Window Tinting Laws by State – 2022 Edition

Window tinting laws regulate the amount of light which can enter through your window in your vehicle. If you want to set your car up with one of the best window tint brands, you’ll need to be aware of each state’s laws regarding window tinting.

In this article, we’ll go through the window tinting laws of all 50 states in 2022 so you’ll know what the acceptable limits are for your vehicle’s window tinting.

Window Tint Laws By State

Most state laws refer to their window tinting by the percentage of light that is allowed to penetrate through at minimum.

They refer to this percentage as the visible light transmission (VLT). A VLT of 100% would be perfectly clear, whereas a VLT of 0% would be entirely opaque, allowing no light to pass.

Windshield tinting is not allowed in any state beyond that which is performed by the car’s original manufacturer. If you purchased a car in another country than had it shipped to the US, you will need to ensure that all of its tinting complies with US regulations. Read on for a breakdown of the window tint laws by state.

Alabama

Alabama’s tint laws aren’t too difficult to get a feel for because you can tint each of your sets of windows the same degree without worrying.

Front side window VLT%: 32
Rear side window VLT%: 32
Rear window VLT%: 32
Color restrictions: none

Alaska

Alaska’s tint laws call for more transparent front side windows than rear windows by a substantial margin.

Front side window VLT%: 70
Rear side window VLT%: 40
Rear window VLT%: 40
Color restrictions: none

Arizona

Arizona’s tint laws include restrictions on the color of your tinting, but has no laws regulating the level of tinting on the rear windows, so your passengers will be comfortable even on a sunny day.

Front side window VLT%: 33
Rear side window VLT%: no restrictions
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: red and amber

Arkansas

Arkansas has fairly restrictive tinting laws which prevent you from getting much protection from the sun.

Front side window VLT%: 25
Rear side window VLT%: 25
Rear window VLT%: 10
Color restrictions: none

California

California’s tint laws are liberal in terms of how much tint you’re allowed to have, but restrictive in terms of the color you’re allowed to tint with. Unlike most other states, blue tints are forbidden in California.

Front side window VLT%: 70
Rear side window VLT%: no restrictions
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: red, amber, and blue

Colorado

In Colorado, you’ll be able to tint most of your windows to a very dark shade, so long as you don’t tint them in red or amber.

Front side window VLT%: 27
Rear side window VLT%: 27
Rear window VLT%: 27
Color restrictions: red and amber

Connecticut

You can tint your windows to be fairly dark in Connecticut, and you won’t face any restrictions on your rear window or the color of tinting.

Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: 35
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: none

Delaware

Delaware restricts the tinting on your front side window, but not your other windows or on the shade you’re offered.

Front side window VLT%: 70
Rear side window VLT%: no restrictions
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: none

Florida

Florida allows for the darkest level of tinting of all the states, but you aren’t allowed to have any coloration of your tinting.

Front side window VLT%: 28
Rear side window VLT%: 15
Rear window VLT%: 15
Color restrictions: all colors are prohibited

Georgia

Georgia allows you to tint your windows to a dark shade, but you won’t be able to tint with red or amber.

Front side window VLT%: 32
Rear side window VLT%: 32
Rear window VLT%: 32
Color restrictions: red and amber

Hawaii

Hawaii has the most liberal tinting laws of any state, and allows for any degree of tinting and in any color you desire.

Front side window VLT%: no restrictions
Rear side window VLT%: no restrictions
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: none

Idaho

Idaho is a typical state, with limited restrictions on the degree of tinting and the color of tinting.

Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: 35
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: none

Illinois

Illinois is easy for people who want to tint: just avoid going too dark and you’ll be all set.
Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: 35
Rear window VLT%: 35
Color restrictions: none

Indiana

Indiana’s tinting laws allow for dark tinting, and don’t restrict the color that you tint with.

Front side window VLT%: 30
Rear side window VLT%: 30
Rear window VLT%: 30
Color restrictions: none

Iowa

In Iowa, you’ll need to be careful about tinting your front side windows, but nothing else.

Front side window VLT%: 70
Rear side window VLT%: no restrictions
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: none

Kansas

In Kansas, you’re allowed to tint to a dark shade, so long as you don’t introduce any red, amber, or yellow shades.

Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: 35
Rear window VLT%: 35
Color restrictions: red, amber, and yellow

Kentucky

In Kentucky, your rear windows can be tinted even darker than your front side windows.

Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: 18
Rear window VLT%: 18
Color restrictions: none

Louisiana

In Louisiana, you’ll need to tint each set of windows slightly differently to obey the law.

Front side window VLT%: 40
Rear side window VLT%: 25
Rear window VLT%: 12
Color restrictions: none

Maine

In Maine, you can do dark tinting as much as you want.

Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: 35
Rear window VLT%: 35
Color restrictions: none

Maryland

In Maryland, you can tint to a dark shade, but you can’t tint with red, amber, or yellow.

Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: 35
Rear window VLT%: 35
Color restrictions: red, amber, and yellow

Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, you can tint to a dark shade on each of your windows except the windshield.

Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: 35
Rear window VLT%: 35
Color restrictions: none

Michigan

In Michigan, you don’t have any restrictions on the shade of your tinting or the darkness.

Front side window VLT%: no restrictions
Rear side window VLT%: no restrictions
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: none

Minnesota

Minnesota prevents you from tinting to a very dark shade, so expect to get glare in your eyes.

Front side window VLT%: 50
Rear side window VLT%: 50
Rear window VLT%: 50
Color restrictions: none

Mississippi

Mississippi is ready to let you tint darkly and in any color.

Front side window VLT%: 28
Rear side window VLT%: 28
Rear window VLT%: 28
Color restrictions: none

Missouri

In Missouri, you only need to worry about making sure that your front side window tinting meets the specifications.

Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: no restrictions
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: none

Montana

You’re allowed to tint very darkly in Montana, and your rear windows can be tinted even darker.

Front side window VLT%: 24
Rear side window VLT%: 14
Rear window VLT%: 14
Color restrictions: none

Nebraska

You can’t tint your windows with red, amber, or yellow in Nebraska, although you can tint fairly darkly nonetheless.

Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: 20
Rear window VLT%: 20
Color restrictions: red, amber, and yellow

Nevada

In Nevada, you only need to keep your front windows beyond a dark threshold.

Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: no restrictions
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: none

New Hampshire

You can’t tint your front side windows in New Hampshire, but you can tint with any color you want.

Front side window VLT%: prohibited
Rear side window VLT%: 35%
Rear window VLT%: 35%
Color restrictions: none

New Jersey

So long as you don’t tint your front side windows, you can tint with any darkness or shade that you want in Jersey.

Front side window VLT%: prohibited
Rear side window VLT%: no restrictions
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: none

New Mexico

New Mexico prohibits you to tint with red, amber, or yellow colors, but otherwise you are allowed to tint to a very dark level.

Front side window VLT%: 20
Rear side window VLT%: 20
Rear window VLT%: 20
Color restrictions: red, amber, and yellow

New York

In New York, you aren’t allowed to tint your windows very darkly, but you can use the tint color of your choice.

Front side window VLT%: 70
Rear side window VLT%: 70
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: none

North Carolina

In North Carolina, you’ll need to avoid red, amber, and yellow tinting, but you can tint darkly.

Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: 35
Rear window VLT%: 35
Color restrictions: red, amber, and yellow

North Dakota

In North Dakota, the only thing you need to worry about is keeping your front side window at the proper regulation.

Front side window VLT%: 50
Rear side window VLT%: no restrictions
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: none

Ohio

You can do anything you want with your rear window in Ohio, but you’ll face strict restrictions on your front side window and rear side windows as well as the color of your tinting.

Front side window VLT%: 70
Rear side window VLT%: 50
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: red and yellow

Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s laws are easy to understand: you can tint anything but your windshield to a VLT of 25%.

Front side window VLT%: 25
Rear side window VLT%: 25
Rear window VLT%: 25
Color restrictions: none

Oregon

Your color tinting options will be strictly regulated in Oregon, but you can tint your windows to a moderate darkness.

Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: 35
Rear window VLT%: 35
Color restrictions: red, green, amber, yellow, and black

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania doesn’t want you tinting your window much, but you can choose any color.

Front side window VLT%: 70
Rear side window VLT%: 70
Rear window VLT%: 70
Color restrictions: none

Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, you can’t do much tinting, however your color options are open.

