Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in Wisconsin
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in Wisconsin, 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 Wisconsin 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 |
The 50% and 35% floors sit in Trans 305.32; Trans 305.34 governs the windshield. Officers allow a 3% tolerance when they meter a window (Trans 305.32(6)).
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 Wisconsin | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Non-reflective tint is allowed only above the AS-1 line (mark "A") set by the manufacturer; the rest of the windshield must stay clear | Wis. Admin. Code Trans 305.3… |
| Front side | At least 50% light transmittance; a 3% metering tolerance applies | Wis. Admin. Code Trans 305.3… |
| Back side | At least 35% light transmittance; film must be non-reflective | Wis. Admin. Code Trans 305.3… |
| Rear window | At least 35% light transmittance; film must be non-reflective | Wis. Admin. Code Trans 305.3… |
| SUV / van rear | No separate SUV or van rule; the 35% floor behind the driver applies to every passenger vehicle class | Wis. Admin. Code Trans 305.3… |
| Reflection | Tinting film may not be reflective on any window | Wis. Admin. Code Trans 305.3… |
| Banned colors | Not specified in the code; Wisconsin sets no tint color restriction | Wis. Admin. Code Trans 305.3… |
| Medical exemption | AllowedAvailable (details in the medical exemption section below). | Wis. Admin. Code Trans 305.3… |
| Meter tolerance | Officers allow a 3% tolerance when measuring total light transmittance | Wis. Admin. Code Trans 305.3… |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
None (no pending change): No 2025 or 2026 change to the tint percentages. Trans 305.32 and 305.34 keep the long-standing 50% front and 35% rear floors.
The medical exemption: how to qualify
For drivers with a documented light-sensitivity condition.
What Wisconsin drivers get wrong
Wisconsin keeps its numbers in the administrative code, not the statute drivers usually cite: front side windows must pass at least 50% of light, and everything behind the driver must pass at least 35%. The windshield stays clear except for a non-reflective strip above the AS-1 line. A doctor or Christian Science practitioner can drop the front floor to 35%, and officers allow a 3% tolerance when they meter a window.
Common questions
What is the legal tint limit in Wisconsin?
Front side windows must allow at least 50% of light through, and back side windows and the rear window must allow at least 35% (Trans 305.32). Officers allow a 3% metering tolerance.
Does Wisconsin allow a medical exemption for darker front tint?
Yes. On the written recommendation of a physician or a Christian Science practitioner treating the owner or an immediate family member, the front side windows may be tinted to at least 35% (Trans 305.32(4)). There is no state permit or sticker.
Is 20% tint legal in Wisconsin?
No. 20% is darker than every Wisconsin floor: front windows need at least 50%, and windows behind the driver need at least 35%. Even the medical recommendation only reaches 35%.
Can I tint my whole windshield in Wisconsin?
No. Only a non-reflective strip above the AS-1 line (mark "A") set by the manufacturer may be tinted; the rest of the windshield must stay clear (Trans 305.34).
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.