How much light must a tinted side or rear window let through, state by state?
Every state’s answer, and the District of Columbia’s, from its own manual or code: 38 have a rule on this, quoted below with where it is written; 13 say nothing on it.
Statutes fetched between 6 and 9 October 2026; manuals fetched between 14 September and 4 October 2026. How the answers are made
| State | The rule | Where it is written | As of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | On passenger cars, side and rear windows may have tinting that lets through at least 32 percent of light; on SUVs, trucks, vans and RVs the front side windows are held to the same 32 percent, and darker tint is allowed behind the driver. | Alabama Driver Manual, p.68 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Alaska | (b) Aftermarket tinting of vehicle windows is allowed as follows: (1) the front windshield may have a strip of tinting material applied to the top edge, known in the industry as an "eyebrow," which does not extend downward more than five inches from the top of the glass; (2) the driver and front passenger side windows may have tinting material that permits at least 70 percent light transmittance; (3) the rear door windows, quarter glasses, and back glasses may have tinting material that permits at least 40 percent light transmittance; (4) limousines and passenger buses used to transport persons for hire, motor homes, and vehicles identified by the vehicle manufacturer as multipurpose may have tinting material that complies with Standard No. 205, Glazing Materials, in 49 C.F.R. 571.205 (1992). | Alaska law, 13 AAC 04.223(b) | 6 Oct 2026 |
| Arizona | 1. Front side wing vents and windows that have a substance or material in conjunction with glazing material that has a light transmission of thirty-three percent plus or minus three percent and a luminous reflectance of thirty-five percent plus or minus three percent. | Arizona law, A.R.S. § 28-959.01(A)(1) | 6 Oct 2026 |
| Colorado | (1) (a) (I) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (a), no person shall operate a motor vehicle registered in Colorado on which any window, except the windshield, is composed of, covered by, or treated with any material or component that presents an opaque, nontransparent, or metallic or mirrored appearance in such a way that it allows less than twenty-seven percent light transmittance. The windshield shall allow at least seventy percent light transmittance. | Colorado law, C.R.S. § 42-4-227(1) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Connecticut | (5) The right and left side windows behind the driver and the rearmost window which shall not be mirror-like in appearance, having a substance or material in conjunction with glazing material that has a total light transmission of not less than thirty-five per cent plus or minus three per cent and a luminous reflectance of twenty-one per cent to plus or minus three per cent; | Connecticut law, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-99g(c)(5) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Delaware | (c) (1) Window tint or other material may be applied to the side windows to the immediate right and left of the driver and side wings forward of and to the left and right of the driver, if the window tint or other material has a visible light transmission of 50% or greater. (2) Window tint or other material having a visible light transmission of 0% or greater may be applied to the side windows behind the driver or the rear window. | Delaware law, 21 Del. C. § 4313(c) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| District of Columbia | (a)(1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no motor vehicle, other than a mini-van, may be operated or parked upon the public streets or spaces of the District of Columbia with: (A) A front windshield or front side windows that allow less than 70% light transmittance; or (B) A rear windshield or rear side windows that allow less than 50% light transmittance. (2) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no mini-van may be operated or parked upon the public streets or spaces of the District of Columbia with: (A) A front windshield or front side windows that allow less than 55% light transmittance, or (B) A rear windshield or rear side windows that allow less than 35% light transmittance. | District of Columbia law, D.C. Code § 50-2207.02(a) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Florida | (a) Sunscreening material consisting of film which, when applied to and tested on the rear window glass of the specific motor vehicle, has a total solar reflectance of visible light of not more than 35 percent as measured on the nonfilm side and a light transmittance of at least 15 percent in the visible light range; however, sunscreening material which, when applied to and tested on the rear window glass of the specific motor vehicle, has a total solar reflectance of visible light of not more than 35 percent as measured on the nonfilm side and a light transmittance of at least 6 percent in the visible light range may be used on multipurpose passenger vehicles. | Florida law, Fla. Stat. § 316.2954(1)(a) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Hawaii | (8) Sun screening devices for front side windows and wing windows necessary for driving visibility that are adjacent to the driver and necessary for driving that, when used in conjunction with the glazing material, have a light transmittance of no less than thirty-five per cent plus or minus six per cent; | Hawaii law, Haw. Rev. Stat. § 291-21.5(e)(8) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Idaho | (b) Nonreflective window tinting film or sunscreening devices that have a light transmission of not less than thirty-five percent (35%) with a tolerance limit of plus or minus three percent (3%) and a luminous reflectance of no more than thirty-five percent (35%) with a tolerance limit of plus or minus three percent (3%) may be applied to the front side vents, front side windows to the immediate right and left of the driver, and the rear window; | Idaho law, Idaho Code § 49-944(1)(b) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Illinois | (1) On vehicles where none of the windows to the rear of the driver's seat are treated in a manner that allows less than 30% light transmittance, a nonreflective tinted film that allows at least 50% light transmittance, with a 5% variance observed by any law enforcement official metering the light transmittance, may be used on the vehicle windows immediately adjacent to each side of the driver. | Illinois law, 625 ILCS 5/12-503(a-5)(1) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Indiana | (c) A person may not drive a motor vehicle