1.How VLT works
VLT, visible light transmission, is the percentage of light that passes through a window, counting the factory glass and any film together, not the film alone. A factory windshield already runs around 70-80% VLT before any film is added, which is why a 35% tint on a side window is noticeably darker than the same number sounds on paper.
Every state sets its own minimum VLT for front side windows, back side windows and the rear window, plus separate rules for how far down a windshield strip can run and how reflective (mirrored) a film is allowed to be. A film legal in one state can be illegal thirty miles away across a state line.
Enforcement discretion and local amendments vary by jurisdiction and over time; the statute citation in each row is the place to verify current language, not this document.
2.Northeast (9 jurisdictions)
| State | Front side | Back side | Rear | Windshield | Reflectivity | Medical exemption | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 35% | 35% | No limit | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Front side windows must not be more than 21% reflective; back side windows must not be more than 27% reflective | Yes | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-99g |
| Maine | 35% | 35% | 35% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line or top 5 inches | Front and back side windows may not be reflective (no specific percentage set by statute) | Yes | 29-A M.R.S. § 1916 |
| Massachusetts | 35% | 35% | 35% | Non-reflective tint allowed on the AS-1 line or top 6 inches | Front and back side windows must not be more than 35% reflective | Yes | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 9D |
| New Hampshire | 70% | 35% | 35% | Non-reflective 35% VLT tint allowed on the top 6 inches | Front and back side windows must not have a metallic or mirrored appearance | Yes | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 266:58-a |
| New Jersey | No limit | No limit | No limit | No tint allowed on the windshield | Front and back side windows must not have a metallic or mirrored appearance | Yes | N.J.S.A. 39:3-74 |
| New York | 70% | 70% | No limit | Non-reflective tint allowed on the top 6 inches, must allow more than 70% VLT | Front and back side windows must not have a mirrored or metallic appearance | Yes | N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 375(12-a) |
| Pennsylvania | 70% | 70% | 70% | Must allow more than 70% of light in | Front and back side windows must not have a mirrored or metallic appearance | Yes | 75 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4524 |
| Rhode Island | 70% | 70% | 70% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | No reflectivity limit specified by law | Yes | R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23.3-5 |
| Vermont | No limit | No limit | No limit | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Front and back side windows must not have a mirrored or metallic appearance | Yes | 23 Vt. Stat. Ann. § 1125 |
3.Midwest (12 jurisdictions)
| State | Front side | Back side | Rear | Windshield | Reflectivity | Medical exemption | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 35% | 35% | 35% | Non-reflective tint allowed on the top 6 inches | Front and back side windows must be non-reflective (no specific percentage set by statute) | Yes | 625 ILCS 5/12-503 |
| Indiana | 30% | 30% | 30% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Front and back side windows must not be more than 25% reflective | Yes | Ind. Code § 9-19-19-4 |
| Iowa | 70% | No limit | No limit | Must allow more than 70% of light in | No excessive reflectiveness; statute does not set a specific percentage | No | Iowa Code § 321.438 |
| Kansas | 35% | 35% | 35% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Front and back side windows must not have a metallic or mirrored appearance | No | K.S.A. §§ 8-1749a to 8-1749c |
| Michigan | No limit | No limit | No limit | Non-reflective tint allowed on the top 4 inches | Front and back side windows must not be more than 35% reflective | Yes | Mich. Comp. Laws § 257.709 |
| Minnesota | 50% | 50% | 50% | No tint allowed on the windshield | Front and back side windows must not be more than 20% reflective | Yes | Minn. Stat. § 169.71 |
| Missouri | 35% | No limit | No limit | No sun-screening device allowed on the windshield (factory-tinted top band excepted) | Front and back side windows must not be more than 35% reflective | Yes | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 307.173 |
