Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in Missouri
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in Missouri, 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 Missouri limit.
| Film shade | Front side | Back & rear |
|---|---|---|
| 70% (light) | Legal | Conditional |
| 50% | Legal | Conditional |
| 35% (factory look) | Legal | Conditional |
| 20% | Too dark | Conditional |
| 5% (limo) | Too dark | Conditional |
Only the front sidewing vents and the windows immediately left and right of the driver carry a VLT floor (35% ±3%). Windows behind the driver and the rear window are not restricted by §307.173.
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 Missouri | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | No aftermarket tint on the windshield except factory-installed tinted glass and manufacturer-style tinting applied to the upper portion of the windshield | §307.173.3 |
| Front side | At least 35% (±3%) light transmission on the front sidewing vents and the windows beside the driver | §307.173.1 |
| Back side | Any darkness (no minimum); §307.173 does not regulate windows behind the driver | §307.173 |
| Rear window | Any darkness (no minimum); §307.173 does not regulate the rear window | §307.173 |
| SUV / van rear | No separate vehicle-class rule is needed; every window behind the driver is already unrestricted | §307.173 |
| Reflection | Front side film must have a luminous reflectance of 35% (±3%) or less | §307.173.1 |
| Banned colors | The statute names no prohibited tint color | §307.173 |
| Medical exemption | AllowedAvailable (details in the medical exemption section below). | §307.173.2 |
| Meter tolerance | ±3% written into both the 35% transmission and 35% reflectance figures | §307.173.1 |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
-: No confirmed 2025–2026 change to the 35% (±3%) front-window standard. The section still limits only the front sidewing vents and driver-side/passenger-side front windows.
The medical exemption: how to qualify
For drivers with a documented light-sensitivity condition.
What Missouri drivers get wrong
Missouri keeps its tint rule narrow: it sets a floor of 35% (±3%) only on the front sidewing vents and the windows immediately left and right of the driver, and caps their reflectance at 35% (±3%). Everything behind the driver, including the rear window, is left to any darkness you like. The windshield stays clear apart from factory tint and the manufacturer strip across the top, and a physician’s permit can lift the front-window limit.
Common questions
How dark can front windows be in Missouri?
The front sidewing vents and the windows beside the driver must allow at least 35% (±3%) of light and reflect no more than 35% (±3%). Darker film on those windows is legal only with a physician-based permit from the Department of Public Safety (§307.173).
Can I put limo tint on my back windows in Missouri?
Yes. Section 307.173 only regulates the front sidewing vents and the windows beside the driver, so the rear side windows and the rear window can be any darkness.
Does Missouri offer a medical exemption for tint?
Yes. The Department of Public Safety may issue a permit to a person with a serious medical condition, on a physician’s prescription, to run darker tint on the front windows (§307.173).
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.