that has a: (1) windshield; (2) side wing; (3) side window that is part of a front door; or (4) rear back window; that is covered by or treated with sunscreening material or is tinted with material that has a total solar reflectance of visible light of more than twenty-five percent (25%) as measured on the nonfilm side and light transmittance of less than thirty percent (30%) in the visible light range. | Indiana law, Ind. Code § 9-19-19-4(c) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Iowa | Iowa law requires the windshield and the windows right beside the driver to let at least 70 percent of the light through. | Iowa Driver's License Manual, p.24 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Kentucky | (3) A person shall not operate a motor vehicle required to be registered in the Commonwealth, on a public highway, road, or street on which vehicle the side wings and side windows on either side forward of or adjacent to the operator's seat are composed of, covered by, or treated with any sunscreening material or other product or covering which has the effect of making the window nontransparent or which would alter the window's color, increase its reflectivity, or reduce its light transmittance, except as expressly permitted by this section. A sunscreening material may be applied to the windows if, when tested on one-eighth (1/8) inch clear glass, the material has a total solar reflectance of visible light of not more than twenty-five percent (25%) as measured on the nonfilm side and a light transmittance of at least thirty-five percent (35%) in the visible light range. | Kentucky law, KRS 189.110(3) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Louisiana | (1) A sun screening device when used in conjunction with automotive safety glazing materials on the front side window, with a light transmission of at least twenty-five percent, all tolerances included, side window behind the driver with a light transmission of at least twenty-five percent, all tolerances included, and rearmost windows with a light transmission of at least twelve percent, all tolerances included. All sun screening devices shall not have a luminous reflectance of more than twenty percent. | Louisiana law, La. R.S. 32:361.1(C)(1) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Maine | C. A side window or rear window is composed of, covered by or treated with a material that allows a light transmittance of less than 35% net of glass and material; or | Maine law, 29-A M.R.S. § 1916(1)(C) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Maryland | (i) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, a person may not operate a vehicle registered under § 13–912, § 13–913, § 13–917, or § 13–937 of this article on a highway in this State if: (i) In the case of a vehicle registered under § 13–912 of this article, there is affixed to any window of the vehicle any tinting materials added to the window after manufacture of the vehicle that do not allow a light transmittance through the window of at least 35%; and (ii) In the case of a vehicle registered under § 13–913, § 13–917, or § 13–937 of this article, there is affixed to any window to the immediate right or left of the driver any window tinting materials added after manufacture of the vehicle that do not allow a light transmittance through the window of at least 35%. | Maryland law, Md. Code, Transp. § 22-406(i) | 6 Oct 2026 |
| Massachusetts | (4) the use of nontransparent or sunscreen material or window application which has a total visible light reflectance of not more than thirty-five per cent or a visible light transmittance of not less than thirty-five per cent on the side windows immediately adjacent to the right and left of the operator's seat, the side windows immediately to the rear of the operator's seat and the front passenger seat or on the rear window if the vehicle is equipped with two outside mirrors, one on each side, adjusted so that the driver has a clear view of the highway behind the vehicle. | Massachusetts law, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 9D(4) | 7 Oct 2026 |
| Minnesota | Tint transmitting less than 50 percent of light is limited to the rear window of a pickup or the rear and side windows of a van, limousine or funeral vehicle. | Minnesota Driver’s Manual, p.24 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Mississippi | The windshield must carry a label certifying that all the vehicle's windows let through 28% of light or more. | Mississippi Driver's License Manual, p.75 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Missouri | Tinting or sun-screening material is permitted on the side and rear windows, with front door windows at no more than 65 percent light blockage. | Missouri Driver Guide, p.85 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Montana | (c) 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 14%, except for the rear window or side windows behind the front seat on a multipurpose vehicle, van, or bus; or | Montana law, Mont. Code Ann. § 61-9-405(4)(c) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Nebraska | Tint on rear or back windows may not have luminous reflectance of more than 35% or light transmission of less than 20%. | Nebraska Driver’s Manual, p.29 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Nevada | (b) A side window that is to the rear of the driver, or a rear window, if the vehicle has outside mirrors on each side that are located so as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror for a distance of not less than 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle. | Nevada law, NRS 484D.440(3)(b) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| New Hampshire | III. It shall be unlawful to drive on any way any motor vehicle registered in this state which has after market tinting on the windshield. Where after market tinting is applied to windows to the rear of the driver, outside rear view mirrors shall be required on both the left and right side of the vehicle for the use of the driver and a front seat passenger. The light transmittance of after-market tinted windows to the left and right of the driver where they are allowed shall not be less than 70 percent, and the light transmittance of after-market tinted rear windows where they are allowed shall not be less than 35 percent, except that the light transmittance of after market tinted rear windows of multipurpose passenger vehicles, as defined in 49 C.F.R. section 571.3 and pickup trucks may be such percentage as is allowed by 49 C.F.R. section 571.205 with respect to pre-market tinted rear windows. | New Hampshire law, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 266:58-a(III) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| New Mexico | B. