What a window tint ticket costs in Vermont
No one can honestly quote you a single number, and we are not going to invent one. Vermont fixes the offence — traffic violation; the section states no penalty of its own under 23 V.S.A. 1125, with not more than $1,000 under the general penalty for a traffic violation with no specified penalty, which is a ceiling rather than what a court imposes. The total on the citation comes from the fee schedule of the court that issued it, which varies by county.
| What the statute fixes | Vermont |
|---|---|
| Offence | Traffic violation; the section states no penalty of its own |
| Amount set by statute | Not more than $1,000 under the general penalty for a traffic violation with no specified penalty, which is a ceiling rather than what a court imposes |
| Correctable (fix-it) | Not verified |
| Licence points | Not verified |
| Statute | 23 V.S.A. 1125 |
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 Vermont does settle
The consequence that bites in Vermont is not the fine, it is the inspection. The DMV's Periodic Inspection Manual makes any non-transparent matter on the vent or side windows immediately left and right of the driver grounds for rejection, and Vermont inspects annually, so illegal film becomes a registration problem rather than a one-off ticket. Treat the misdemeanor classes being quoted for Vermont tint with suspicion: they trace to a 2024 legislative analysis and name grades Vermont's own criminal code does not use, which suggests the document was describing another state. We have not repeated them here. Act 165 changed the underlying standard from 1 July 2026, so check the current manual before you tint anything.
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 No aftermarket film allowed, 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 Vermont →Frequently asked questions
How much is a window tint ticket in Vermont?
There is no single statewide figure, and anyone quoting one is guessing. Vermont fixes the offence — traffic violation; the section states no penalty of its own under 23 V.S.A. 1125, with not more than $1,000 under the general penalty for a traffic violation with no specified penalty, which is a ceiling rather than what a court imposes — 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 Vermont correctable?
We could not verify that Vermont 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 Vermont?
We could not verify whether Vermont 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 Vermont?
The limits are front side windows no film allowed, 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 Vermont tint ticket dismissed?
Vermont 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
- 23 V.S.A. 1125 (official)
- Vermont DMV - VN-113 Periodic Inspection Manual (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.