Car Tinting Laws- Window Tint Laws by State
Whether it’s privacy or security you want or simply to add a unique look to your vehicle, tinting your car windows can not only protect you but also your vehicle interior from sunlight and heat.
However, like all automobile customizations, tinting your car windows doesn’t come without regulations. Here are the different car window tinting laws you need to consider depending on the state you live in.
What is Car Window Tinting
Before we get into the car tinting laws, let’s first talk about how car window tints work. Tinting your windows refers to the process of installing a thin and transparent laminate film to the interior of your vehicle’s windows to block a percentage of sunlight and heat.
Most car windows are made out of standard glass that can block UV radiation to an extent but aftermarket tints can increase that protection manyfold while simultaneously limiting the temperature inside your car. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can find films available in different materials and with various levels of tint for car windows.
Types of Car Window Tinting
There are 5 common types of window tinting based on what material the film is made of. Each of these comes with its own pros and cons. Our descriptions below will give you an idea of what you can expect from the different types.
Dyed
Dyed window tints are the most common type of window tint due to being extremely cost-effective and fairly durable. These tints are made up of several layers of adhesive film with a dye in the middle and a polyester topcoat.
As a result, dyed tints are the least expensive option if you want to make your car a bit more private. However, as a drawback, these tints are not as effective as other types and the layers can sometimes separate, causing visibility issues. They will also fade over time forcing you to buy a replacement eventually.
Metalized
Metalized window tints unlike their dyed counterparts have metal microparticles that reflect sunlight instead of absorbing it. As a result, they can block more harmful rays and keep the car cooler.
Metalized tints also increase the durability of your windows by preventing scratches and shatters. These tints look shiny and metallic and never fade. So, you don’t have to worry about replacing them every few years. However, they can cost significantly more as a result and sometimes cause interference with the electronics in your vehicle.
Hybrid
Hybrid tints, as the name suggests are made up of several dyed layers along with a thin layer in the middle that’s made out of metal. As a result, hybrid films come with most of the benefits of dyed and metalized tints and almost none of the drawbacks.
Providing a dark and crisp look, hybrid window tints aren’t reflective. They can protect your car from the heat and glare of the sun while not costing as much as a metalized tint. However, they can still be quite expensive when compared to dyed tints.
Carbon
Carbon tints are becoming more popular nowadays because of the unique matte aesthetic it provides. These tints are made up of carbon fiber particles that have insulating properties. As a result, carbon window tints can reduce the internal temperature of your car by almost 40 percent.
These tints can also strengthen the windows in your vehicle by making them shatter-proof as well. The only drawback of carbon tinting is that it can be quite expensive, but you’re getting your money’s worth in terms of durability and lifetime.
Ceramic
Ceramic tints are the most expensive type of tint that you can install in your car. Blocking more than 99 percent of the sun’s UV rays, they even surpass carbon fiber tints in terms of protection.
Since ceramic does not conduct heat, it keeps your car cold in the summer and warm in the winter. Moreover, this type of window tint resists fading and prevents glare. Ceramic tinting can cost quite a fortune but it’s well worth the investment as it can improve the overall value of your car.
Car Window Tinting Laws by State
While window tinting is legal almost everywhere, the legal limits for tinted windows can vary from state to state. Before you go out to get your car windows tinted, you need to first make sure how much window tint is legal in the state you live in. The following chart outlines the window tint percentage by state.
| State | Front Side Windows | Back Side Windows | Rear Windows | Windshield | Reflectivity | Other Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 32% | 32% | 32% | 6 inches. | don’t have permission to use more than 20% reflective tint. | None |
| Alaska | 70% | 40% | 40% | 5 inches. | no metallic or mirrored tinting. | no red, yellow, or amber tinting is allowed. |
| Arizona | 33% | any | any | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no more than 35% reflective. | red and amber are not permitted. back window tinting requires the use of dual side mirrors |
| Arkansas | 25% | 25% | 10% | 5 inches. | no metallic or mirrored tinting. | none. |
| California | 70% | any | any | 4 inches. | no more reflective than a standard window. | red, amber, and blue are not allowed, dual side mirrors are required for back tinted windows. |
| Colorado | 27% | 27% | 27% | 4 inches. | no metallic or mirrored tinting. | red and amber are not permitted, and back window tinting requires the use of dual side mirrors. |
| Connecticut | 35% | 35% | any | non-reflective tint above the as-1 line. | no more than 21% reflective. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| Delaware | 70% | any | any | non-reflective tint above the as-1 line. | no metallic or mirrored tinting. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| Florida | 28% | 15% | 15% | A nonreflective tint is allowed above the as-1 line. | no more than 25% reflective. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| Georgia | 32% | 32% | 32% | 6 inches. | no more than 20% reflective. | red and amber are not allowed. |
| Hawaii | 35% | 35% | 35% | no inch requirement must allow 70% light. | no metallic or mirrored tinting. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| Idaho | 35% | 20% | 35% | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no more than 35% reflective. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| Illinois | 35% | 35% | 35% | 6 inches. | must be non-reflective. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| Indiana | 30% | 30% | 30% | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no more than 25% reflective. | none. |
| Iowa | 70% | any | any | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no excessive reflections are allowed, but not specified. | none. |
| Kansas | 35% | 35% | 35% | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no metallic or mirrored tinting. | red, amber, and yellow are prohibited and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows. |
| Kentucky | 35% | 18% | 18% | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no more than 25% reflective. | none. |
