Car Window Tint Levels and Laws by State: VLT Calculator & 3D Simulator
Check window tint laws for all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Select your state and vehicle type—car, SUV, truck, or van—to find legal VLT limits for the windshield, front side windows, rear side windows, and rear window. Use the free VLT calculator and interactive 3D tint simulator to preview different tint shades, explore visibility, and print your results. Always verify local regulations before installing window tint.
Window Tint Law Checker & 3D Visibility Simulator
Choose your state and vehicle type to check window tint laws and legal VLT levels. Try different tint shades on the 3D car, preview visibility through the glass in real time, and print your results.
How to use this tool
- Choose your state to see its tint laws.
- Select your vehicle type: car, SUV, truck, or van.
- Choose a window on the 3D car or use the window buttons.
- Adjust the VLT slider or select a preset tint level.
- Preview tint and visibility on the 3D car with a live glass view.
- Check the legal verdict for each window and print your results.
VLT (Visible Light Transmission) is the percentage of light that passes through tinted glass. Lower VLT means darker tint; higher VLT means lighter tint. The legal limit is usually a minimum VLT. For example, if the limit is 35%, a 35% or 50% VLT tint meets that limit, but a 20% tint is too dark.
What Is the AS-1 Line?
It’s a marking near the top of a windshield that some states use to show where tint is allowed.
1Choose your state
2Pick your vehicle
States often have a separate, easier rule for SUVs, vans and trucks.
3Select a Window For Details & Live Preview
Here are Tint Laws and Legal Limits for
Select car window to view legal tint limits, rules, and preview it live in [Panel 4: See Results – Interactive Tint Visualization. (⬇️ Scroll Down on Mobile Device)]
Showing simple view
Drag to rotate. Scroll or pinch to zoom. Tap a window to select it.
5Try Different Tint Levels
Adjust the tint percentage and apply your preferred level to see its effect in the live window preview above.
Choose a state to see the legal limit.
4See Results – Interactive Tint Visualization
Viewing through: Windshield
Slide Partition to Compare With & Without Tint
This is a simple visual guide, real visibility depends on glass, light, and film type.
Choose your state to begin. The car on the left is a sample until then.
Law details
Tint laws change. This tool is for general information only. Always confirm with your state DMV or local law enforcement before tinting.
Window Tint Laws by State: Legal VLT Limits for Cars, SUVs and Trucks
Window tint laws change from one state to the next, and the rules are often different for sedans and for SUVs, vans and trucks. The table below lists the legal tint limit for every state and Washington, D.C. Each number is a minimum VLT (Visible Light Transmission), so your tint must be that number or lighter. “Any” means the state sets no darkness limit for that window.
Data updated October 2026. Use the Window Tint Law Checker & 3D Visibility Simulator above to test a shade on a 3D car, and read our guide to legal car tint for more help.
| State | Car front side | Car back side | Car rear | Car windshield | SUV front side | SUV back and rear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 32% | 32% | 32% | Top 6 inches | 32% | Any |
| Alaska | 70% | 40% | 40% | Top 6 inches | 70% | Any |
| Arizona | 33% | Any | Any | Above AS-1 line | 33% | Any |
| Arkansas | 25% | 25% | 10% | Top 5 inches | 25% | 10% |
| California | 70% | Any | Any | Top 4 inches | 70% | Any |
| Colorado | 27% | 27% | 27% | Top 4 inches | 27% | 27% |
| Connecticut | 35% | 35% | Any | Above AS-1 line | 35% | Any |
| Delaware | 70% | Any | Any | Above AS-1 line | 70% | 10% |
| Florida | 28% | 15% | 15% | Above AS-1 line | 28% | 6% |
| Georgia | 32% | 32% | 32% | Top 6 inches | 32% | Any |
| Hawaii | 35% | 35% | 35% | Top 4 inches | 32% | Any |
| Idaho | 35% | 20% | 35% | Above AS-1 line or top 6 inches | 35% | Any |
| Illinois | 50% / 35% / none* | 30% / 35% / any* | 30% / 35% / any* | Top 6 inches | 50% / 35% / none* | 30% / 35% / any* |
| Indiana | 30% | 30% | 30% | Above AS-1 line | 30% | 30% |
| Iowa | 70% | Any | Any | 70% VLT | 70% | Any |
| Kansas | 35% | 35% | 35% | Above AS-1 line | 35% | 35% |
| Kentucky | 35% | 18% | 18% | Above AS-1 line | 35% | 8% |
| Louisiana | 40% | 25% | 12% | Above AS-1 line | 40% | Any |
| Maine | 35% | 35% | 35% | Above AS-1 line | 35% | Any |
| Maryland | 35% | 35% | 35% | Top 5 inches | 35% | Any |
| Massachusetts | 35% | 35% | 35% | Above AS-1 line | 35% | 35% |
| Michigan | Any (top 4 in. only) | Any | Any | Top 4 inches | Any (top 4 in. only) | Any |
| Minnesota | 50% | 50% | 50% | No film allowed | 50% | 50% |
| Mississippi | 28% | 28% | 28% | Above AS-1 line | 28% | Any |
| Missouri | 35% | Any | Any | Above AS-1 line | 35% | Any |
| Montana | 24% | 14% | 14% | Above AS-1 line | 24% | Any |
| Nebraska | 35% | 20% | 20% | Above AS-1 line or top 5 inches | 35% | Any |
| Nevada | 35% | Any | Any | Above AS-1 line | 35% | Any |
