What a window tint ticket costs in Delaware
No one can honestly quote you a single number, and we are not going to invent one. Delaware fixes the offence — the section states no penalty for the driver; whoever installed the film is fined separately under 21 Del. C. 4313; installer penalty at 21 Del. C. 4313A, with not less than $100 nor more than $500 for the installer under 21 del. c. 4313a, plus restitution to the vehicle owner of whatever was charged for the job. The total on the citation comes from the fee schedule of the court that issued it, which varies by county.
| What the statute fixes | Delaware |
|---|---|
| Offence | The section states no penalty for the driver; whoever installed the film is fined separately |
| Amount set by statute | Not less than $100 nor more than $500 for the installer under 21 Del. C. 4313A, plus restitution to the vehicle owner of whatever was charged for the job |
| Correctable (fix-it) | Not verified |
| Licence points | Not verified |
| Statute | 21 Del. C. 4313; installer penalty at 21 Del. C. 4313A |
Why the figures online disagree
A tint citation's total is a base amount plus court costs and surcharges, and those are set per county by the citing court rather than by the tint statute. That is why three pages about the same state will quote three different numbers, all of them sourced from each other rather than from a schedule. The number that binds you is the one the clerk of the court named on your citation gives you — so that call is the first thing worth making.
What Delaware does settle
Delaware is unusual in aiming the money at the shop rather than the owner: 4313A fines the installer and makes them refund the customer the price of the job. For the driver, 4313(d) is the provision that matters, and it is a bar to conviction rather than a fine to pay. Hold a statement from a physician, osteopath or optometrist that the tint is medically necessary and you cannot be convicted under the section. A pending bill, SB 255, would relax the front side window limit from 70 percent to 35 percent; it had not been confirmed as law.
What to do next
- 1
Ring the clerk of the court named on the citation and ask for the amount and the appearance date. Do not rely on a figure from a blog.
- 2
Ask the same clerk whether the citation can be dismissed on proof that the film was brought into compliance — some courts allow it even where the statute is silent.
- 3
Have the film replaced with film that meters legal through the glass, and keep the receipt in case the court will take it.
The limits you were measured against
Front side windows 50% VLT minimum, back side windows No limit specified, rear window No limit specified — metered through the film and the glass together. Factory side glass already blocks some light before any film goes on, which is how film sold as “legal” ends up metering under the limit.
Check what film will meter legal in Delaware →Frequently asked questions
How much is a window tint ticket in Delaware?
There is no single statewide figure, and anyone quoting one is guessing. Delaware fixes the offence — the section states no penalty for the driver; whoever installed the film is fined separately under 21 Del. C. 4313; installer penalty at 21 Del. C. 4313A, with not less than $100 nor more than $500 for the installer under 21 del. c. 4313a, plus restitution to the vehicle owner of whatever was charged for the job — and the total you pay is set by the fee schedule of the court that issued the citation, which varies by county and is not published statewide. Call the clerk of the citing court for the figure that applies to you.
Is a tint ticket in Delaware correctable?
We could not verify that Delaware treats it as a correctable violation, so do not assume removing the film clears the citation. Ask the clerk of the citing court before the appearance date.
Does a tint ticket put points on your licence in Delaware?
We could not verify whether Delaware assigns licence points for this, so we are not going to guess. The clerk of the citing court can tell you.
What tint got me cited in Delaware?
The limits are front side windows 50% VLT, back side windows no numeric limit, rear window no numeric limit, measured through the film and the glass together — which is why film sold as legal can still meter under.
Can a medical exemption get a Delaware tint ticket dismissed?
Delaware does have a medical exemption, but it is something you hold before the stop, not a defence you assemble afterwards. If you qualify, get it in place so the next stop goes differently.
Sources
- Delaware General Assembly - SB 255 (reproduces 21 Del. C. 4313 and 4313A) (official)
- Delaware DMV - Medical tint waiver (official)
Reference only, not legal advice. We do not publish an estimated ticket total because no statewide schedule exists to support one. For the amount that applies to you, ask the clerk of the court on your citation.