Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in Tennessee
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in Tennessee, 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 Tennessee 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 |
Corroborated values pending first-party confirmation. Tennessee grants no aftermarket SUV/van rear allowance, only factory glazing is treated differently (§55-9-107(a)(6)(A)(i)).
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 Tennessee | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Windshield must allow at least 70%, except the manufacturer’s factory shade band; this is not an AS-1-line or top-X-inches rule | §55-9-107(a)(1)(B) |
| Front side | At least 35% (corroborated; pending first-party confirmation) | §55-9-107(a)(1)(A) |
| Back side | At least 35% (corroborated) | §55-9-107(a)(1)(A) |
| Rear window | At least 35% (corroborated) | §55-9-107(a)(1)(A) |
| SUV / van rear | No aftermarket SUV or van rear allowance: the only rear leeway is factory (FMVSS-205) glazing. | §55-9-107(a)(6)(A)(i) |
| Reflection | Not specified in statute, aggregator "reflective banned" claims have no statutory basis | §55-9-107 |
| Banned colors | Not specified in statute | §55-9-107 |
| Medical exemption | AllowedAvailable (details in the medical exemption section below). | §55-9-107(b); TN Dept. of Sa… |
| Meter tolerance | Not specified in statute | §55-9-107 |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
-: No 2025–2026 change confirmed (statute portal inaccessible for a first-party check).
The medical exemption: how to qualify
For drivers with a documented light-sensitivity condition.
What Tennessee drivers get wrong
Tennessee applies one flat number, 35%, to every window behind the windshield, with no SUV exception: aggregator sites claiming vans may run darker in back are wrong; only factory-installed glazing gets that leeway. The windshield rule is also unusual, keyed to the manufacturer’s shade band rather than the AS-1 line.
Common questions
Can my SUV have darker tint in the back in Tennessee?
No, unlike most states, Tennessee grants no aftermarket rear allowance for SUVs or vans. Every window must meet 35%; only factory-installed (FMVSS-205) glazing is treated differently.
How do I get Tennessee’s medical tint exemption?
Email Driver.Improvement@tn.gov with a doctor’s note, a copy of your registration, and your driver-license number. In about 3–4 weeks you receive a decal and a certificate signed by the commissioner. The windshield can never be exempted.
What is the penalty for illegal tint in Tennessee?
A Class C misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days and/or a fine of up to $50 under the general classification statute. Tennessee has no safety inspection, so enforcement is roadside only.
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.