What a window tint ticket costs in Texas
No one can honestly quote you a single number, and we are not going to invent one. Texas fixes the offence — class c misdemeanor under Tex. Transp. Code 547.613, with no amount set in the statute itself. The total on the citation comes from the fee schedule of the court that issued it, which varies by county.
| What the statute fixes | Texas |
|---|---|
| Offence | Class C misdemeanor |
| Amount set by statute | None — the citing court's schedule sets it |
| Correctable (fix-it) | Not verified |
| Licence points | Not verified |
| Statute | Tex. Transp. Code 547.613 |
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 Texas does settle
Passing inspection is not a defence. DPS states plainly that passing inspection does not foreclose prosecution under Section 547.613, and that whether a vehicle is in violation is a matter for law enforcement and the courts -- which is why drivers who passed inspection at one shade still get cited. Separately, installing film without the required label is its own misdemeanor aimed at the installer.
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 25% 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 Texas →Frequently asked questions
How much is a window tint ticket in Texas?
There is no single statewide figure, and anyone quoting one is guessing. Texas fixes the offence — class c misdemeanor under Tex. Transp. Code 547.613, with no amount set in the statute — 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 Texas correctable?
We could not verify that Texas 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 Texas?
We could not verify whether Texas 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 Texas?
The limits are front side windows 25% 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 Texas tint ticket dismissed?
Texas 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
- Texas DPS - Window Tinting Standards (official)
- Texas DPS - Window tint medical exemption notice (eff. 1 Jan 2019) (official)
- S.B. 589 bill analysis, 81st Legislature (Texas Legislature Online) (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.