Window Tinting Laws in All 50 States

Tinting of front windshield glass to reduce light transmission is not permitted, except for the upper 6 inches of the windshield. 

For side windows or rear windshield, glass tinting that reduces light transmission to less than 32% or increases light reflectance to more than 20% is not permitted. For SUVs, vans and trucks, the limit is 32% for the driver’s window and the front passenger window only.

The front windshield can have tinting applied, but only on the top 5 inches of the window.

Side windows must have 70% light transmittance.

Rear windows must have 40% light transmittance.

Mirrored tints are not allowed.

 Application or installation of a substance or material that alters the  color or reduces the light transmittance is permissible for a luminous reflection of 35% or less. 

Tinting may not extend more than 5 inches from the top of the windshield.

On all model 1994 and later vehicles, side may use a tint that allows at least 25% net light transmission.

On all model 1994 and later vehicles, the rearmost window may be covered with after-market tint that allows at least 10% net light  transmission.

All vehicles with after-market tints must have a label with the name and phone number of the company and a declaration that the vehicle  conforms to the vehicle tinting law that installed the tint on the front glass immediately to the driver’s left. A motorist with a medical waiver exemption for window tinting must carry a physician’s certification in the motor vehicle.

 Window tinting is permitted only for the side windows to the rear of the driver; rear windows may be tinted but only if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides that provide 200 feet of visibility; the uppermost portion of the windshield may also be tinted.  

The windshield shall allow no less than 70% light transmission.

The windows to the side of the driver may be tinted to allow a minimum of 27% light transmittance.

The windows to the rear of the driver, including the rear window, may be tinted less than 27% if the front side windows and the windshield shall allow 70% light transmittance.

Any glass tinting on the front and side windows is prohibited, except when accompanied by a certification by a licensed physician stating that the driver’s medical condition would require it.

Exceptions may be permitted for certain windows with specified light transmittance and variances.

A non-reflective tinted film may be used along the uppermost portion of the windshield if such material does not extend more than 6 inches  down from the top of the windshield.

The use of non-reflective, smoked or tinted glass, non-reflective film, perforated window screen, or other decorative window application on windows to the rear of the driver’s seat is permitted, except the motor vehicle must be equipped with a side mirror on each side of the motor vehicle and may not have window treatment on the windows immediately adjacent to each side of the driver.

 A person may not drive a motor vehicle with any tinted windows that obstruct the driver’s clear view of the highway or intersecting highway or that prevent the ability of people outside the vehicle to recognize the people inside the vehicle. Windows may not be tinted with a material that has a total solar reflectance of visible light of more than 25 percent as measured on the non-film side and light transmittance of less than 30 percent in the visible light range. The exceptions to this rule  are tinted windows installed by the manufacturer that are in compliance with federal law, and windows that are tinted for medical reasons, which require a physician’s or optometrist’s certification that must be carried in the car at all times. This certification must be updated annually. 

 No person may operate a motor vehicle with a windshield, a side window to the immediate right or left of the driver, or a side-wing forward of the driver that has less than 70% transparency unless the person suffers from a severe light-sensitive condition documented by a licensed physician. 

The windshield may have tinting installed above the AS1 line along the top of the windshield.

All windows must have a total light transmission of at least 35%. Reflective tinting is prohibited on all windows.

Any windows that are forward of or adjacent to the driver’s seat may not be composed of, covered by, or treated with any sunscreening material or any product that has the effect of making the windows  non-transparent. Sunscreening material is permitted if it has a total solar reflectance of visible light of not more than 25% on the non-film side.

Any windows that are behind the driver may not be covered by, composed of, or treated with any sunscreening material, but such material may be used if it has a total solar reflectance of visible light of not more than 35% on the non-film side.

The rear window of any vehicle may not be composed of, covered by, or treated with any sunscreening material unless the vehicle is equipped with side mirrors on both sides.

Window tinting on the windshield is permitted only along the top strip of the windshield.

 A person may not drive a motor vehicle with any tinted windows that obstruct the inward and outward view. The exceptions to this rule are: (1) a sun-screening device used with automotive safety glazing material on the front side window with a light transmission of at least 40%, the side window behind the driver with a light transmission of at least 25% and rearmost windows with a light transmission of at least 12%; (2) a transparent material, not colored red or amber, affixed to the top of the windshield not extending more than 5 inches down from the top; (3) an adjustable nontransparent sun visor that is not attached to the glass and mounted forward on the side window; and (4) all vehicles that have windows tinted on or before December 31, 1993, that were in compliance with the law at that time, as long as the owner obtains a certificate stating that the tinting occurred before 1994; a certificate confirming this must be filed with the Department. Individuals can seek medical exemptions. Customers have questions, you have answers. Display the most frequently asked questions, so everybody benefits.

