State tint law

North Carolina window tint law

Law enacted 2001 · VLT measured on: film and glass combined · Last checked September 26, 2026

Laws change and enforcement varies by area. Confirm with the North Carolina DMV before you install.

Law changed Dec 1, 2025Tint isn't checked at inspection anymore, and you must roll your window down when stopped. What changed

How dark can window tint be in North Carolina?

Darkness is measured as visible light transmission (VLT): the percentage of light that gets through. A lower number means darker tint.

Tolerance: A reading above 32% on a DMV-approved light meter counts as meeting the 35% limit (G.S. 20-127(b)(1)).

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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

Must not be more than 20% reflective.

Back side windows

Must not be more than 20% reflective.

Other North Carolina tint rules

Restricted colors

Red, amber and yellow tints are not legal.

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

No sticker identifying legal tint is required.

Medical exemption

Apply to the DMV's Medical Review Program with the tinted window waiver form, completed by your doctor, for a condition that makes you photosensitive to visible light. The permit names the vehicle, the windows and the tint allowed, lasts up to 5 years, must be carried in the vehicle and comes with a sticker for the lower left corner of the rear window. Official form or instructions (opens in a new tab)

Enforcement and penalties in North Carolina

Enforcement

Police can stop you for tint alone, and the driver must roll down the window on the side the officer approaches from (20-127(g)). Since S.L. 2025-47, tint isn't part of the state safety inspection. If you remove the illegal tint within 15 days and get a certificate from the DMV or Highway Patrol showing the window now complies, that's a defense in court (20-127(e)).

Penalties

A Class 3 misdemeanor for the driver, and for anyone who tints a vehicle beyond the limits (20-127(d)); the fine is generally up to $200 plus court costs. Not displaying the medical exception sticker is a separate infraction with a $200 fine.

How the North Carolina 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.

1. Dec 1, 2025

   Law change Tint no longer checked at inspection; roll down when stopped

   Section 22 of Session Law 2025-47 (Senate Bill 391) ended tint checks and the $10 tint fee at the annual safety inspection, and requires drivers to lower tinted windows on the side a law enforcement officer approaches. It also lets people with light-sensitive conditions hold up to four medical tint permits. The 35% limit didn't change, and police can still cite illegal tint.

   Source: North Carolina General Assembly, Session Law 2025-47 (SB 391)

Films of 35% VLT or lighter: legal on every window of a car in North Carolina. Darker films for the rear windows are in the full collection. All car window film.

Where to find the North Carolina tint law

These are the laws, rules and other sources we found for North Carolina. 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 North Carolina General Statutes § 20-127 (opens in a new tab) North Carolina General Assembly
• Statute North Carolina General Statutes § 20-127 (opens in a new tab) FindLaw

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