Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in Maryland
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in Maryland, 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 Maryland 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 |
On multipurpose vehicles (SUVs, vans, trucks rated 10,000 lbs or less), the windows behind the driver may be any darkness; the 35% floor still governs the front side windows.
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 Maryland | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Non-reflective tint allowed only above the AS-1 line or the top 5 inches, whichever is lower; the rest of the windshield may not be tinted below 35% | §22-406(i) |
| Front side | At least 35% light transmittance on the front side windows, for every vehicle class | §22-406(i) |
| Back side | At least 35% on passenger cars; on multipurpose vehicles (SUVs, vans, light trucks) the rear side windows may be any darkness | §22-406(i) |
| Rear window | At least 35% on passenger cars; on multipurpose vehicles the rear window may be any darkness, with dual outside mirrors required once the rear glass is tinted | §22-406(i) |
| SUV / van rear | Multipurpose vehicles (SUVs, vans, and trucks rated 10,000 lbs or less) may run any darkness on the windows behind the driver; the front side windows still need 35% | §22-406(i) |
| Reflection | Metallic or mirrored film banned on the front and back side windows | §22-406(i) |
| Banned colors | Red, yellow, and amber tint prohibited | §22-406(i) |
| Medical exemption | AllowedAvailable (details in the medical exemption section below). | §22-406(i); 2025 Md. Laws Ch… |
| Meter tolerance | Not specified in statute; Maryland enforces the 35% figure without a stated meter tolerance | §22-406 |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
2025 Md. Laws Ch. 452 (HB 436) (effective 2025-10-01): HB 436 (2025 Md. Laws Ch. 452) removed the two-year cap on the tint medical exemption for permanent conditions: when a physician certifies the condition is permanent, the exemption is now valid indefinitely. It did not change any VLT percentage.
The medical exemption: how to qualify
For drivers with a documented light-sensitivity condition.
What Maryland drivers get wrong
Maryland lands on a single number, 35%, for the windshield strip aside: front side, back side, and rear glass on a passenger car all have to allow at least that much light. The split that trips people up is vehicle class. Buy an SUV, van, or light truck and the windows behind the driver open up to any darkness, while the front doors stay locked at 35%. A 2025 law also made the medical exemption permanent for drivers whose doctor certifies a lasting condition, so those waivers no longer expire every two years.
Common questions
What is the legal tint limit in Maryland?
For passenger cars, every window except the windshield must allow at least 35% of light through (Md. Transp. Code §22-406). The windshield may carry non-reflective tint only above the AS-1 line or the top 5 inches, whichever is lower.
Can I put limo tint on the back of my SUV in Maryland?
Yes. Maryland treats SUVs, vans, and trucks rated 10,000 lbs or less as multipurpose vehicles, and their rear side windows and rear window may be any darkness. The front side windows still need 35%, and dual outside mirrors are required once the rear glass is tinted.
How do I get a tint medical exemption in Maryland?
Carry a written certification from a Maryland-licensed physician, filed with the Automotive Safety Enforcement Division of the Maryland State Police. Under the 2025 change (Ch. 452, HB 436), a certification marking the condition permanent is valid indefinitely; otherwise it runs for up to two years.
What colors of tint are illegal in Maryland?
Red, yellow, and amber tints are prohibited, along with metallic or mirrored film on the side windows. These are commonly cited because they can mimic emergency or signal lighting or create glare.
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.