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a sun screening material: (1) when used in conjunction with the windshield, shall be nonreflective, shall not be red, yellow or amber in color and shall be used only along the top of the windshield, not extending downward beyond the ASI line or more than five inches from the top of the windshield, whichever is closer to the top of the windshield; and (2) when used in conjunction with the safety glazing materials of the side wings or side windows located at the immediate right and left of the driver, the side windows behind the driver and the rearmost window shall be nonreflective, shall have a light transmission of not less than twenty percent and shall be used only on the windows of a motor vehicle equipped with one right and one left outside rearview mirror. | New Mexico law, NMSA 1978, § 66-3-846.1(B) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| New York | (b) No person shall operate any motor vehicle upon any public highway, road or street: (1) the front windshield of which is composed of, covered by or treated with any material which has a light transmittance of less than seventy percent unless such materials are limited to the uppermost six inches of the windshield; or (2) the sidewings or side windows of which on either side forward of or adjacent to the operator's seat are composed of, covered by or treated with any material which has a light transmittance of less than seventy percent; or (3) if it is classified as a station wagon, sedan, hardtop, coupe, hatchback or convertible and any rear side window has a light transmittance of less than seventy percent; or | New York law, N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 375(12-a)(b) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| North Carolina | (1) The total light transmission of the tinted window shall be at least thirty-five percent (35%). A vehicle window that, by use of a light meter approved by the Commissioner, measures a total light transmission of more than thirty-two percent (32%) is conclusively presumed to meet this restriction. | North Carolina law, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-127(b)(1) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| North Dakota | 4. An individual may not operate a motor vehicle with any object, material, or tinting displayed, affixed, or applied on the front windshield or any window unless the object, material, or tinting in conjunction with the windshield upon which it is displayed, affixed, or applied has a light transmittance of at least seventy percent or the object, material, or tinting in conjunction with a window other than the windshield upon which it is displayed, affixed, or applied has a light transmittance of at least thirty-five percent. This subsection does not apply to windows behind the operator if the motor vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on both sides which meet the requirements of section 39-21-38. | North Dakota law, N.D.C.C. § 39-21-39(4) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Ohio | A windshield must let through seventy percent of light, and the side windows beside the front seat must let through fifty percent, allowing three percent either way. | Digest of Ohio Motor Vehicle Laws, p.7 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Oregon | (2) Tinting material may be applied to the side and rear windows of a motor vehicle if: (a) The tinting material has a light transmittance of 50 percent or more; (b) The tinting material has a light reflectance of 13 percent or less; and (c) The total light transmittance through the window with the tinting material applied is 35 percent or more. | Oregon law, ORS 815.221(2) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island window tint must let through at least 70% of visible light. | Rhode Island Driver’s Manual, p.72 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| South Carolina | (C) A single sunscreening device may be installed on the side wings or side windows, or both, located at the immediate right and left of the driver and the side windows behind the driver. The sunscreening device must be nonreflective and the combined light transmission of the sunscreening device with the factory or manufacturer installed sunscreening material must not be less than twenty-seven percent. | South Carolina law, S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-5015(C) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| South Dakota | No motor vehicle may have rear windows that reduce light transmission below 20%, with an enforcement tolerance of 9%. | South Dakota Driver License Manual, p.24 | 14 Sep 2026 |
| Texas | (2) a wing vent or a window that is to the left or right of the vehicle operator if the vent or window has a sunscreening device that in combination with the vent or window has: (A) a light transmission of 25 percent or more; and (B) a luminous reflectance of 25 percent or less; | Texas law, Tex. Transp. Code § 547.613(b)(2) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| Virginia | 1. No sun-shading or tinting films may be applied or affixed to the rear side windows or rear window or windows of any motor vehicle operated on the highways of the Commonwealth that reduce the total light transmittance of such window to less than 35 percent; | Virginia law, Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-1052(D)(1) | 8 Oct 2026 |
| West Virginia | (c) A sun-screening device when used in conjunction with the automotive safety glazing materials of the side wings or side windows located at the immediate right and left of the driver shall be a nonreflective type with reflectivity of not more than twenty percent and have a light transmission of not less than thirty-five percent. The side windows behind the driver and the rear most windows may have a sun-screening device that is designed to be used on automotive safety glazing materials that has a light transmission of not less than thirty-five percent and a reflectivity of not more than twenty percent. If a sun-screening device is used on glazing behind the driver, one right and one left outside rear view mirror is required. | West Virginia law, W. Va. Code § 17C-15-36a(c) | 9 Oct 2026 |
| Wyoming | (e) A sunscreening device, when used in conjunction with the safety glazing materials of the side windows behind the driver and the rearmost window, shall be a nonreflective type and have total light transmission through both the sunscreening device and glazing of not less than twenty-eight percent (28%). | Wyoming law, Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 31-5-962(e) | 9 Oct 2026 |
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