Car Window Tint Laws By State

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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

car window tint laws by state
Image credit: Pixabay

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.

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