Window Tint Laws by State: 2026

No. Window tint laws vary significantly by state. Front side window limits range from a complete ban in New Jersey to 20% VLT in New Mexico. Rear window limits range from no restriction at all (in states like Texas, California, and Nevada) to 15% in Florida. Each state sets its own rules for windshield strips, reflectivity, stickers, and medical exemptions.

5% tint (limo tint) is illegal on front side windows in every state. On rear side windows and rear windows, 5% is legal in many states — including Texas, Florida, and Nevada — for passenger cars. On SUVs and trucks, it is even more widely permitted. Always check your specific state's rear window rules before installing 5% film.

20% tint is legal on front side windows only in New Mexico. In every other state it is either illegal or only legal on rear windows. On rear windows, 20% is legal in most states. Before installing 20% film on any front window, verify your state's limit in the table above — only New Mexico allows it on the driver and front passenger windows.

No state permits full windshield tinting. Every state bans aftermarket tint on the main windshield viewing area. What is permitted is a non-reflective strip along the top edge only — limited to the AS-1 line or 4 to 6 inches from the roofline, whichever is lower. Tinting below the AS-1 line on a windshield is illegal in all 50 states and DC.

Yes, in most states. Passenger cars and multipurpose vehicles (SUVs, pickups, vans) are regulated under different rules. Rear side windows and rear windows on SUVs and trucks are typically allowed to be darker or unrestricted in states where cars face a minimum VLT requirement. Front side window rules are usually identical between cars and SUVs. Check the SUVs & Trucks tab in the state table above.

You can drive across state lines, but you are subject to the tint laws of whichever state you are physically in at any moment. Your home state registration provides no protection. If your tint is legal at home but too dark for a state you are traveling through, you can legally be cited in that state. Before long road trips, check the front window limits for each state you will enter.

The darkest legal front window tint in the USA is 20% VLT, permitted on front side windows in New Mexico only. Most states set the front window limit between 25% and 35% VLT. On rear windows and rear glass, more than a dozen states allow any darkness with no VLT floor at all.

Yes. Illegal window tint is a primary offense in most states, meaning an officer can initiate a traffic stop based solely on tint that appears too dark, without any other traffic violation present. Officers carry tint meters and measure VLT directly at the stop.

VLT stands for Visible Light Transmission. It is the percentage of outside light that passes through your window glass and film combined. A lower VLT percentage means a darker tint. 5% VLT is nearly opaque and is called limo tint. 70% VLT is near-clear and required on front windows in states like California and New York.

Yes. If you add aftermarket tint film on top of factory-tinted glass, the combined VLT must still meet your state's legal limit. Factory glass transmits less than 100% of light before any film is added. Adding film to already-dark factory glass frequently pushes the combined VLT below the legal threshold even when the film itself would be compliant on clear glass.

The strictest states are California, New York, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Iowa, and Delaware, all requiring 70% VLT minimum on front side windows. New Jersey is the most restrictive, banning any front side window tint entirely and offering no medical exemption.

You are subject to the tint law of whatever state you are physically driving in at that moment, regardless of where your vehicle is registered. Your home state's laws offer no protection from being cited in another state. A Texas driver with 25% VLT tint is in violation of California law the moment they enter California, which requires 70% VLT.

Medical exemptions are available in 48 states for conditions including lupus, photophobia, albinism, xeroderma pigmentosum, certain eye conditions, and photosensitivity from chemotherapy. You need a physician's written statement and a DMV-issued certificate that must be carried in the vehicle. New Jersey and Hawaii offer no exemption pathway regardless of medical need.

The AS-1 line is a marking etched near the top edge of your windshield, visible at the upper corner of the glass. It marks the federal safety glazing boundary set for vehicle manufacturers. States that allow a windshield tint strip use the AS-1 line as the maximum downward extent of that strip. On most vehicles the AS-1 line falls 4 to 6 inches from the roofline.

Red, amber, and blue window tint are prohibited on vehicle windows in virtually every state. These colors are banned because they mimic traffic signals and emergency vehicle lighting, creating serious safety and enforcement risks. No VLT percentage makes these colors legal.

There is no federal window tint law governing privately owned vehicles after purchase. The NHTSA regulates glazing used by vehicle manufacturers but does not regulate aftermarket tint film. All aftermarket tint legality is determined exclusively by individual state laws.

In California, illegal window tint typically results in a fix-it ticket under California Vehicle Code Section 26708. The base fine can reach $197 or more when court fees are added. The ticket requires you to remove the illegal tint and provide proof of correction to the court within the specified deadline. The California Highway Patrol actively enforces front window tint violations.

Multiply your factory glass VLT by your film VLT, then multiply by 100. If your factory glass transmits 80% of light and you install a 35% film, your combined VLT is (0.80 × 0.35) × 100 = 28% combined VLT. Use the calculator on this page to check your numbers before installation.

Self-installation is legal in all states from a tint standpoint. However, in states that require a compliance sticker between the film and glass — such as Texas, Connecticut, and Mississippi — a DIY installation creates a compliance gap. Manufacturer stickers are only issued through certified professional installers. In sticker-required states, DIY tint carries additional legal risk even when the VLT is within limits.

Yes. Most states have separate rules for passenger cars and multipurpose vehicles such as SUVs, trucks, and vans. Rear side windows and rear windows on multipurpose vehicles are often unrestricted or subject to looser limits because these vehicles are designed to be driven without clear rearview visibility through the back glass.

State tint laws change periodically, usually as part of broader vehicle safety legislation updates. Mississippi enacted significant tint law changes effective July 1, 2026. Florida has updated rear window rules for commercial vehicles in recent years. Always verify your state's current rules with your DMV before installation, and check this page annually for updated data.