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How dark are your car’s windows expected to be across all USA states? Apparently, car window tint laws differ from state to state, and if you’re relocating to live in another state, it is important that you know how dark your car’s windows are expected to be.
This article shows the percentage of car window tint laws by state. It also explains the terminologies used, so you get familiar with them and know exactly what you’re expected to do when moving to a new state with your tinted car windows.
Well, you may never bother if you live and work in the same state and have no plans of relocating to another state. But if you’re a cross-country driver, you definitely should take these regulations seriously.
Car Window Tint Laws By State
Tinting your car windows adds security for the passenger(s) and you (the driver). However, window tinting is done in levels, and there are different materials used. Firstly, when you talk of window tinting, you must understand what VLT percentages mean; this is basically the percentage of light allowed by window tinting. VLT stands for Visible Light Transmission.
The higher the VLT percentage, the lighter the tint; the lower the percentage, the darker the tint. Some starts do not allow dark tints, while in some other states, it is okay. Also, every state and jurisdiction has restrictions and rulings on car window tinting – you must know about these rules if you travel across states often.
Also, window tint materials are available in different colors and variations; some of these colors and variations are banned in certain states. Finally, if you’re going to tint the windshield, in some states, it is punishable to tint about the AS-1 Line. The AS-1 Line is an imaginary line that extends from the letters AS-1, found on most vehicles’ windshields.
| State | Front Windows | Back Windows | Rear Windows | Windshield | Reflectivity (VLT) | Other Restrictions |
| Alabama | 32% | 32% | 32% | 6 inches | Not more than 20% | none |
| Alaska | 70% | 40% | 40% | 5 inches | No metallic or mirrored tinting | No red, yellow, or amber tinting |
| Arizona | 33% | any | any | To the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | Not more than 35% reflective | No red and amber tinting, rear window tinting requires you to have dual side mirrors |
| Arkansas | 25% | 25% | 10% | 5 inches | No metallic or mirrored tinting | none |
| California | 70% | any | any | 4 inches | No more reflective than a standard window | No red, amber, or blue. Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Colorado | 27% | 27% | 27% | 4 inches | No metallic or mirrored tinting | No red and amber, dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Connecticut | 35% | 35% | any | Non-reflective tint above the as-1 line | No more than 21% reflective | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting. |
| Delaware | 70% | any | any | Non-reflective tint above the as-1 line | No metallic or mirrored tinting | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Florida | 28% | 15% | 15% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the as-1 line | No more than 25% | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Georgia | 32% | 32% | 32% | 6 inches | No more than 20% reflective | No red and amber tinitng |
| Hawaii | 35% | 35% | 35% | No inch requirement, but you must allow 70% light | No metallic or mirrored tinting | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Idaho | 35% | 20% | 35% | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No more than 35% reflective | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Illinois | 35% | 35% | 35% | 6 inches | Must be non-reflective | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Indiana | 30% | 30% | 30% | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No more than 25% reflective | none |
| Iowa | 70% | any | any | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No excessive reflections are allowed, but not specified | none |
| Kansas | 35% | 35% | 35% | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No metallic or mirrored | Red, amber, and yellow are not allowed. Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Kentucky | 35% | 18% | 18% | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No more than 25% reflective | None |
| Louisiana | 40% | 25% | 12% | Tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No more than 20% reflective | None |
| Maine | 35% | any | any | 4 inches | Must be non-reflective | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Maryland | 35% | 35% | 35% | 5 inches | no law | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting. Red, amber, and yellow are not allowed |
| Massachusetts | 35% | 35% | 35% | 6 inches | No more than 35% reflective | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Michigan | any percent, but only 4 inches from the top of the window | any | any | 4 inches | No more than 35% reflective | None |
| Minnesota | 50% | 50% | 50% | None allowed | No more than 20% reflective | None |
| Mississippi | 28% | 28% | 28% | Tinting to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No more than 20% reflective | None |
| Missouri | 35% | any | any | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No more than 35% reflective | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Montana | 24% | 14% | 14% | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No more than 35% reflective | None |
| Nebraska | 35% | 20% | 20% | 5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes first | No more than 35% reflective | Red, amber, and yellow are not allowed |
| Nevada | 35% | any | any | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No law | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| New Hampshire | no tinting allowed | 35% | 35% | 6 inches | No metallic or mirrored tinting | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| New Jersey | no tinting allowed | any | any | No tinting | No metallic or mirrored tinting | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| New Mexico | 20% | 20% | 20% | 5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes first | No law | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| New York | 70% | 70% | any | 6 inches | No metallic or mirrored tinting | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| North Carolina | 35% | 35% | 35% | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No more than 20% reflective | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| North Dakota | 50% | any | any | No more than 70% | No metallic or mirrored tinting | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Ohio | 50% | any | any | No more than 70% | No more reflective than a standard window | None |
| Oklahoma | 25% | 25% | 25% | 5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes first | No more than 20% reflective | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Oregon | 35% | 35% | 35% | 6 inches | No more than 13% reflective | Red, green, yellow, black, and amber are not allowed—dual side mirrors required for rear tinting. |
| Pennsylvania | 70% | 70% | 70% | None allowed | No metallic or mirrored tinting | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Rhode Island | 70% | 70% | 70% | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No law | None |
| South Carolina | 27% | 27% | 27% | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | Must be non-reflective | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| South Dakota | 35% | 20% | 20% | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No metallic or mirrored tinting | none |
| Tennessee | 35% | 35% | 35% | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No metallic or mirrored tinting | none |
| Texas | 25% | 25% | any | 5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes first | No more than 25% reflective | Red, amber, and blue are not allowed. Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Utah | 43% | any | any | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No metallic or mirrored tinting | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Vermont | No tinting allowed | any | any | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No metallic or mirrored tinting | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Virginia | 50% | 35% | 35% | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | No more than 20% reflective | Red, amber, and yellow are not allowed. Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Washington | 24% | 24% | 24% | 6 inches | No more than 35% reflective | Red, amber, and yellow are not allowed. Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Washington D.C. | 70% | 50% for cars, 35% for MPVs | 50% for cars, 35% for MPVs | 5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes first | no law | None |
| West Virginia | 35% | 35% | 35% | 5 inches | 20% reflective | Red, amber, and yellow are not allowed. Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Wisconsin | 50% | 35% | 35% | Allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | no law | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
| Wyoming | 28% | 28% | 28% | 5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes first | No more than 20% reflective | Dual side mirrors required for rear tinting |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Tint The Windshield?
You cannot completely tint the windshield regardless of the state you base in. However, in some states, you can add a small 5- to 6-inch tint to the top of the windshield – up to AS-1 Line. So, you have to know the allowed windshield tint level in the state you’re located before proceeding to tint your windows.
Is Car Window Tinting Illegal?
Tinting is not illegal; it only becomes illegal if you go against the tint level for your state. Car window tint is a way of adding more security to your car; cars of people in government and prominent individuals typically come with factory-fitted window tint. Notwithstanding, most cars also come with factory-fitted tint in-line with the state laws of where the car is produced.
What State Allows Darkest Window Tint?
Florida lets you put 28% tint on the front windows, 15% on the back windows, and 15% on the rear windows. Notwithstanding, many states allow up to 32% VLT on all your car windows – Michigan even allows you to tint the windshield up to any level.