Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in North Carolina
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in North Carolina, 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 North Carolina 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 |
A window measuring above 32% on an approved meter is conclusively presumed compliant. Multipurpose vehicles (minivans, pickups) are exempt behind the driver (§20-127(c)).
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 North Carolina | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Tint only along the top: no more than 5 inches below the top or below the AS-1 line, whichever is longer. | §20-127(b) |
| Front side | At least 35% | §20-127(b)(1) |
| Back side | At least 35% (multipurpose-vehicle exemption below) | §20-127(b)(1) |
| Rear window | At least 35% (multipurpose-vehicle exemption below) | §20-127(b)(1) |
| SUV / van rear | Windows behind the driver of a multipurpose vehicle are exempt (a minivan and a pickup truck are multipurpose vehicles), along with motor homes, limousines, excursion vehicles, ambulances, and property-hauler rear windows. | §20-127(c) |
| Reflection | 20% light reflectance or less | §20-127(b)(2) |
| Banned colors | ProhibitedRed, yellow, and amber; film must be nonreflective | §20-127(b)(3) |
| Medical exemption | AllowedAvailable (details in the medical exemption section below). | §20-127(f); SL 2025-47 §21 |
| Meter tolerance | A window measuring above 32% on a Commissioner-approved meter is conclusively presumed to meet the 35% standard | §20-127(b)(1) |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
SL 2025-47 (SB 391) (effective 2025-12-01): Session Law 2025-47 (Senate Bill 391): removed tint from the safety inspection and its $10 fee; added the roll-down-window duty (§20-127(g)); raised the medical-permit cap from two to four. Roadside VLT limits are unchanged.
The medical exemption: how to qualify
For drivers with a documented light-sensitivity condition.
What North Carolina drivers get wrong
North Carolina keeps a flat 35% rule with a built-in enforcement cushion, meters reading above 32% conclusively pass, and exempts minivans, pickups, and other multipurpose vehicles behind the driver. Since December 1, 2025, tint is no longer checked at the annual inspection, but roadside enforcement continues, and drivers with tint must now roll down the window when an officer approaches.
Common questions
Is tint still checked at NC state inspection?
No. Session Law 2025-47 (SB 391) removed window tint from the annual safety inspection effective December 1, 2025, along with the $10 tint inspection fee. Police can still cite illegal tint at roadside.
What changed about NC tint law in 2025?
Three things (SL 2025-47, eff. Dec 1, 2025): tint left the safety inspection; drivers with tinted windows must roll down the window on the side an officer approaches; and the medical-permit cap rose from two to four. The 35%/20% darkness and reflectance limits did not change.
Is 20% tint legal on an SUV in North Carolina?
Behind the driver, yes, windows of multipurpose vehicles (including minivans and pickups) are exempt from the 35% limit (§20-127(c)). Front side windows must still measure above 32% on an approved meter.
What happens if I get a tint ticket in NC?
It is a Class 3 misdemeanor, but you have a complete defense if you remove the tint within 15 days and certify compliance through the DMV or Highway Patrol (§20-127(e)).
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.