Front side window VLT%: 70
Rear side window VLT%: 70
Rear window VLT%: 40
Color restrictions: none

South Carolina

South Carolina allows for symmetrical tinting, but a few color options are prohibited.

Front side window VLT%: 27
Rear side window VLT%: 27
Rear window VLT%: 27
Color restrictions: red, amber, and yellow

South Dakota

South Dakota is willing to let you tint your windows, but there are a few restrictions on which window can be tinted the darkest.

Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: 20
Rear window VLT%: 20
Color restrictions: none

Tennessee

Tennessee permits symmetrical tinting to a moderate degree.

Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: 35
Rear window VLT%: 35
Color restrictions: none

Texas

Texas is one of the few states that prohibits blue tinting, but you can tint to dark levels legally.

Front side window VLT%: 25
Rear side window VLT%: 25
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: red, blue, and amber

Utah

Utah doesn’t allow for much dark front side window tinting, but otherwise you’ll face no restrictions.

Front side window VLT%: 43
Rear side window VLT%: no restrictions
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: none

Vermont

In Vermont, you can’t tint your front side windows.

Front side window VLT%: prohibited
Rear side window VLT%: no restrictions
Rear window VLT%: no restrictions
Color restrictions: none

Virginia

Virginia’s laws are restrictive, and asymmetrical. Avoid color tinting and front side window tinting beyond the sanctioned level.

Front side window VLT%: 50
Rear side window VLT%: 35
Rear window VLT%: 35
Color restrictions: red, yellow, and amber

Washington

In Washington, you don’t have many options for color tinting.

Front side window VLT%: 24
Rear side window VLT%: 24
Rear window VLT%: 24
Color restrictions: red, yellow, green, and black

West Virginia

In West Virginia, you can tint your windows to a moderate level so long as you avoid the prohibited colors.

Front side window VLT%: 35
Rear side window VLT%: 35
Rear window VLT%: 35
Color restrictions: red, yellow, and amber

Wisconsin

Wisconsin isn’t very permissive with their tinting laws.

Front side window VLT%: 50
Rear side window VLT%: 35
Rear window VLT%: 35
Color restrictions: none

Wyoming

Wyoming is ready to let you tint darkly and in any color.

Front side window VLT%: 28
Rear side window VLT%: 28
Rear window VLT%: 28
Color restrictions: none

Why Are There Window Tinting Laws?

Vehicle window tinting laws are considered safety-enforcing laws. When your windows are too dark, your ability to react to things in your environment may be impaired, leading to an accident.

Likewise, if you’re in distress and your car is parked, people may not be able to tell that you need help if your windows are too dark.

But, on the other hand, if your windows aren’t tinted at all, you could be blinded by the sun or high beams, which could also lead to an accident. Therefore, most states try to strike a balance with their window tinting laws.

Window tinting laws also regulate the stickers that you are allowed to have on your vehicle’s windows. In most cases, you should expect that you cannot put any stickers or additional tinting anywhere that it would impair your ability to drive the vehicle.

Most of the window tinting laws that we have on the books were legislated within the last 20 years. For the most part, there isn’t any public support for dramatically altering window tinting laws.

So, if you learn the window tinting laws for your state, they aren’t likely to change any time soon.

What Happens When You Don’t Follow Window Tinting Laws?

If you don’t follow a window tinting law, your car may not pass its inspection.

Unfortunately, it’s far more likely that you will be pulled over by the police if your window tinting is not to the state’s regulations. Especially when you’re cruising on the highway, having tinting that doesn’t meet the state’s regulations will prompt a local state police officer to pull you over.

So, if you want to avoid being pulled over, you’ll need to only drive your car in states where the tinting you have is legal. If you want to avoid this conundrum altogether, you may need to avoid tinting your windows, however.

When you get pulled over by the police for having the wrong kind of tinting, you will probably get a ticket. In some states, this ticket may be as easy to bear as $25, but in more restrictive states you can expect to pay up to $250.

This means that you should probably try to find a window tint that is within the laws of any state you expect to travel to by car. Unfortunately, most states have entirely different window tinting laws, which makes finding the right level of tint extremely difficult.