Window Tint Laws by State: 2026 Legal Window Tint Percentages

Window tint laws by state vary widely across the United States, and every one of them is written in VLT — Visible Light Transmission — the percentage of light a window lets through after film is installed. A lower VLT number means a darker window. As of 2026, legal front-side-window tint ranges from 70% VLT in states such as California, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island down to 20% VLT in New Mexico, while New Jersey allows no front side film at all and both New Jersey and Pennsylvania prohibit windshield film entirely. Rear windows are far more permissive: more than a dozen states allow any darkness behind the driver.

This guide lists the current legal tint percentages for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., separated by vehicle type, and is based on the International Window Film Association’s (IWFA) tint law database.

Last updated: August 2026. Primary source: International Window Film Association. This page is provided for general information and is not legal advice — confirm current requirements with your state DMV or law enforcement agency before purchasing film.

Key Takeaways

• Tint darkness is measured in VLT%. A 35% film lets 35% of visible light through. Lower = darker.
• Front side windows are the most regulated. Most states fall between 25% and 70% VLT.
• Rear windows are usually looser. Roughly half of all states allow any darkness behind the driver on cars, and even more on SUVs, vans and pickups.
• SUVs, vans and pickups (multipurpose vehicles) often get different limits than sedans and coupes in the same state — Florida, Delaware, Kentucky and Washington, D.C. are good examples.
• Windshields are almost never fully tintable. Most states allow film only above the AS-1 line or on the top 4–6 inches.
• Reflectivity is a separate limit. Even a legal VLT can be illegal if the film is too mirrored — commonly capped at 20%, 25% or 35% VLR.
• 41 states and D.C. offer medical exemptions; 10 states do not.

What Is VLT? Window Tint Terminology Explained

VLT (Visible Light Transmission) is the percentage of visible light that passes through the glass and film together. A window with 5% VLT transmits only 5% of light and looks nearly black; a window at 70% VLT looks almost clear.

VLR (Visible Light Reflectance) is the percentage of visible light bounced off the glass. This is what makes a film look mirrored. Most states cap VLR separately from VLT — usually at 20%, 25% or 35%.

The AS-1 line is a short marking etched near the top of most windshields, typically about five inches down from the roofline. Where a state references “above the AS-1 line,” film may be applied only in that top strip.

Front side windows are the driver and front passenger windows. Back side windows are the rear passenger windows. The rear window is the back glass.

Measurement variance is the tolerance a state allows when an officer meters your glass. Illinois allows 5 percentage points, Virginia allows 7, Hawaii allows 6, and many states allow 3 — but roughly half specify none at all.

Cars vs. multipurpose vehicles (MPVs). Most tint statutes split vehicles into two classes: passenger cars (sedan, coupe, hatchback, station wagon) and multipurpose vehicles (SUV, van, minibus, RV, camper, pickup truck). The tables below are separated the same way.

Window Tint Laws by State (2026 Chart) — Cars

The table below applies to passenger cars: sedans, coupes, hatchbacks and station wagons. All figures are minimum legal VLT — film may not be darker than the number shown. “Any darkness” means the state sets no VLT limit for that window.