State tint law
Maryland window tint law
Laws change and enforcement varies by area. Confirm with the Maryland DMV before you install.
How dark can window tint be in Maryland?
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 on the top 5 inches of the windshield. | |
| Front side windows | Must let in more than 35% of light. | |
| Back side windows | Must let in more than 35% of light. | Any darkness is allowed. |
| Rear window | Must let in more than 35% of light. | 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 Maryland tint rules
- Restricted colors
- Red, yellow and amber tint, or tint that changes to those colors, is not legal on any window. Neither is mirrored, one-way-vision or sparkling tint.
- Side mirrors
- Dual side mirrors are required if the back window is tinted.
- Film certification
- Film manufacturers must certify the film they sell in the state. Ask your installer for certified film.
- Sticker
- A sticker identifying legal tint is required between the film and the glass on each tinted window.
- Medical exemption
- Allowed with a written certification from a Maryland-licensed physician in the State Police format. Since October 1, 2025, a certification for a permanent condition doesn't expire.
Enforcement and penalties in Maryland
- Enforcement
- Police can stop you for tint alone and, with the ticket, may issue a Safety Equipment Repair Order: remove the illegal film and have it certified within the deadline. Installing illegal film is also prohibited (Transp. 22-406(i)).
- Penalties
- A traffic citation plus the repair order. The fine amount is set by the District Court's fine schedule, and failing to complete the repair order brings further penalties.
How the Maryland 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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Proposed Bill to let out-of-state doctors sign tint exemptions didn't pass
Senate Bill 913 and House Bill 1507 would have let a physician licensed in another state certify a medical tint exemption and made all certifications valid indefinitely. Both had committee hearings in March 2026 and went no further before the session ended.
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Law change Medical exemptions for permanent conditions no longer expire
Chapter 452 (House Bill 436), approved May 13, 2025, removed the 2-year limit on a doctor's certification for darker tint when the doctor finds the condition permanent; those certifications are now valid indefinitely. The 35% limit didn't change.
Films of 35% VLT or lighter: legal on every window of a car in Maryland. Darker films for the rear windows are in the full collection. All car window film.
Where to find the Maryland tint law
These are the laws, rules and other sources we found for Maryland. 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 Maryland Code, Transportation § 22-406(i) (opens in a new tab) Maryland General Assembly
- Regulation COMAR 11.14.04.16 (window tint colors and finishes) (opens in a new tab) Legal Information Institute (Cornell)The color rule is in this regulation; the statute names no colors.
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