Delaware has relaxed its window tint law. Drivers can now tint the front side windows so they let in as little as 50% of light, down from 70%, without a doctor's note.
What changed
Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 255 rewrote section 4313 of Title 21 of the Delaware Code. Tint on the side windows to the immediate left and right of the driver, and on the side wings in front of them, now needs a visible light transmission of 50% or more. Before, those windows had to meet the federal glazing standard (FMVSS 205), which works out to 70%. Until now, going darker than 70% on the front side windows took a medical statement.
When it takes effect
The Senate passed the bill 20-0 on June 19, 2026, and it was reported signed into law by August 28, 2026. The bill text we read sets no separate effective date, and the online Delaware Code already shows the new 50% rule.
What it means for drivers
- Front side windows: at least 50% of light must pass through.
- Measured together: the 50% is for the film and the glass combined. Factory glass already blocks some light, so the film itself has to be lighter than 50%. Ask your installer to meter the window after the film goes on.
- Darker than 50%: you still need a statement from a licensed physician, osteopath or optometrist that tinted windows are medically necessary for the owner or usual driver, kept in the vehicle. No state permit is needed.
What didn't change
- The side windows behind the driver and the rear window can still be any darkness.
- The windshield can only have a transparent strip along the top, above the AS-1 line.
- A business that installs illegal tint can be fined $100 to $500 and must refund what it charged for the installation.
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Eric Buckson and Rep. Lyndon Yearick. The Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police, the Delaware State Troopers Association and the Delaware Optometric Association supported it.
See every Delaware rule on our Delaware window tint law page.
Sources
- Delaware House Republican Caucus: Vehicle window tinting reform (Aug 28, 2026)
- Delaware House Republican Caucus: Bill balances needs of ailing Delawareans with police concerns (June 19, 2026)
- Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 255, bill text (Delaware General Assembly)
- Delaware Code, Title 21, section 4313 (Delaware Code Online)
