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.

Official statuteRead word-for-word

against Va. Code §46.2‑1052 · law.lis.virginia.gov

Read from the official source · Jul 8, 2026How we verify →

Have a shade in mind? Check your film's VLT in the Virginia window tint checker →

Legal tint at a glance · Virginia

50%

minimum visible light (VLT) on front side windows. Anything darker on the front is illegal.

Front side windows50% VLT min

Back & rear windows35% min

WindshieldUpper 5 in / AS-1 (§46.2-1053)

Max reflection20% max

Banned colorsNone named in statute

Medical exemptionAllowed

PenaltyTraffic infraction (operator)

StatuteVa. Code §46.2‑1052

How dark you can legally go

Visible-light transmission (VLT) allowed for each window.

WindshieldTop strip only

≥70% except upper 5 inches / AS-1 line

Front side windowsMinimum 50% VLT

50%

Back side windowsMinimum 35% VLT

35%

Rear windowMinimum 35% VLT

35%

0% (fully blacked out)100% (clear glass)

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).	Va. Code §46.2‑1053
Front side	At least 50%	Va. Code §46.2‑1052(D)(2)
Back side	At least 35%	Va. Code §46.2‑1052(D)(1)
Rear window	At least 35%	Va. Code §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	Va. Code §46.2‑1052(H)
Reflection	20% reflectance or less; holographic and prism effects banned	Va. Code §46.2‑1052(D)(3)
Banned colors	None named in the statute (a general ban on colored material applies; no red/yellow list exists)	Va. Code §46.2‑1052(B)
Medical exemption	AllowedAvailable (details in the medical exemption section below).	Va. Code §46.2‑1053
Meter tolerance	Minus 7 percentage points on law-enforcement measurements	Va. Code §46.2‑1052(E)

Penalties & how it's enforced

What happens if your tint is too dark.

Offense & fine

Operator: traffic infraction, no demerit points. Installer/applier: Class 3 misdemeanor (first offense), Class 2 (subsequent).

State inspection

Not verified in this audit; confirm whether tint is checked with the Virginia safety inspection program before relying on it.

Meter tolerance

Minus 7 percentage points on law-enforcement measurements

Recent changes

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.

Available?

Allowed

How it works

DMV form MED 20, "Sun-Shading Medical Authorization Application," certified by a physician, PA, NP, ophthalmologist, or optometrist. The DMV Commissioner issues written authorization for a recommended light level; obtain the authorization before installing tint.

Citation

Va. Code §46.2‑1053 · official source →

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.

Primary source

→ Va. Code §46.2-1052 (VLT/penalties) + §46.2-1053 (windshield & medical)

Official text · law.lis.virginia.gov

Cholilurrohman
Every figure on this page is checked line-by-line against the current statute. Editorial standards →

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.

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