| Louisiana | 40% | 25% | 12% | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no more than 20% reflective. | none. |
| Maine | 35% | any | any | 4 inches. | must be non-reflective. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| Maryland | 35% | 35% | 35% | 5 inches. | no law. | red, amber, and yellow are prohibited and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows. |
| Massachusetts | 35% | 35% | 35% | 6 inches. | no more than 35% reflective. | must have dual side mirrors required for back tinted windows. |
| Michigan | any percent, but only 4 inches from the top of the window | any | any | 4 inches. | no more than 35% reflective. | none. |
| Minnesota | 50% | 50% | 50% | none allowed. | no more than 20% reflective. | none. |
| Mississippi | 28% | 28% | 28% | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no more than 20% reflective. | none. |
| Missouri | 35% | any | any | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no more than 35% reflective. | must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows. |
| Montana | 24% | 14% | 14% | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no more than 35% reflective. | none. |
| Nebraska | 35% | 20% | 20% | 5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes first. | no more than 35% reflective. | unclear on side mirrors, but red, amber, and yellow are not permitted. |
| Nevada | 35% | any | any | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no law. | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. |
| New Hampshire | no tinting allowed | 35% | 35% | 6 inches. | no metallic or mirrored tinting. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| New Jersey | no tinting allowed | any | any | no tinting is allowed. | no metallic or mirrored tinting. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| New Mexico | 20% | 20% | 20% | 5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes first. | no law. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| New York | 70% | 70% | any | 6 inches. | no metallic or mirrored tinting. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| North Carolina | 35% | 35% | 35% | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no more than 20% reflective. | red, amber, and yellow are prohibited and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows. |
| North Dakota | 50% | any | any | no more than 70% | no metallic or mirrored tinting. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| Ohio | 50% | any | any | no more than 70% | no more reflective than a standard window. | none. |
| Oklahoma | 25% | 25% | 25% | 5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes first. | no more than 20% reflective. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| Oregon | 35% | 35% | 35% | 6 inches. | no more than 13% reflective. | red, green, yellow, black, and amber tints are not allowed and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows. |
| Pennsylvania | 70% | 70% | 70% | none allowed. | no metallic or mirrored tinting. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| Rhode Island | 70% | 70% | 70% | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no law. | none. |
| South Carolina | 27% | 27% | 27% | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | must be non-reflective. | red, amber, and yellow are prohibited and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows. |
| South Dakota | 35% | 20% | 20% | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no metallic or mirrored tinting. | none. |
| Tennessee | 35% | 35% | 35% | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no metallic or mirrored tinting. | none. |
| Texas | 25% | 25% | any | 5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes first. | no more than 25% reflective. | red, amber, and blue are not allowed. dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| Utah | 43% | any | any | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line | no metallic or mirrored tinting | dual side mirrors are required for back tinted windows |
| Vermont | no tinting allowed | any | any | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no metallic or mirrored tinting. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| Virginia | 50% | 35% | 35% | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no more than 20% reflective. | red, amber, and yellow are prohibited and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows. |
| Washington | 24% | 24% | 24% | 6 inches. | no more than 35% reflective. | red, green, yellow, black, and amber tints are not allowed and must have dual side mirrors for back-tinted windows. |
| Washington D.C. | 70% | 50 percent for cars, 35 percent for multi-purpose vehicles | 50 percent for cars, 35 percent for multi-purpose vehicles | 5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes first. | no law. | none. |
| West Virginia | 35% | 35% | 35% | 5 inches. | 20% reflective. | red, amber, and yellow are prohibited and must have dual side mirrors for back tinted windows. |
| Wisconsin | 50% | 35% | 35% | tinting allowed to the top of the manufacturer’s as-1 line. | no law. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
| Wyoming | 28% | 28% | 28% | 5 inches or as-1 line, whichever comes first. | no more than 20% reflective. | dual side mirrors are required for back-tinted windows. |
Car Tinting Laws FAQs
1. Is window tinting legal?
Window tinting is legal in most states. However, the legal limit for window tinting will vary based on where you live.
2. What is the darkest legal tint?
The darkest legal tint is the 5% tint. While some manufacturers produce films as dark as 2%, they aren’t as common. 5% tinted windows block 95% of light making it practically impossible to see through. They are not legal in most states but some states allow them to be installed in the rear.
3. Is 30 percent tint dark?
30 percent tint means that the window is capable of blocking 70% of light. They are considered a good middle ground between too dark and too light. A 30% window tint will give your vehicle a darker appearance while still being reasonably see-through.
4. What type of window tinting is best?
Ceramic Tinting is the best window tinting type. It provides the maximum amount of protection by blocking more than 99% of the sun’s harmful rays.
5. How Long Does It Take to Tint Windows?
Installing a window tint can take from 1 to 2 hours. The process mainly varies based on the type of vehicle you have. Smaller sedans with 2-4 doors take less time while larger vehicles such as SUVs or trucks take longer.
Final Thoughts
The permitted level of tint for car windows will be different based on where you live. We’ve outlined the different car window tinting laws by state, so you are aware of the regulations you have to follow.
The information presented here is by no means a substitute for legal advice. Laws are subject to change all the time. Make sure you verify the local regulations before installing a window tint in your vehicle.
