Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in West Virginia
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in West 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 West Virginia 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 |
Every window on a West Virginia vehicle carries the same 35% floor and 20% reflectivity cap; the windshield allows only a non-reflective strip along the top.
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 West Virginia | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | A sun-screening device may be used only along the top of the windshield and may not extend below the AS-1 line or more than 5 inches from the top, whichever is closer to the top. | §17C-15-36a(b)(1) |
| Front side | At least 35% light transmission; reflectivity no more than 20% | §17C-15-36a(b)(2) |
| Back side | At least 35% light transmission; reflectivity no more than 20% | §17C-15-36a(b)(3) |
| Rear window | At least 35% light transmission; reflectivity no more than 20% | §17C-15-36a(b)(3) |
| SUV / van rear | No separate SUV/van rule; the same 35% floor applies to every window behind the driver on all vehicle types | §17C-15-36a(b)(3) |
| Reflection | Sun-screening devices must be non-reflective, with reflectivity of no more than 20%. | §17C-15-36a(b)(2)–(3) |
| Banned colors | Not specified in statute as a color list; §17C-15-36a regulates light transmission and reflectivity rather than naming banned colors. | §17C-15-36a |
| Medical exemption | AllowedAvailable (details in the medical exemption section below). | §17C-15-36a(e) |
| Meter tolerance | Not specified in statute. | §17C-15-36a |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
: No recent VLT change. The 35% light-transmission floor, 20% reflectivity cap, and windshield strip in §17C-15-36a have been stable; bills proposing looser limits (e.g. SB 431 of 2023, SB 215 of 2024) were introduced but not enacted.
The medical exemption: how to qualify
For drivers with a documented light-sensitivity condition.
What West Virginia drivers get wrong
West Virginia uses one number for the whole car: every window must let in at least 35% of light, and no film may be more than 20% reflective. The windshield is the only exception, and it goes the other way, tint there is limited to a non-reflective strip along the top, down to the AS-1 line or 5 inches, whichever sits closer to the top. Get it wrong and it is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $200.
Common questions
What is the legal tint limit in West Virginia?
At least 35% light transmission on the front side windows, the back side windows, and the rear window, with reflectivity capped at 20%. The windshield allows only a non-reflective strip above the AS-1 line or top 5 inches.
Is 20% or 5% tint legal in West Virginia?
No. Any window that measures below 35% light transmission, including 20% or 5% film, is illegal on every window of the car. West Virginia does not exempt rear windows from the 35% floor.
What is the penalty for illegal tint in West Virginia?
It is a misdemeanor. On conviction, the fine is not more than $200, and non-compliant tint can also cause the car to fail the annual safety inspection.
Does West Virginia allow a medical exemption for tint?
Yes. A person (or their legal guardian) who holds an affidavit from a West Virginia-licensed physician or optometrist certifying a need to be shielded from the sun is exempt. The affidavit must stay in the vehicle at all times.
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.