Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in Virginia
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in Virginia, 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 Virginia limit.
| Film shade | Front side | Back & rear |
|---|---|---|
| 70% (light) | Legal | Legal |
| 50% | Legal | Legal |
| 35% (factory look) | Too dark | Legal |
| 20% | Too dark | Too dark |
| 5% (limo) | Too dark | Too dark |
Multipurpose vehicles and pickups are exempt from the 35% floor behind the driver (§46.2-1052(H)). Law-enforcement meter readings receive a −7 percentage-point tolerance (§46.2-1052(E)).
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 Virginia | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Windshield film must keep transmittance at 70% or higher, except the upper 5 inches or the AS-1 line, whichever is closer to the top (§46.2-1053). | §46.2-1053; §46.2-1052(F) |
| Front side | At least 50% | §46.2-1052(D)(2) |
| Back side | At least 35% | §46.2-1052(D)(1) |
| Rear window | At least 35% | §46.2-1052(D)(1) |
| SUV / van rear | Rear side windows and the rear window of multipurpose passenger vehicles and pickup trucks are exempt from the 35% floor | §46.2-1052(H) |
| Reflection | 20% reflectance or less; holographic and prism effects banned | §46.2-1052(D)(3) |
| Banned colors | None named in the statute (a general ban on colored material applies; no red/yellow list exists) | §46.2-1052(B) |
| Medical exemption | AllowedAvailable (details in the medical exemption section below). | §46.2-1053; DMV form MED 20 |
| Meter tolerance | Minus 7 percentage points on law-enforcement measurements | §46.2-1052(E) |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
2026 c. 894 (SB 506) (effective 2026-07-01): Senate Bill 506 became law as 2026 c. 894, effective July 1, 2026: it amends §46.2-1052(F) to allow clear film on a windshield when it does not impair visibility. No VLT numbers change.
The medical exemption: how to qualify
For drivers with a documented light-sensitivity condition.
What Virginia drivers get wrong
Virginia splits its rules across two sections drivers rarely both read: §46.2-1052 carries the 50%/35% darkness limits and a generous −7-point meter tolerance, while §46.2-1053 holds the windshield rule and the medical authorization. As of July 1, 2026, clear windshield film is expressly legal, a small 2026 change that alters no darkness number.
Common questions
What changed in Virginia tint law in 2026?
One narrow thing: 2026 c. 894 (SB 506), effective July 1, 2026, adds that clear film may be applied to a windshield as long as it does not impair visibility. All VLT limits (50% front / 35% rear) are unchanged.
Is 35% tint legal on front windows in Virginia?
No, front side windows must allow at least 50% (§46.2-1052(D)(2)). 35% is the limit for windows behind the driver.
Do SUVs get darker tint in Virginia?
Yes, multipurpose passenger vehicles and pickup trucks are exempt from the 35% floor on rear side windows and the rear window (§46.2-1052(H)). Front windows keep the 50% rule.
How do I get Virginia’s medical tint authorization?
Submit DMV form MED 20, certified by a physician, PA, NP, ophthalmologist, or optometrist, and wait for the DMV Commissioner’s written authorization before installing tint. The authorization specifies the light level you may use.
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.