State tint law
Delaware window tint law
Laws change and enforcement varies by area. Confirm with the Delaware DMV before you install.
Law changed Aug 2026Front side windows can now be tinted to 50%. What changed
How dark can window tint be in Delaware?
Darkness is measured as visible light transmission (VLT): the percentage of light that gets through. A lower number means darker tint.
| Window | Cars | SUVs and vans |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer's AS-1 line. | |
| Front side windows | Must let in at least 50% of light. | |
| Back side windows | Any darkness is allowed. | Any darkness is allowed. |
| Rear window | Any darkness is allowed. | Any darkness is allowed. |
Picked a legal shade? You can tint it yourself with a precut car tint kit from SnapTint, our DIY kit partner.
How reflective can tint be?
- Front side windows
- No metallic or mirrored appearance.
- Back side windows
- No metallic or mirrored appearance.
Other Delaware tint rules
- Restricted colors
- No tint colors are banned.
- Side mirrors
- Dual side mirrors are required if the back window is tinted.
- Film certification
- Film manufacturers don't need to certify the film they sell in the state.
- Sticker
- A sticker identifying legal tint is required between the film and the glass on the driver's side window.
- Medical exemption
- Carry a statement signed by a licensed physician, osteopath or optometrist that tinted windows are medically necessary for the owner or usual driver. No state permit is needed (21 Del. C. 4313(d)). Since the 2026 change, front side windows can be 50% without one.
Enforcement and penalties in Delaware
- Enforcement
- Police can stop you for tint alone. A business that installs illegal tint is fined $100 to $500 and must refund the installation fee (21 Del. C. 4313A).
- Penalties
- The tint section sets no fine for drivers; Delaware's general penalty for equipment violations applies. Installers: $100 to $500 plus a refund of the fee.
How the Delaware tint law has changed
The changes we could document, newest first, each with its source. Where we only know that our older records differ from today's law, we say so rather than guess a date.
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Law change Front side windows opened up to 50% tint
Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 255 rewrote 21 Del. C. 4313: front side windows may now let in as little as 50% of light (before, 70%, the federal FMVSS 205 level), with no medical statement needed. Windows behind the driver still have no limit, and the medical statement exception stays. The Senate passed it 20-0 on June 19, 2026, and it was reported signed into law by August 28, 2026. The bill sets no later effective date.
Source: Delaware House Republican Caucus: vehicle window tinting reform (Aug 28, 2026)
Films of 50% VLT or lighter: legal on every window of a car in Delaware. Darker films for the rear windows are in the full collection. All car window film.
Where to find the Delaware tint law
These are the laws, rules and other sources we found for Delaware. We list all of them rather than picking one, so you can read them yourself and decide. Laws change, so check the current text before you install.
- Statute Delaware Code, Title 21 § 4313 (opens in a new tab) Delaware Code Online
- Law change Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 255 (2026) (opens in a new tab) Delaware House Republican CaucusFront side windows lowered from 70% to 50%; reported signed by August 28, 2026.
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