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.

Official statuteRead word-for-word

against KRS 189.110 · apps.legislature.ky.gov

Read from the official source · Jul 11, 2026How we verify →

Have a shade in mind? Check your film's VLT in the Kentucky window tint checker →

Legal tint at a glance · Kentucky

35%

minimum visible light (VLT) on front side windows. Anything darker on the front is illegal.

Front side windows35% VLT min

Back & rear windows18% min

WindshieldTop strip (full film if ≥70%)

Max reflectionFront 25% · rear 35%

Banned colorsRed · yellow (windshield)

Medical exemptionNone

PenaltyClass B misdemeanor

StatuteKRS 189.110

How dark you can legally go

Visible-light transmission (VLT) allowed for each window.

WindshieldTop strip only

Top transparent strip, or full film if ≥70% (not red/yellow) since SB 46 (2024)

Front side windowsMinimum 35% VLT

35%

Back side windowsMinimum 18% VLT

18%

Rear windowMinimum 18% VLT

18%

0% (fully blacked out)100% (clear glass)

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)
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.

Offense & fine

A violation is a Class B misdemeanor. The statute does not fix a dollar amount; the fine follows the Class B misdemeanor schedule.

State inspection

Kentucky has no periodic statewide safety inspection for passenger cars, so tint is enforced roadside.

Meter tolerance

±3% on every percentage measurement.

Recent changes

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.

Available?

None

What the statute says

KRS 189.110 as read does not set out a physician-certification exemption for darker tint. A first-party read of the full section is needed to confirm whether any medical waiver exists.

Citation

KRS 189.110 · official source →

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.

Primary source

→ KRS 189.110

Official text · apps.legislature.ky.gov

Cholilurrohman
Every figure on this page is checked line-by-line against the current statute. Editorial standards →

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.

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