Tinted windshields can make a car look sleek and offer real benefits like lower glare and improved comfort, but the rules surrounding windshield tint are stricter than almost any other area of auto customization. Every state sets its own limits for how much tint you can legally apply, and the penalties for getting it wrong can include tickets, failed inspections, or being forced to remove the film entirely.

This guide breaks down what you can legally tint on a windshield, why state tint limits exist, how to legally tint your auto glass (including medical permits), and a complete overview of tint laws by state. Near the end, we’ll also cover what happens when your windshield needs replacement and why choosing a trusted shop matters.

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Why Windshield Tint Laws Exist

Unlike side or rear windows, the windshield is the primary visual field for the driver. States regulate windshield tint because:

• Visibility and Safety: Dark tint reduces the amount of visible light entering the cabin, which can make it harder to see pedestrians, cyclists, or road hazards.
  
• Night Driving Concerns: Windshield tint can significantly impair low-light visibility.
  
• Law Enforcement Visibility: Officers need to see inside the vehicle for safety during traffic stops.
  
• Glare and UV Balance: A small amount of top-strip tint is allowed in most states to reduce sun glare without compromising driver vision.
  

Windshields generally receive the strictest regulations because even small reductions in clarity can affect reaction time and overall driving safety.

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What Parts of the Windshield You Can Legally Tint

While every state is different, almost all follow the same basic rules for windshields:

1. Non-Reflective “Eyebrow” Strip

Most states allow a non-reflective tint strip at the top of the windshield.
This strip is usually regulated in one of two ways:

• AS-1 Line Rule: Tint is allowed down to the manufacturer-marked AS-1 line.
  
• Fixed Depth Rule: Tint is allowed in the top 4 to 6 inches of the windshield.
  

2. Full Windshield Tint (Limited States Only)

Only a handful of states allow tint across the entire windshield, and even then:

• It must be very light (commonly 70 percent VLT or higher).
  
• It can be restricted to medical exemptions only in some states.
  

3. No Tint Beyond the Strip

Most states ban tinting the entire windshield unless a medical exemption applies.

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Understanding Tint Terms

Before reviewing state-by-state laws, here are the key terms you’ll see:

• VLT (Visible Light Transmission): The percentage of visible light allowed through the film and glass.
  Higher number = lighter tint. Lower number = darker tint.
  
• Reflectivity Limits: Some states regulate reflective or mirrored tint.
  
• AS-1 Line: A line marked on most windshields showing the maximum legal tint location.
  
• Medical Exemptions: Special permits allowing darker tint for certain medical conditions.
  

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Medical Tint Exemptions: How They Work

Drivers with certain conditions may qualify for legal tint beyond standard limits. Approvals vary by state but often apply to:

• Lupus
  
• Photosensitivity disorders
  
• Albinism
  
• Melanoma
  
• Severe light sensitivity linked to medical treatments
  

To receive an exemption, you typically need:

• A doctor’s note or medical certification
  
• Application submitted to your state’s DMV
  
• Permit displayed in the car or filed with the state
  

A medical exemption does not allow unlimited tint; it only permits tint levels specified by your state’s regulations.

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State-by-State Windshield Tint Laws (2025 Guide)

Below is a summarized list of each state’s windshield tint rules. Laws change occasionally, but these reflect the most widely recognized regulations as of 2025.

Format of List:
Windshield: What tint is allowed on the windshield
Eyebrow Strip: AS-1 line or inch limitation

