Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in Indiana
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in Indiana, 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 Indiana limit.
| Film shade | Front side | Back & rear |
|---|---|---|
| 70% (light) | Legal | Legal |
| 50% | Legal | Legal |
| 35% (factory look) | Legal | Legal |
| 20% | Too dark | Too dark |
| 5% (limo) | Too dark | Too dark |
Indiana runs one number everywhere: 30% light transmittance on the side wings, the front-door side windows, and the rear back window, plus a 25% reflectance cap (§9-19-19-4).
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 Indiana | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Windshield film is limited to the uppermost part of the glass and may not extend below the AS-1 line, which the manufacturer marks roughly five to six inches from the top | §9-19-19-4 |
| Front side | At least 30% light transmittance in the visible range | §9-19-19-4 |
| Back side | At least 30%, the same floor Indiana applies to the front windows | §9-19-19-4 |
| Rear window | At least 30%; the rear back window is named in the statute alongside the side windows | §9-19-19-4 |
| SUV / van rear | No SUV, van, or MPV exception; the 30% floor covers the rear back window on every vehicle class | §9-19-19-4 |
| Reflection | Total solar reflectance of visible light may not exceed 25%, measured on the side away from the film | §9-19-19-4 |
| Banned colors | Not specified in statute; §9-19-19-4 sets transmittance and reflectance limits but names no banned colors | §9-19-19-4 |
| Medical exemption | AllowedAvailable (details in the medical exemption section below). | §9-19-19-4 |
| Meter tolerance | Not specified in statute | §9-19-19-4 |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
-: No 2025 or 2026 change to the tint standard. Section 9-19-19-4 has carried the 30% transmittance floor and 25% reflectance cap for years.
The medical exemption: how to qualify
For drivers with a documented light-sensitivity condition.
What Indiana drivers get wrong
Indiana keeps its tint rule short and uniform: 30% light transmittance on the side wings, the front-door side windows, and the rear back window, with reflectance held under 25%. There is no darker allowance for the back of the car, and windshield film is confined to the strip above the AS-1 line. A medical exemption exists, but it has to be renewed every year.
Common questions
What is the legal tint percentage in Indiana?
Thirty percent. Indiana Code §9-19-19-4 requires at least 30% light transmittance on the side wings, the front-door side windows, and the rear back window, with total solar reflectance no more than 25%.
Can the rear windows be darker than the front in Indiana?
No. The statute names the rear back window alongside the front windows and holds it to the same 30% floor, so there is no darker back-of-car allowance the way many states offer.
How does the Indiana medical tint exemption work?
A physician or optometrist licensed in Indiana attests that you need shielding from direct sun. You carry that certification in the vehicle, and it must be renewed each year to stay valid.
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.