| Nebraska | 35% | 20% | 20% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Front and back side windows must not be more than 35% reflective | No | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-6,257 |
| North Dakota | 50% | No limit | No limit | Must allow more than 70% of light in | Front and back side windows must not have a metallic or mirrored appearance | No | N.D. Cent. Code § 39-21-39 |
| Ohio | 50% | No limit | No limit | Non-reflective tint allowed on the top 5 inches | Front and back side windows must not be reflectorized | No | Ohio Rev. Code § 4513.241 |
| South Dakota | 35% | 20% | 20% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Front and back side windows must not have a metallic or mirrored appearance | No | S.D. Codified Laws §§ 32-15-2.4 to 32-15-5 |
| Wisconsin | 50% | 35% | 35% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line (if no AS-1 line is marked, no windshield tint is permitted) | No metallic or reflective tinting film is allowed on any window | Yes | Wis. Stat. § 347.43 |
4.South (17 jurisdictions)
| State | Front side | Back side | Rear | Windshield | Reflectivity | Medical exemption | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 32% | 32% | 32% | Non-reflective tint allowed on the top 6 inches | Front and back side windows must not be more than 20% reflective | Yes | Ala. Code § 32-5C-4 |
| Arkansas | 25% | 25% | 10% | Non-reflective tint allowed on the top 5 inches | No metallic or mirrored appearance allowed on front or back side windows | Yes | Ark. Code Ann. § 27-37-306 |
| Delaware | No limit | No limit | No limit | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Front and back side windows must not have a metallic or mirrored appearance | Yes | 21 Del. C. §§ 4313, 4313A |
| District of Columbia | 70% | 50% | 50% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line or top 5 inches | No reflectivity limit specified by law | Yes | D.C. Code § 50-2207.02 |
| Florida | 28% | 15% | 15% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Front side windows must not be more than 25% reflective; back side windows must not be more than 35% reflective | Yes | Fla. Stat. §§ 316.2951-316.2956 |
| Georgia | 32% | 32% | 32% | Non-reflective tint allowed on the top 6 inches | Front and back side windows must not be more than 20% reflective | Yes | O.C.G.A. § 40-8-73.1 |
| Kentucky | 35% | 18% | 18% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Front side windows must not be more than 25% reflective; back side windows must not be more than 35% reflective | No | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 189.110 |
| Louisiana | 40% | 25% | 12% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line or top 5 inches | Front and back side windows must not be more than 20% reflective | No | La. Rev. Stat. § 32:361.1 |
| Maryland | 35% | 35% | 35% | Non-reflective 35% VLT tint allowed on the AS-1 line or top 5 inches | Front and back side windows must not have a metallic or mirrored appearance | Yes | Md. Code, Transp. § 22-406 |
| Mississippi | 28% | 28% | 28% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Front and back side windows must not be more than 20% reflective | Yes | Miss. Code Ann. § 63-7-59 |
| North Carolina | 35% | 35% | 35% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line or top 5 inches | Front and back side windows must not be more than 20% reflective | Yes | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-127 |
| Oklahoma | 25% | 25% | 25% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Front and back side windows must not be more than 25% reflective | Yes | 47 Okla. Stat. § 12-422 |
| South Carolina | 27% | 27% | 27% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Front and back side windows must be non-reflective (no specific percentage set by statute) | Yes | S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-5015 |
| Tennessee | 35% | 35% | 35% | Must allow more than 70% of light in | Front and back side windows must not have a mirrored or metallic appearance | Yes | Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-107 |
| Texas | 25% | No limit | No limit | 25% VLT tint (25% or less reflectance, not red/blue/amber) allowed above the AS-1 line or top 5 inches | Front and back side windows must not be more than 25% reflective | Yes | Tex. Transp. Code § 547.613 |
| Virginia | 50% | 35% | 35% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Front and back side windows must not be more than 20% reflective | Yes | Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-1052 |
| West Virginia | 35% | 35% | 35% | Non-reflective tint allowed on the top 5 inches | Front and back side windows must not be more than 20% reflective | Yes | W. Va. Code § 17C-15-36a |
