Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in Michigan
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in Michigan, 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 Michigan limit.
| Film shade | Front side | Back & rear |
|---|---|---|
| 70% (light) | Too dark | Conditional |
| 50% | Too dark | Conditional |
| 35% (factory look) | Too dark | Conditional |
| 20% | Too dark | Conditional |
| 5% (limo) | Too dark | Conditional |
Rear darkness requires dual outside mirrors, and total solar reflectance behind the driver must stay under 35%, no silver or gold mirror film (§257.709(1)(b)).
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 Michigan | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Tinted film along the top edge only: no more than 4 inches from the top, or to the shade band, whichever is closer | §257.709(1)(a) |
| Front side | Top-4-inch strip only (or to the shade band, whichever is closer to the top), no tint below the strip; no VLT percentage exists | §257.709(1)(a) |
| Back side | Any darkness, with dual outside rear-view mirrors | §257.709(3)(a)–(b) |
| Rear window | Any darkness, with dual outside rear-view mirrors | §257.709(3)(a)–(b) |
| SUV / van rear | No separate provision, the rear rules apply to all motor vehicles alike | §257.709 |
| Reflection | Rear and rear-side windows must not create a total solar reflectance of 35% or more in the visible range (silver/gold reflective film included) | §257.709(1)(b) |
| Banned colors | None named in the statute | §257.709 |
| Medical exemption | AllowedAvailable (details in the medical exemption section below). | §257.709(3)(e) |
| Meter tolerance | Not specified in statute | §257.709 |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
Am. 2010, Act 258 (last change) (effective 2010-12-14): No amendment: the statute’s history ends at 2010 (Act 258), and MCL text current through PA 20 of 2026 confirms it. The bill that would have allowed 70% front VLT (HB 5634, 2017-18) passed both chambers but was vetoed and never became law.
The medical exemption: how to qualify
For drivers with a documented light-sensitivity condition.
What Michigan drivers get wrong
Michigan is the odd one out: it never sets a front-window percentage. Instead, tint on the front doors is flatly limited to a four-inch strip at the top, while everything behind the driver may be as dark as you like with two outside mirrors, capped only by a 35% solar-reflectance rule that bans mirror-like film.
Common questions
Is 35% tint legal on front windows in Michigan?
No. Michigan has no front-side VLT percentage at all, aftermarket tint on front door windows is limited to a strip within 4 inches of the top (MCL §257.709(1)(a)). The "35%" you may have read is the rear-window reflectance cap, not a darkness allowance.
Did Michigan change its tint law recently?
No. The statute was last amended in 2010. The bill that would have allowed 70% VLT on front windows (HB 5634, 2018) was vetoed. Claims of a newer change are unfounded.
How dark can rear windows be in Michigan?
Any darkness, provided the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides and the film is non-reflective (total solar reflectance under 35%, no silver or gold mirror film).
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.