• Alabama
  • Windshield: Tint allowed above the AS-1 line
    Eyebrow Strip: Non-reflective tint above AS-1
• Alaska
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 5 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 5 inches only
• Arizona
  • Windshield: Non-reflective tint above AS-1
    Eyebrow Strip: AS-1 line
• Arkansas
  • Windshield: Tint allowed above AS-1
    Eyebrow Strip: AS-1 line only
• California
  • Windshield: Clear, colorless tint allowed on full windshield
    Eyebrow Strip: Top 4 inches
• Colorado
  • Windshield: Clear, non-reflective tint above AS-1
    Eyebrow Strip: AS-1 line
• Connecticut
  • Windshield: Tint allowed above AS-1
    Eyebrow Strip: AS-1 line only
• Delaware
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 5 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 5 inches only
• Florida
  • Windshield: Clear tint allowed on full windshield
    Eyebrow Strip: Top AS-1 line only
• Georgia
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 6 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 6 inches only
• Hawaii
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 4 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 4 inches only
• Idaho
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 6 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 6 inches only
• Illinois
  • Windshield: Non-reflective tint allowed above AS-1
    Eyebrow Strip: AS-1 line
• Indiana
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 6 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 6 inches only
• Iowa
  • Windshield: Tint allowed above AS-1
    Eyebrow Strip: AS-1 line
• Kansas
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top portion, up to AS-1 line
    Eyebrow Strip: AS-1 line
• Kentucky
  • Windshield: Tint allowed above AS-1
    Eyebrow Strip: AS-1 line
• Louisiana
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 5 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 5 inches only
• Maine
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 4 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 4 inches only
• Maryland
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 5 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 5 inches only
• Massachusetts
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 6 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 6 inches only
• Michigan
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 4 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 4 inches only
• Minnesota
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 3 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 3 inches only
• Mississippi
  • Windshield: Tint allowed above AS-1
    Eyebrow Strip: AS-1 line
• Missouri
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 6 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 6 inches only
• Montana
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 4 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 4 inches only
• Nebraska
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 5 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 5 inches only
• Nevada
  • Windshield: Non-reflective tint allowed in top 6 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 6 inches only
• New Hampshire
  • Windshield: Tint only with medical exemption
    Eyebrow Strip: None unless exempted
• New Jersey
  • Windshield: No tint allowed except medical
    Eyebrow Strip: None unless medically exempt
• New Mexico
  • Windshield: Non-reflective tint allowed in top 5 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 5 inches only
• New York
  • Windshield: 70 percent VLT or lighter; non-reflective tint only
    Eyebrow Strip: None beyond the required light transmission
• North Carolina
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 5 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 5 inches only
• North Dakota
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 5 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 5 inches only
• Ohio
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 5 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 5 inches only
• Oklahoma
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 5 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 5 inches only
• Oregon
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 6 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 6 inches
• Pennsylvania
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 3 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 3 inches
• Rhode Island
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 3 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 3 inches only
• South Carolina
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top AS-1 area
    Eyebrow Strip: AS-1
• South Dakota
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top AS-1 area
    Eyebrow Strip: AS-1
• Tennessee
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top AS-1 area
    Eyebrow Strip: AS-1
• Texas
  • Windshield: 25 percent VLT on top 5 inches or above AS-1
    Eyebrow Strip: 5 inches or AS-1, whichever is lower
• Utah
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 4 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 4 inches
• Vermont
  • Windshield: No tint allowed
    Eyebrow Strip: None
• Virginia
  • Windshield: 70 percent VLT allowed
    Eyebrow Strip: Tint allowed in top 5 inches
• Washington
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 6 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 6 inches only
• West Virginia
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 5 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 5 inches only
• Wisconsin
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 5 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 5 inches only
• Wyoming
  • Windshield: Tint allowed in top 5 inches
    Eyebrow Strip: 5 inches only
    

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Choosing the Right Tint: What’s Legal and What’s Not

Even if you’re allowed to tint the windshield in your state, it must also meet other regulations:

Legal Tint Generally Must:

• Be non-reflective
  
• Not obscure the driver’s vision
  
• Comply with VLT limits
  
• Not contain mirrored or metallic effects (in most states)
  
• Be installed without bubbles, cracks, or defects
  

Illegal Tint Typically Includes:

• Full-windshield film darker than 70 percent VLT (in states where full tint is allowed)
  
• Reflective or mirrored windshield tint
  
• Colored tints like red, blue, or amber (banned in most states)
  
• Any tint below the AS-1 line unless explicitly permitted
  

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What Happens If Your Windshield Needs to Be Replaced?

If your windshield is chipped or cracked, any tint attached to it will be lost during replacement. And because laws vary so much from state to state, the shop performing your replacement must know the correct legal tint requirements.

Why Choosing a Trusted Shop Matters

A reputable glass shop will:

• Replace your windshield with correct OEM or OEM-equivalent glass
  
• Ensure any legal tint strip is reinstallable in compliance with your state laws
  
• Inform you if your previous tint was illegal
  
• Provide proper UV-blocking features included with many modern windshields
  
• Help protect ADAS cameras and sensors if your vehicle requires recalibration
  

Bad installations can lead to visibility issues, damage to factory coatings, or even failed inspections.

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