 Any person may operate a motor vehicle with front sidewing vents or windows located immediately to the left and right of the driver that have a sun screening device, in conjunction with safety glazing  material, that has a light transmission of 35% or more plus or minus 3% and a luminous reflectance of 35% or less plus or minus 3%.

A permit exempting a driver from these requirements may be issued by the Department of Public Safety to a person having a serious medical condition that requires the use of a sun screening device if the permittee’s physician prescribes its use. The permit shall allow the operation of the vehicle by any titleholder or relative (spouse, each  grandparent, parent, brother, sister, niece, nephew, aunt, uncle, child, and grandchild).

Does not prohibit labels, stickers, decalcomania, or informational signs on motor vehicles or the application of tinted or solar screening  material to recreational vehicles provided that such material does not interfere with the driver’s normal view of the road. Does not prohibit factory installed tinted glass, the equivalent replacement thereof, or  tinting material applied to the upper portion of the motor vehicle’s windshield is normally tinted by the manufacturer of motor vehicle safety glass.

Any vehicle licensed with a historical license plate shall be exempt from the window tinting requirements.

A windshield may not have sunscreening material that is not clear and transparent below the AS-1 line or sunscreening material that is red, yellow, or amber in color above the AS-1 line.

The front side windows may not have sunscreening or other transparent material that has a luminous reflectance of more than 35% or has light  transmission of less than 24%.

The rear window or side windows behind the front seat may not have sunscreening or other transparent material that has a luminous  reflectance of more than 35% or has light transmission of less than 14%, except for the rear window or side windows behind the front seat on a  multipurpose vehicle, van, or bus.

The highway patrol or local law enforcement may grant a waiver of window tinting standards for medical reasons based on an affidavit signed by a licensed physician.Having a big sale, on-site celebrity, or other event? Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.

It shall be unlawful for a person to drive a motor vehicle required to be registered in this state upon a highway: (a) if the windows in such motor vehicle are tinted so that the driver’s clear view through  the windshield or side or rear windows is reduced or the ability to see into the motor vehicle is substantially impaired; (b) if the windshield has any sunscreening material that is not clear and transparent below the AS-1 line or if it has a sunscreening material that is red, yellow, or amber in color above the AS-1 line; (c) if the front side windows have any sunscreening or other transparent material that has a luminous reflectance of more than 35% or has light transmission of less than 35%; or (d) if the rear window or side windows behind the front seat have  sunscreening or other transparent material that has a luminous reflectance of more than 35% or has light transmission of less than 20% except for the rear window or side windows behind the front seat on a multipurpose vehicle, van, or bus.

The term “AS-1 line” shall mean a line extending from the letters AS-1, found on most motor vehicle windshields, running parallel to the top of the windshield or shall mean a line 5 inches below and parallel to the top of the windshield, whichever is closer to the top of the windshield.

 No person shall operate a vehicle with any windshield tinting that has a light transmittance of less than 70% or window tinting with a light transmittance of less than 50%. Windows behind the operator are exempt if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides.   

 Application of vehicle glass darkening material must meet Director of Public Safety specifications. Reflectorized material prohibited.  

For model year 1996 and later, side and back windows may have window tinting that allows at least 25% light transmission, and has a luminous  reflectance no greater than 25%.

For model year 1995 and earlier, side windows to the rear of the driver, and back windows may have window tinting that allows at least 10% light transmission, and has a luminous reflectance no greater than  25%.

Windshields may have transparent material affixed from the top of the windshield to either the AS-1 line or for a maximum of 5 inches, whichever is closest to the top of the windshield. The material may not be red or amber in color.

Tinting material may be applied to the side and rear windows of a motor vehicle if the material has a light transmittance of 50% or more; a light reflectance of 13% or more; and the total light transmittance through the window is 35% or more.

Tinting material with a total light transmittance lower than 35% may be applied to the top 6 inches of a windshield, but may not be applied to any other portion of the windshield.

Tinting material with a total light transmittance lower than 35% may be applied to all windows of a multipurpose passenger vehicle that are behind the driver, but only if the vehicle is equipped with rearview mirrors on each side of the vehicle.

A signed affidavit, prescription, or letter by a physician or optometrist may permit the use of tinting material with a total light transmittance lower than 35%. Drivers are to provide the affidavit, or prescription or letter, and a window tint certificate upon request by law enforcement. Window tint certificates are issued at the time of installation.

Mirror finish tinting, red tinting, yellow tinting, gold tinting, amber tinting, black tinting, or tinting material that is in liquid form and is brushed or sprayed on is prohibited.