| New Hampshire | 70% | 35% | 35% | Top 6 inches | 70% | Any |
| New Jersey | No film allowed | Any | Any | No film allowed | No film allowed | Any |
| New Mexico | 20% | 20% | 20% | Above AS-1 line | 20% | Any |
| New York | 70% | 70% | Any | Top 6 inches | 70% | Any |
| North Carolina | 32% | 32% | 32% | Above AS-1 line | 32% | Any |
| North Dakota | 35% | Any | Any | 70% VLT | 35% | Any |
| Ohio | 50% | Any | Any | 70% VLT (any above AS-1) | 50% | Any |
| Oklahoma | 25% | 25% | 25% | Above AS-1 line or top 5 inches | 25% | Any |
| Oregon | 35% | 35% | 25% | Above AS-1 line | 35% | Any |
| Pennsylvania | 70% | 70% | 70% | No film allowed | 70% | Any |
| Rhode Island | 70% | 70% | 70% | Above AS-1 line | 70% | Any |
| South Carolina | 27% | 27% | 27% | Above AS-1 line | 27% | 27% pickups / any SUVs |
| South Dakota | 35% | 20% | 20% | Above AS-1 line | 35% | Any |
| Tennessee | 20%† | 20%† | 20%† | Above AS-1 line | 35% | Any |
| Texas | 25% | Any | Any | Above AS-1 line only (25% VLT) | 25% | Any |
| Utah | 35%† | Any | Any | Above AS-1 line | 35%† | Any |
| Vermont | 43%† | Any | Any | Above AS-1 line | 43%† | Any |
| Virginia | 50% | 35% | 35% | Above AS-1 line | 50% | Any |
| Washington | 24% | 24% | 24% | Above AS-1 line | 24% | Any |
| Washington, D.C. | 70% | 70% | 50% | Top 5 inches | 70% | 35% |
| West Virginia | 35% | 35% | 35% | Top 5 inches | 35% | Any |
| Wisconsin | 50% | 35% | 35% | Above AS-1 line | 50% | 35% |
| Wyoming | 28% | 28% | 28% | Top 5 inches | 28% | Any |
* Illinois offers three coordinated options: 50% front with 30% rear, 35% front with 35% rear, or no front film with any rear darkness.
† The source lists Tennessee front side windows at 20%, Utah at 35% and Vermont at 43%. These figures differ from numbers published elsewhere, so verify with the state DMV before installing.
The source chart does not list a separate SUV windshield rule. Michigan’s front side entry is shown as the source states it. Always confirm with your state DMV or local law enforcement before tinting.
Window Tint Law FAQs
What does VLT mean on window tint?
VLT stands for Visible Light Transmission. It is the percent of light that passes through the glass and film. A 35% VLT tint lets 35% of visible light through and blocks the rest.
Is a lower VLT number darker?
Yes. A lower VLT means a darker tint. A 5% tint is very dark, often called limo tint, and a 70% tint is very light. State limits are minimums, so a tint is legal when its VLT is equal to or higher than the limit. If the limit is 35%, then 35% or 50% is legal, but 20% is too dark.
How do I know if my window tint is legal in my state?
Choose your state and vehicle type in the checker above, then pick each window and move the slider to your tint percentage. The tool shows a Legal or Too dark verdict for the windshield, front side windows, back side windows and rear window. Always confirm with your state DMV or local law enforcement before tinting.
What is the AS-1 line on a windshield?
The AS-1 line is a small marking near the top of most windshields. Many states allow tint on the windshield only above this line, and the rest of the windshield must stay clear. Other states allow tint only in the top few inches, so check the windshield column for your state.
Are tint laws different for SUVs, vans and trucks?
In many states, yes. Most states write a separate and often more relaxed rule for SUVs, vans and pickup trucks, especially for the back side and rear windows. Use the vehicle toggle in the tool, or the SUV columns in the table above.
Does factory glass change my final tint darkness?
Yes. Car glass is not perfectly clear, so the final VLT is the film VLT multiplied by the glass VLT, divided by 100. For example, 35% film on glass that lets 75% of light through gives about 26% final VLT. Use the film and factory glass calculator in the tool to see your final number and the darkest film you can legally use.
Is 5% limo tint legal?
It depends on the state and on the window. Look at your state’s row in the table above. A 5% limo tint is legal on a window only where the table shows Any, which means the state sets no darkness limit for that window. Windows with a minimum number need film at that VLT or lighter.
What is a medical exemption for window tint?
Some states let drivers with a qualifying medical need use darker tint than the normal limit. The tool shows when a medical exemption is listed for your state. The rules for applying differ, so ask your state DMV how to apply before installing darker film.
How accurate and up to date is this tint law data?
The data was last updated in October 2026 and comes from a published 2026 tint law chart. Tint laws change, and entries marked with a dagger in the table differ from figures published elsewhere. Please verify with your state DMV before tinting.
Moving or on a road trip? Do tint rules change by state?
Yes. Tint limits differ from state to state, as the table shows. Use the compare states tool above to see two states side by side for your vehicle type, and confirm with the DMV or local law enforcement if you are unsure.
