Car Window Tinting Law Percentage

Car Window Tinting Percentage Laws In The US By State

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The last thing that you want to do after getting your windows tinted with the best tint you’ve found is to find out that you’ve broken the law by getting pulled over for having tinted your windows too darkly. If you experience a situation like this, the only way is to get tint removed from car windows, unfortunately.

There are some arguments if laws are written with your safety while driving or for ease of the police to look in, but at the end of the day if you go darker than legally allowed you can get into some trouble.

To help you find the answers quickly, we prepared this guide on window tint percentages by State. We hope you’ll find it helpful. Here we go.


Tinted Windows Law by State

There are a number of things to consider when looking at the first legal limits of window tinting. The first is where you live.

We will cover some general conventions in the USA (with by state breakdown in our chart below), but particular states or even counties can have their own laws concerning the topic.

Also, if you live outside the USA you might be subject to different laws that might allow for either more or less tinting.


Car Window Tinting Percentage Law

As you look at laws you will quickly find that there isn’t one easy number to say you can have this percent tint on your car windows. Most places will view the windshield, front side windows, and rear side window differently and have a tinting level limit for each.

Additionally, some things are written saying that a given window tint will block a certain percentage of light and others will reference the amount of light that is allowed through the window. Be sure that you double-check what the number means and where on the car they are discussing.

In most cases, the front windshield is the most restrictive. In most places, only the top four inches of the windshield can have any tint, but it is normally specified that it cannot be reflective. A good rule of thumb for your side windows is to pick tinting that will allow 35% of the visible light through.

However, you’ll find that in some states you can have more tinting. For example, in New Mexico, the front side windows can be tinted to only let in 20% of the visible light whereas in Pennsylvania you have to let 70% of the light through the front windows and in New Jersey, you simply can’t tint the front windows.

In some states, there is no limit to the rear window and the back windshield.

Car Window Tinting Percentage


Can I have Tinted Windows on My Vehicle?

Of course, you will want to check to make sure you have the most up to date information for your local area before applying any tinting. Some locations have other restrictions on things such as color and reflectivity. Other places have different laws for sedans than vans or SUVs.

Additionally, you’ll want to think about the possibility of moving prior to tinting your windows, if this is in the cards you might want to look at your next state’s laws before you start.

Below you will find a table showing the current legal status regarding window tinting in all 50 States. The table shows the status as of the date of publication of this article.


US State Window Tinting Law Summary Chart

Explanation and Terminology

  • VLT%: Visible light transmission – the measurement used to assess automotive window tints. The percent of visible light that gets through either the film (film VLT%) or window plus film net VLT%. The lower the VLT%, the darker the tint.
  • Front-side window tint level: The amount of tint (VLT%) you’re allowed on your driver and front passenger windows.
  • Rear-side window tint level: The amount of tint (VLT%) you’re allowed on your rear side windows.
  • Rear window tint level: The amount of tint (VLT%) you’re allowed on your rear window.
  • Windshield: Windshield cannot be tinted in any state.
  • Color: Tint color vary from no restrictions at all to restrictions on the use of certain colors or reflective/mirrored finishes.
  • AS-1 Line: The line extending from the letters AS-1, found on most motor vehicle windshields, running parallel to the top of the windshield.

