Tint shops get this question every quote: "How dark can I go in my state?" Here's the quick reference for 2026.
How VLT works
VLT = Visible Light Transmission. The percentage of light the film + glass lets through. Lower = darker.
- 5% = limo tint (essentially private)
- 15-20% = very dark
- 35% = moderately dark, popular legal-front choice in many states
- 50% = light tint, often legal where 35% isn't
- 70% = nearly clear, often legal even where front is highly restricted
Most measurements account for the OEM glass (which is typically 75-80% VLT on its own). If your film is rated 35% VLT, the combined VLT through the window is 75% × 35% = 27%. Police officers measure the combined VLT, not the film rating.
State-by-state highlights (2026)
### Hot-climate states (most permissive)
- Texas: front sides 25% minimum, rear sides + back any darkness; windshield 25% above AS-1 line
- Florida: front sides 28%, rear sides 15%, rear 15%
- Arizona: front sides 33%, rear sides any, rear any; windshield 33% above AS-1
- Nevada: front sides 35%, rear sides any, rear any
- Georgia: front sides 32%, rear sides 32%, rear 32%
- South Carolina: 27% all (medical exemption can go darker)
### Mid-permissive states
- California: front sides 70%, rear sides any, rear any; windshield strip only above manufacturer's AS-1 line
- North Carolina: 35% all windows; medical exemption can go to 15%
- Tennessee: 35% all windows
- Virginia: 50% front sides, 35% rear sides + rear
- Oklahoma: 25% all windows + windshield strip
### Restrictive states
- New York: 70% front sides + rear sides; rear unrestricted
- New Jersey: 70% front sides; rear can be any darkness
- Pennsylvania: 70% front sides, 70% rear sides if no rear vision via mirrors; rear any
- Michigan: 4-inch strip on top of windshield + front sides; rear sides + back any
- Illinois: 35% front sides + rear sides; rear unrestricted
### "Any darkness on rear" states
In about 30 states, you can put 5% or even 0% on the rear windows. But almost every state requires both outside mirrors if rear darkness exceeds 35%.
Windshield rules
Most states allow only a "shade strip" on the windshield — typically the top 4-6 inches or above the AS-1 line (a small triangle marker stamped into most windshields).
Exceptions: - Texas: 25% VLT shade above AS-1 - Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico: limited darker shade above AS-1 - Most "70% front sides" states: no windshield film of any kind permitted, even above AS-1
Front windshield tint is the #1 cause of tint tickets. Be conservative.
Medical exemptions
About 35 states issue medical exemption permits that allow darker tint than the standard limit. Conditions that qualify vary but typically include:
- Lupus
- Skin cancer or pre-cancerous condition
- Severe photosensitivity
- Specific ophthalmologic conditions
The customer needs documentation from a licensed physician, submits to the state DMV (or DPS, depending on state), and receives a permit they must keep in the vehicle. Some states issue a placard for the windshield.
When a customer presents a medical exemption permit: - Verify the permit's expiration date - Note the permit number in the SalesThumb customer record - Photo-document the permit at install - Apply the requested darker tint (the permit overrides standard VLT law)
What to enforce in your shop
Settings → Services → Window Tint → Per-state VLT rules. Configure:
- Default VLT minimum per state (auto-set when customer adds their address)
- Override warning at quote time if a customer requests darker than legal
- Mandatory acknowledgment ("I understand this tint may be illegal in {state}") on the quote if customer insists
Some shops refuse to install illegal tint. Some shops install whatever the customer wants and have them sign an acknowledgment. Pick your shop's policy and document it.
Out-of-state vehicles
A customer with a Texas-registered car visiting your California shop wants Texas-legal 25% on front sides. California's law applies to vehicles operated in California regardless of registration state.
Some shops refuse out-of-state-only installs. Some install and let the customer take the risk. Local enforcement varies — some California counties cite out-of-state plates, others don't bother.
Resources
- IWFA (International Window Film Association) keeps the most up-to-date state-by-state rules
- Your local DPS / DMV's website is the authoritative source
- Most film manufacturers (3M, LLumar, Madico, Solar Gard) publish per-state guides