Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in Oregon
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in Oregon, 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 Oregon 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 |
Oregon measures the total light through the window, film and factory glass combined, not the film in isolation. Factory glass already blocks roughly ten to fifteen percent, so film sold as "35%" can meter below the 35% total limit once it is on the glass (ORS 815.221(2)).
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 Oregon | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Tint darker than the side-window limit is allowed only on the top 6 inches of the windshield; no tinting material may be applied to any other part of the windshield | ORS 815.221(2) |
| Front side | Total light through the window (film plus glass) must be at least 35%; the film alone must transmit at least 50% and reflect no more than 13% | ORS 815.221(2) |
| Back side | Total light through the window at least 35% (same rule as the front side) | ORS 815.221(2) |
| Rear window | Total light through the window at least 35%, unless it is a multipurpose passenger vehicle, where windows behind the driver may be darker | ORS 815.221(2) |
| SUV / van rear | A "multipurpose passenger vehicle" (carries 10 or fewer people, built on a truck chassis or with off-road features, so pickups and SUVs) may run darker tint on the windows behind the driver and must have outside rear-view mirrors | ORS 815.221(4) |
| Reflection | Film may reflect no more than 13% of light; mirror-finish products are banned outright | ORS 815.221(2) |
| Banned colors | ProhibitedRed, gold, yellow, amber, and black material are prohibited, as are mirror-finish products | ORS 815.221(5) |
| Medical exemption | AllowedAvailable (details in the medical exemption section below). | ORS 815.221(4); ODOT window-… |
| Meter tolerance | No plus-or-minus tolerance is stated. | ORS 815.221(2) |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
No recent amendment: No 2025 or 2026 change to the tint numbers. The 35% total-through-the-window rule and 13% reflectance limit under ORS 815.221 are unchanged.
The medical exemption: how to qualify
For drivers with a documented light-sensitivity condition.
What Oregon drivers get wrong
Oregon writes its tint rule with two numbers, and the mismatch trips people up. The film you buy has to be rated 50% or lighter, but the number an officer actually meters is the total light through the window with the film on it, and that has to stay at 35% or more. Factory glass eats the difference. So a roll labeled "35%" can read below 35% once it is on your door and earn you a ticket. Pickups and SUVs get a break behind the driver, and the windshield takes tint only on its top 6 inches.
Common questions
Is 35% tint legal in Oregon?
It depends on what the meter reads. Oregon measures the total light through the window with the film installed, and that total must be 35% or more. A film sold as "35%" plus your factory glass can meter under 35%, which is a violation. Ask the installer to meter the finished window.
Why does Oregon list both 50% and 35%?
The 50% figure is the rating of the film by itself; the 35% figure is the total light that must still pass through the window once the film is on the glass (ORS 815.221(2)). Enforcement uses the 35% total.
Can I tint the back windows of my SUV or pickup darker in Oregon?
Yes. A multipurpose passenger vehicle (10 or fewer people, truck chassis or off-road features, which covers most SUVs and pickups) may run darker tint on the windows behind the driver, as long as it has outside rear-view mirrors (ORS 815.221(4)).
How much is a tint ticket in Oregon?
ODOT says a driver whose vehicle does not comply may face a fine of up to $360. You also have to carry the installer certificate and, if you tinted for a medical reason, the physician documentation.
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.