Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in Connecticut
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in Connecticut, 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 Connecticut limit.
| Film shade | Front side | Back side | Rear window |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70% (light) | Legal | Legal | Conditional |
| 50% | Legal | Legal | Conditional |
| 35% (factory look) | Legal | Legal | Conditional |
| 20% | Too dark | Too dark | Conditional |
| 5% (limo) | Too dark | Too dark | Conditional |
The rear window may be any darkness, but a rear-tinted vehicle must carry dual outside rear-view mirrors. Front and back side windows share the 35% (±3%) floor.
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 Connecticut | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | No change to color or light transmittance of the windshield, except a transparent material along the top whose bottom edge is at least 29 inches above the driver seat; that strip must not be red or amber | §14-99g(c) |
| Front side | At least 35% light transmission (±3%); not mirror-like; luminous reflectance no more than 27% (±3%) | §14-99g(b) |
| Back side | At least 35% light transmission (±3%) on a passenger vehicle; not mirror-like; luminous reflectance no more than 21% (±3%) | §14-99g(b) |
| Rear window | Any darkness allowed; dual outside rear-view mirrors required when the rear window is tinted | §14-99g |
| SUV / van rear | On a vehicle other than a passenger motor vehicle, the windows to the rear of the operator may be any darkness; only the front side windows keep the 35% (±3%) floor | §14-99g(b) |
| Reflection | No mirror-like appearance on any window; luminous reflectance capped at 27% (±3%) on front side windows and 21% (±3%) on windows to the rear of the operator | §14-99g(b) |
| Banned colors | Red and amber, on the transparent windshield top strip | §14-99g(c) |
| Medical exemption | AllowedAvailable (details in the medical exemption section below). | §14-99g(g) |
| Meter tolerance | ±3% built into the light-transmission and reflectance specifications | §14-99g(b) |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
n/a: No 2025-2026 change to the tint percentages. The 35% (±3%) side-window floor and the passenger-vs-multipurpose split have stood for years under §14-99g.
The medical exemption: how to qualify
For drivers with a documented light-sensitivity condition.
What Connecticut drivers get wrong
Connecticut sets one number for both front and back side windows on a car: 35% (±3%). The break comes by body style, not by seat. On a passenger car every side window keeps that 35% floor, but on a multipurpose vehicle such as an SUV or van the glass behind the driver may be any darkness. The rear window itself can be any darkness on either, provided the vehicle carries dual outside mirrors. Unlike a few neighbors, Connecticut does keep a medical exemption, applied for in writing through the DMV.
Common questions
Is 20% tint legal on the front windows in Connecticut?
No. Front side windows must allow at least 35% of light (±3%). A 20% film sits well under that floor and is illegal on the driver and front passenger windows regardless of vehicle type.
Can an SUV go darker than a sedan in Connecticut?
Yes, behind the driver. On a passenger car the back side windows keep the 35% (±3%) floor, but on a multipurpose vehicle such as an SUV or van the windows to the rear of the operator may be any darkness. The front side windows still need 35% on both.
Does Connecticut have a medical exemption for window tint?
Yes. A driver who must be shielded from direct sunlight for medical reasons can apply in writing to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, with documentation from a Connecticut-licensed physician or optometrist. Reports that the state has no exemption misread the statute.
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.