Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in Colorado
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in Colorado, plus reflection limits, the medical exemption, and what a ticket costs.
How dark you can legally go
Visible-light transmission (VLT) allowed for each window.
Common tint shades, and whether they're legal here
What the shop sells, mapped to the Colorado limit.
| Film shade | Front side | Back side | Rear window |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70% (light) | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| 50% | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| 35% (factory look) | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| 20% | Too dark | Too dark | Conditional |
| 5% (limo) | Too dark | Too dark | Conditional |
The rear window may be darker than 27% only when the front side windows and windshield allow at least 70% (§42-4-227(1)(a)(II)).
Film is sold by its own VLT, but police measure the installed darkness: the film combined with your factory glass. Ask the shop for the net, as-installed VLT before you buy.
The full rules, with the statute
Every limit and where it comes from in the code.
| Rule / window | Legal limit in Colorado | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Windshield must allow at least 70%; nontransparent material only in a top strip of no more than 4 inches, not red or amber, non-glare | §42-4-227(1)(a)(I) |
| Front side | At least 27% light transmittance | §42-4-227(1)(a)(I) |
| Back side | At least 27% by default (see the rear exception) | §42-4-227(1)(a)(I) |
| Rear window | Below 27% allowed only if the front side windows and the windshield allow at least 70%; otherwise 27% applies | §42-4-227(1)(a)(II) |
| SUV / van rear | No vehicle-class rule, the rear exception applies to all vehicles equally | §42-4-227 |
| Reflection | Metallic or mirrored appearance banned on every window (flat ban, no percentage) | §42-4-227(1)(d) |
| Banned colors | ProhibitedRed and amber, on the windshield top strip | §42-4-227(1)(b)(II) |
| Medical exemption | NoneNo medical exemption exists in this state. | §42-4-227 |
| Meter tolerance | Not specified in statute | §42-4-227 |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
SB 21-271 (effective 2022-03-01): No 2025–2026 change. Most recent substantive change: SB 21-271 reclassified the installer violation to a class A infraction.
Medical exemption: none in this state
What the statute actually provides.
What Colorado drivers get wrong
Colorado’s 27% rule comes with a trap and a surprise. The trap: rear windows may only go darker than 27% when the front doors and windshield are essentially untinted (≥70%). The surprise: unlike almost every neighbor, Colorado offers no medical exemption at all; no doctor’s letter changes the limits.
Common questions
Can I get a medical exemption for tint in Colorado?
No. Colorado is one of the few states with no medical tint exemption of any kind: C.R.S. §42-4-227 contains no waiver or physician-certification path, and the DMV offers none.
Is limo tint legal on rear windows in Colorado?
Only in one configuration: the rear window and rear side windows may be darker than 27% solely when the front side windows and windshield allow at least 70% of light (§42-4-227(1)(a)(II)). With tinted front doors, everything must meet 27%.
What is the fine for illegal tint in Colorado?
Driving with illegal tint is a class B traffic infraction; installing it is class A. Because §42-4-227 sets no amount, the statutory default penalty applies: a $15 fine plus a $4 surcharge (§42-4-1701(4)(a)(I)).
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.