Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in Kentucky
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in Kentucky, 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 Kentucky limit.
| Film shade | Front side | Back & rear |
|---|---|---|
| 70% (light) | Legal | Legal |
| 50% | Legal | Legal |
| 35% (factory look) | Legal | Legal |
| 20% | Too dark | Legal |
| 5% (limo) | Too dark | Too dark |
Multipurpose passenger vehicles (SUVs, vans, and similar) may go as dark as 8% on the windows behind the driver (KRS 189.110(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 Kentucky | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Historically only a transparent strip along the top of the windshield was allowed. | KRS 189.110(2); SB 46 |
| Front side | At least 35% light transmittance, with total solar reflectance of visible light no more than 25%. | KRS 189.110(3) |
| Back side | At least 18% light transmittance for most vehicles; multipurpose passenger vehicles may go to 8%. | KRS 189.110(4) |
| Rear window | At least 18% light transmittance for most vehicles, or 8% for multipurpose passenger vehicles. | KRS 189.110(4)–(5) |
| SUV / van rear | Multipurpose passenger vehicles, which include most SUVs, minivans, and vans, may tint the windows behind the driver down to 8% light transmittance rather than the 18% used for ordinary cars. | KRS 189.110(4) |
| Reflection | Front side windows: total solar reflectance of visible light no more than 25%. | KRS 189.110(3)–(4) |
| Banned colors | Red and yellow, on the windshield film. | KRS 189.110(2) |
| Medical exemption | NoneNo medical exemption exists in this state. | KRS 189.110 |
| Meter tolerance | ±3% on every percentage measurement. | KRS 189.110(7) |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
SB 46 (2024 RS) (effective 2024-07-15): Senate Bill 46 (2024 Regular Session) added a windshield option: film may cover the windshield if it allows at least 70% light transmittance and is not red or yellow. It did not change the side or rear window limits. Effective July 15, 2024.
Medical exemption: none in this state
What the statute actually provides.
What Kentucky drivers get wrong
Kentucky uses a stepped scale: 35% on the front doors, 18% on the windows behind the driver, and a lower 8% floor for multipurpose passenger vehicles such as SUVs and vans. The big recent shift is the windshield. Senate Bill 46 (2024) let drivers cover the whole windshield with film for the first time, as long as it keeps 70% of the light and is not red or yellow. Every percentage carries a ±3% tolerance.
Common questions
Can you tint your windshield in Kentucky now?
Yes. Since Senate Bill 46 took effect on July 15, 2024, film may cover the whole windshield as long as it keeps light transmittance at 70% or more and is not red or yellow. Before that, only a transparent strip along the top was allowed.
What is the darkest legal tint on Kentucky rear windows?
For an ordinary car, 18% on the windows behind the driver. Multipurpose passenger vehicles, which cover most SUVs and vans, may go down to 8%. If the rear window is tinted, the car needs a side mirror on each side.
Is 20% tint legal on the front windows in Kentucky?
No. Front side windows must allow at least 35% of light through (KRS 189.110(3)). A ±3% tolerance applies, so 20% film is well below the front-window limit, though it is legal on the rear windows.
What is the penalty for illegal tint in Kentucky?
It is a Class B misdemeanor under KRS 189.110(9). The statute does not set a fixed dollar figure, so the fine follows the Class B misdemeanor schedule.
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.