 70% of visible light through and blocks 30%. How it looks: Very light. Close to factory glass; often used for heat-rejection film.
Is 70% tint legal on front windows?
In 48 of the 51 places covered here. The other 3 require a lighter front window or don't allow front side film.
Is 70% tint legal on back windows?
On a sedan, 51 of the 51 places allow the rear side windows to measure 70%, and 51 allow it on the rear windshield. On an SUV, truck or van, 51 places allow 70% on the rear side windows.
Is 70% tint dark?
How it looks: Very light. Close to factory glass; often used for heat-rejection film. Of the common shades, 50% is darker (it lets less light through). The lower the number, the darker the tint.
Will 70% film measure 70% on my car?
Usually it measures darker. Factory glass already blocks some light, so 70% film on factory glass reads below 70% on a tint meter. Most state limits apply to that finished reading, so a shop checks the installed window, not the number on the film box.
General information, not legal advice. “Allowed” means a window measuring 70% meets the state’s minimum; tolerances and vehicle class can change the answer. Counts come from SalesThumb’s statute-checked state pages (latest check 2026-09-28). Laws change and enforcement varies; confirm current requirements with the state before installing or buying film.