What a window tint ticket costs in Montana
No one can honestly quote you a single number, and we are not going to invent one. Montana fixes the offence — misdemeanor for the owner or operator, and the same misdemeanor for whoever applied the film under Mont. Code Ann. 61-9-429 (penalty); limits at 61-9-405(4), with up to $500 and up to 6 months on the supreme court's recommended bond schedule, which puts the recommended bond itself at $35. The total on the citation comes from the fee schedule of the court that issued it, which varies by county.
| What the statute fixes | Montana |
|---|---|
| Offence | Misdemeanor for the owner or operator, and the same misdemeanor for whoever applied the film |
| Amount set by statute | Up to $500 and up to 6 months on the Supreme Court's recommended bond schedule, which puts the recommended bond itself at $35 |
| Correctable (fix-it) | Not verified |
| Licence points | Not verified |
| Statute | Mont. Code Ann. 61-9-429 (penalty); limits at 61-9-405(4) |
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 Montana does settle
Get the citation right, because the section usually quoted for this is the wrong one. The tint penalty is 61-9-429, which carries its own heading for it; 61-9-512 is about standards adopted for motor carriers and has nothing to do with tint, despite being cited for it widely. 61-9-429 puts the installer under the same misdemeanor as the owner. The recommended bond is what you post to be released, not the fine the court imposes.
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 24% VLT minimum, back side windows 14% VLT minimum, rear window 14% VLT minimum — 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 Montana →Frequently asked questions
How much is a window tint ticket in Montana?
There is no single statewide figure, and anyone quoting one is guessing. Montana fixes the offence — misdemeanor for the owner or operator, and the same misdemeanor for whoever applied the film under Mont. Code Ann. 61-9-429 (penalty); limits at 61-9-405(4), with up to $500 and up to 6 months on the supreme court's recommended bond schedule, which puts the recommended bond itself at $35 — 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 Montana correctable?
We could not verify that Montana 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 Montana?
We could not verify whether Montana 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 Montana?
The limits are front side windows 24% VLT, back side windows 14% VLT, rear window 14% VLT, 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 Montana tint ticket dismissed?
Montana 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
- Mont. Code Ann. 61-9-429 - Window tinting and sunscreening, penalty (official)
- Montana Supreme Court recommended bond schedule, January 2026 (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.