Car Window Tint Placements

State Law Summary Chart

 StateFront Side WindowsBack Side WindowsRear WindowWindshieldTint ReflectivityOther Restrictions
Alabama32%32%32%6 inchesno more than 20% reflectivenone
Alaska70%40%40%5 inchesno metallic or mirrored tintingno red, yellow or amber tinting allowed
Arizona33%anyanytinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno more than 35% reflectivered and amber not permitted, back window tinting requires the use of dual side mirrors
Arkansas25%25%10%5 inchesno metallic or mirrored tintingnone
California70%anyany4 inchesno more reflective than a standard windowred, amber, and blue not allowed. dual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Colorado27%27%27%4 inchesno metallic or mirrored tintingred and amber not permitted, back window tinting requires the use of dual side mirrors
Connecticut35%35%anynon-reflective tint above the as-1 lineno more than 21% reflectivedual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Delaware70%anyanynon-reflective tint above the as-1 lineno metallic or mirrored tintingdual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Florida28%15%15%non-reflective tint allowed above the as-1 lineno more than 25% reflectivedual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Georgia32%32%32%6 inchesno more than 20% reflectivered and amber not allowed
Hawaii32%35%35%no inch requirent, must allow 70% of lightno metallic or mirrored tintingdual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Idaho35%20%35%tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno more than 35% reflectivedual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Illinois35%35%35%6 inchesmust be non-reflectivedual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Indiana30%30%30%tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno more than 25% reflectivenone
Iowa70%anyanytinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno excessive reflections allowed, but not specifiednone
Kansas35%35%35%tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno metallic or mirrored tintingred, amber and yellow are prohibited and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows
Kentucky35%18%18%tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno more than 25% reflectivenone
Louisiana40%25%12%tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno more than 20% reflectivenone
Maine35%anyany4 inchesmust be non-reflectivedual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Maryland35%35%35%5 inchesno lawred, amber and yellow are prohibited and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows
Massachusetts35%35%35%6 inchesno more than 35% reflectivemust have dual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Michiganany percent, but only 4 inches from the top of windowanyany4 inchesno more than 35% reflectivenone
Minnesota50%50%50%none allowedno more than 20% reflectivenone
Mississippi28%28%28%tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno more than 20% reflectivenone
Missouri35%anyanytinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno more than 35% reflectivemust have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows
Montana24%14%14%tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno more than 35% reflectivenone
Nebraska35%20%20%5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes firstno more than 35% reflectiveunclear on side mirrors, but red, amber and yellow are not permitted
Nevada35%anyanytinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno lawdual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
New Hampshireno tinting allowed35%35%6 inchesno metallic or mirrored tintingdual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
New Jerseyno tinting allowedanyanyno tint allowedno metallic or mirrored tintingdual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
New Mexico20%20%20%5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes firstno lawdual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
New York70%70%any6 inchesno metallic or mirrored tintingdual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
North Carolina35%35%35%tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno more than 20% reflectivered, amber and yellow are prohibited and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows
North Dakota50%anyanyno more than 70%no metallic or mirrored tintingdual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Ohio50%anyanyno more than 70%no more reflective than a standard windownone
Oklahoma
25%25%25%5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes firstno more than 20% reflectivedual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Oregon35%35%35%6 inchesno more than 13% reflectivered, green, yellow, black and amber tints are not allowed, and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows
Pennsylvania70%70%70%none allowedno metallic or mirrored tintingdual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Rhode Island70%70%70%tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno lawnone
South Carolina27%27%27%tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 linemust be non-reflectivered, amber and yellow are prohibited and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows
South Dakota35%20%20%tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno metallic or mirrored tintingnone
Tennessee35%35%35%tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno metallic or mirrored tintingnone
Texas25%25%any5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes firstno more than 25% reflectivered, amber, and blue not allowed. dual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Utah43%anyanytinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno metallic or mirrored tintingdual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Vermontnoneanyanytinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno metallic or mirrored tintingdual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Virginia50%35%35%tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno more than 20% reflectivered, amber and yellow are prohibited and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows
Washington24%24%24%6 inchesno more than 35% reflectivered, green, yellow, black and amber tints are not allowed, and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows
Washington D.C.70%50 percent for cars, 35 percent for multi-purpose vehicles50 percent for cars, 35 percent for multi-purpose vehicles5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes firstno lawnone
West Virginia35%35%35%5 inches20% reflectivered, amber and yellow are prohibited and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows
Wisconsin50%35%35%tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 lineno lawdual side mirrors required for back tinted windows
Wyoming28%28%28%5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes firstno more than 20% reflectivedual side mirrors required for back tinted windows

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3 Comments

  1. It’s good to know that window tinting in Texas isn’t allowed to be more than 25% reflective. My sister mentioned she wants to have the windows of her sedan tinted so it will stay cooler while parked. I’ll share this info so she’s aware of applicable regulations before moving forward with a window tinting service soon!

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