Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in Utah
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in Utah, 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 Utah 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 |
Utah restricts only the two windows to the immediate left and right of the driver (at least 35%) and the windshield (at least 70%). Every window behind the driver may be any darkness.
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 Utah | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Must allow more than 70% light. | §41-6a-1635(3)(a) |
| Front side | At least 35% (5% metering variance allowed) | §41-6a-1635(3)(b) |
| Back side | Any darkness (no minimum) | §41-6a-1635(4)(c) |
| Rear window | Any darkness; dual outside rear-view mirrors required when the rear window is obstructed | §41-6a-1635(4)(c) |
| SUV / van rear | No separate rule; every window behind the driver is already unrestricted for all vehicle types | §41-6a-1635(4)(c) |
| Reflection | No material that presents a metallic or mirrored appearance is allowed on the windshield or any window. | §41-6a-1635(3)(a)(i) |
| Banned colors | Not specified in statute; the statute regulates light transmittance and mirrored appearance, not tint color. | §41-6a-1635 |
| Medical exemption | NoneNo medical exemption exists in this state. | §41-6a-1635 |
| Meter tolerance | 5% variance allowed when a peace officer meters the light transmittance | §41-6a-1635(3)(b) |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
: No recent VLT change. The 35% front-side and 70% windshield limits in §41-6a-1635 have been stable; Utah ended mandatory safety inspections for most passenger cars in 2017, which shifted tint enforcement to the roadside.
Medical exemption: none in this state
What the statute actually provides.
What Utah drivers get wrong
Utah keeps its tint rules short. Only two windows carry a darkness limit: the front side windows next to the driver must allow at least 35%, and the windshield must let in more than 70%. A peace officer metering the glass gives you a 5% cushion. Everything behind the driver can be as dark as you like, and the windshield may carry a non-transparent strip along the top down to the AS-1 line or 4 inches, whichever is lower.
Common questions
What is the legal front window tint in Utah?
Front side windows must allow at least 35% of light through, measured with a 5% variance when a peace officer meters the glass. The windshield must allow more than 70%.
How dark can the back windows be in Utah?
Any darkness. Utah Code §41-6a-1635 places no light-transmittance limit on the rear side windows or the rear window. If the rear window is obstructed, the car needs a rear-view mirror on both sides.
Does Utah allow a medical exemption for darker tint?
No. Section 41-6a-1635 contains no medical-necessity exemption. The statute simply treats glass that meets the federal FMVSS 205 standard as compliant, so there is no permit path to go below 35% on the front sides.
Is mirrored or metallic tint legal in Utah?
No. Any material that gives the windshield or a window a metallic or mirrored appearance is prohibited on all windows.
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.