5.West (13 jurisdictions)
| State | Front side | Back side | Rear | Windshield | Reflectivity | Medical exemption | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 70% | 40% | 40% | Non-reflective tint allowed on the top 5 inches | No metallic or mirrored appearance allowed on front or back side windows | Yes | Alaska Stat. § 28.35.271 |
| Arizona | 33% | No limit | No limit | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Front and back side windows must not be more than 35% reflective | Yes | A.R.S. § 28-959.01 |
| California | 70% | No limit | No limit | Non-reflective tint allowed on the top 4 inches | Front and back side windows must not be more reflective than a standard window | Yes | Cal. Veh. Code § 26708; medical exemption under AB 1303 (2017) |
| Colorado | 27% | 27% | 27% | Non-reflective 70% VLT tint allowed on the top 4 inches | Front and back side windows must not have a metallic or mirrored appearance | No | C.R.S. § 42-4-227 |
| Hawaii | 35% | 35% | 35% | Non-reflective tint allowed on the top 4 inches | Front and back side windows must not have a metallic or mirrored appearance | No | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291-21.5 |
| Idaho | 35% | 20% | 35% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line or top 6 inches | Front and back side windows must not be more than 35% reflective | Yes | Idaho Code § 49-944 |
| Montana | 24% | 14% | 14% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line | Front and back side windows must not be more than 35% reflective | Yes | Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-405 |
| Nevada | 35% | No limit | No limit | Non-reflective tint allowed on the top portion above the AS-1 line (not red or amber) | Windows must not reflect more than 20% of light | Yes | Nev. Rev. Stat. § 484D.440 (reflectivity at § 484D.420) |
| New Mexico | 20% | 20% | 20% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line or top 5 inches | No reflective tint allowed on front or back side windows | Yes | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 66-3-846.1 |
| Oregon | 35% | 35% | 35% | Non-reflective tint allowed on the top 6 inches | Front and back side windows must not be more than 13% reflective | Yes | Or. Rev. Stat. § 815.221 |
| Utah | 35% | No limit | No limit | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line or top 4 inches | Front and back side windows must not have a mirrored or metallic appearance | No | Utah Code § 41-6a-1635 |
| Washington | 24% | 24% | 24% | Non-reflective tint allowed on the top 6 inches | Front and back side windows must not be more than 35% reflective | Yes | Rev. Code Wash. § 46.37.430 |
| Wyoming | 28% | 28% | 28% | Non-reflective tint allowed above the AS-1 line or top 5 inches | Front and back side windows must not be more than 20% reflective | Yes | Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-5-962 |
⚠What this document does not cover
- City or county ordinances that go beyond the state statute.
- Non-automotive glass (homes, commercial buildings, boats).
- How individual officers or inspection stations exercise enforcement discretion.
- Legal advice for a citation or a specific vehicle; consult the cited statute or an attorney.
- Amendments passed after each row's verified date; statute citations are the authoritative source going forward.
Frequently asked questions
Does VLT measure the film by itself or the film plus the glass?
The glass and film together. A film rated 35% VLT on its own packaging will read differently once installed, because factory glass already blocks some light before the film is added.
Can SUVs and trucks use darker tint than sedans?
In some states, yes. A number of states allow any darkness on back side and rear windows for multi-purpose vehicles (SUVs, vans, trucks) once the front side windows meet the state's sedan limit. Check the notes for your specific state in the interactive tool at /tools/window-tint-laws.
What happens if I move to a state with stricter tint laws?
Most states apply their own law to any vehicle registered or driven there, regardless of where the tint was installed. If you move or frequently drive into a stricter state, check that state's limits before the stricter rule becomes a ticket.
Sources
- Tinting-Laws.com - Alabama
- Tint Wiz - Window Tint Laws by State
- Tinting-Laws.com - Alaska
- Tinting-Laws.com - Arizona
- Tinting-Laws.com - Arkansas
- Tinting-Laws.com - California
- Tinting-Laws.com - Colorado
Last verified 2026-10-01. Figures are catalog estimates and public data, not quotes, and never a Coateau rating.