No person may drive any motor vehicle with any sunscreening device or other material which does not permit a person to see or view the inside of the vehicle through the windshield, side wing, or side window of the vehicle.

This does not apply to a vehicle which is equipped with tinted windows of the type and specification that were installed by the manufacturer of the vehicle or to any hearse, ambulance, government vehicle, or any other vehicle for which a currently valid certificate of exemption has been issued in accordance with regulations adopted by the Department.

The Department can grant a certificate of exemption for a vehicle that is registered in Pennsylvania and is equipped with any prohibited  sunscreening devices for a medical condition certified to the Department by a licensed physician or optometrist.

Anyone installing a sunscreen device on a motor vehicle must place a label on the front window that contains the installer’s name and the percentage of light transmittance.

The use of non-transparent or sunscreen material or window application on motor vehicles which has a total light transmittance of not less than 70% on the windshield, all side windows, or the rear window is permitted if the vehicle has 2 outside mirrors, 1 on each side, adjusted to provide the driver with a clear view of the highway behind the vehicle.

The use of transparent material on the uppermost 6 inches of the windshield is permitted.

Glass tinting is allowed only if the vehicle is equipped with 2 side mirrors, and the following conditions apply:

• For passenger cars, rear side windows or rear windows tint cannot reduce the total light transmittance of such window to less than 35%; and front side windows tint cannot reduce total light transmittance of such window to less than 50%.
• For passenger trucks, vans, and SUVs, front side windows tint cannot reduce total light transmittance of such window to less than 50%.

No tints may have a reflectance of light exceeding 20% or produce a holographic or prism effect.

No film or darkening material may be applied to the windshield except to replace the sunshield in the uppermost area of the windshield.

Any greater reduction of light transmittance of any window requires written authorization from the Commissioner of the DMV.

The maximum level of film sunscreening material to be applied to any window, except the windshield, must have a total reflectance of 35% or less, and a light transmission of 24% or more. Installation of more than a single sheet of film sunscreening material to any window is  prohibited.

A greater degree of light reduction is permitted on all windows and the top 6 inches of windshields operated by or carrying as a passenger a person who possesses a written medical exemption from a licensed  physician.

A greater degree of light reduction is permitted on the top 6-inch area of a vehicle’s windshield as long as the product is transparent and does not extend into the AS-1 portion of the windshield. Clear film sunscreening material that reduces or eliminates ultraviolet light may be applied to the windshield.

The following types of film sunscreening material are not permitted: mirror finish products; red, gold, yellow, or black material; or film sunscreening material that is in liquid preapplication form and brushed or sprayed on.

Sunscreening devices may be applied to any window behind the driver as long the device reduces the driver’s field of vision uniformly and by no more than 50%. If sunscreening devices are applied to the rear window, the vehicle must be equipped with outside rearview mirrors on both the left and right.Having a big sale, on-site celebrity, or other event? Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.

A sunscreening device, when used in conjunction with the automotive safety glazing materials on the side wings or windows located to the immediate right and left of the driver shall be of a non-reflective type with a reflectivity of not more than 20% and with a light transmission of not less than 35%.

The side windows behind the driver and the rear windows may have a  sunscreening device that has a light transmission of not less than 35% and a reflectivity of not more than 20%.

 All glass used for the vent, side, or rear windows must be safety glass. Vent and front side windows may be tinted to a degree that permits 50% of visible light to pass through. Rear windows may be tinted to a degree that permits 35% of visible light to pass through.  

No person may operate an enclosed motor vehicle that is required to be registered in the state on any public highway, road, or street that has a sunscreening device on the windshield, the front sidewings, and side windows adjacent to the right and left of the driver and windows adjacent to the rear of the driver that do not meet the following  requirements: (1) a sunscreening device in the windshield must be non-reflective and may not be red, yellow, or amber in color, and must not extend downward beyond the AS-1 line or more than 5 inches from the top of the windshield, whichever is closer to the top of the windshield; and (2) a sunscreening device used on the sidewings, side windows, and rear windows must be a non-reflective type and have total light transmission of not less than 28%.

No sunscreening device or tinting film may be applied or affixed to any window of a motor vehicle that has a luminous reflectance of light exceeding 20%.

If any sunscreen device or tinting film has been added to any windows behind the operator, 1 left and 1 right outside rearview mirror are required.

Any person with a medical condition requiring tinted windows may obtain a certificate from WYDOT upon WYDOT’s receipt of a signed  statement from a licensed physician or optometrist. 

Use of unidirectional vision glass prohibited on motor vehicles.

Application of tints or other material that reduces visibility to less than 35% is prohibited.

Any person with a medical condition requiring tinted windows under the legal limit, may obtain a certificate from the Puerto Rico DOT upon DOT’s receipt of a signed statement from a licensed physician.