Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in Texas
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in Texas, 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 Texas limit.
| Film shade | Front side | Back side | Rear window |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70% (light) | Legal | Legal | Conditional |
| 50% | Legal | Legal | Conditional |
| 35% (factory look) | Legal | Legal | Conditional |
| 20% | Too dark | Legal | Conditional |
| 5% (limo) | Too dark | Legal | Conditional |
Rear-window tint of any darkness requires an outside mirror on each side giving a view 200 feet to the rear (§547.613(b)(3)).
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 Texas | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Tint strip only above the AS-1 line or the top 5 inches, whichever is closer to the top; strip must be ≥25% VLT, ≤25% reflectance, and not red, blue, or amber | §547.613(b)(1) |
| Front side | At least 25% light transmission | §547.613(b)(2)(A) |
| Back side | Any darkness (no minimum) | §547.613(b)(2-a) |
| Rear window | Any darkness, only if the vehicle has an outside mirror on each side | §547.613(b)(3) |
| SUV / van rear | No separate vehicle-class VLT rule (rear windows are already unrestricted for all vehicles) | §547.613(b)(10) |
| Reflection | 25% luminous reflectance or less | §547.613(b)(1)(B) |
| Banned colors | ProhibitedRed, blue, and amber, prohibited on the windshield strip only (no color ban for side/rear windows) | §547.613(b)(1)(C) |
| Medical exemption | AllowedAvailable (details in the medical exemption section below). | §547.613(e); TxDPS window-ti… |
| Meter tolerance | ±3% variance from the standard | §547.613(d) |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., Ch. 750 (SB 589) (effective 2009-09-01): No change to §547.613, last amended 2009 (SB 589). 2025 session bills reviewed did not touch the tint section.
The medical exemption: how to qualify
For drivers with a documented light-sensitivity condition.
What Texas drivers get wrong
Texas regulates window tint by window position: the two front side windows must let in at least 25% of visible light, while everything behind the driver may be as dark as you like, provided the car keeps an outside mirror on each side. The often-missed details are the 25% reflectance cap and the fact that the red/blue/amber color ban applies only to the windshield strip.
Common questions
Is 20% tint legal in Texas?
Not on the front side windows, they must allow at least 25% of light through (Tex. Transp. Code §547.613(b)(2)(A)). Behind the driver, 20% is legal if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides.
Does Texas still issue medical exemption certificates for tint?
No. Since January 1, 2019, DPS no longer issues Window Tint Exemption Certificates. A signed statement from a licensed physician or optometrist, kept in the vehicle, now serves as the medical exemption, no permit or sticker.
Is limo tint legal on the back windows in Texas?
Yes. Texas sets no darkness limit for side windows behind the driver or the rear window, as long as the vehicle has an outside mirror on each side giving a clear view 200 feet to the rear.
What does a tint ticket cost in Texas?
The statute classifies it as a misdemeanor but does not set a dollar amount, fines come from court schedules. Courts may dismiss the charge if you fix the tint before your first appearance, paying a fee of up to $10.
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.