State tint law
Ohio window tint law
Laws change and enforcement varies by area. Confirm with the Ohio DMV before you install.
How dark can window tint be in Ohio?
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 | Tint on the windshield must let in at least 70% of light (plus or minus 3%). Darker tint is allowed only above the AS-1 line or on the top 5 inches, whichever is closer to the top. | |
| Front side windows | Must let in more than 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
- Must not be more reflective than a standard window.
- Back side windows
- Must not be more reflective than a standard window.
Other Ohio tint rules
- Restricted colors
- Film on the windshield and the front side windows can't be red or yellow. The rule names no colors for the other windows.
- Side mirrors
- No side-mirror requirement.
- 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
- No state permit. Carry an affidavit signed by an Ohio-licensed physician or optometrist saying your condition makes darker or more reflective film necessary. It covers a vehicle registered to you or your parent, guardian or spouse, and must be in the vehicle whenever you're in it (Admin. Code 4501-41-05). Official form or instructions (opens in a new tab)
Enforcement and penalties in Ohio
- Enforcement
- Police can stop you for tint alone. Installing film that breaks the rules is prohibited, and dealers may not sell vehicles that don't comply (4501-41-03(B) and (C)).
- Penalties
- A minor misdemeanor with a fine of up to $150 (Revised Code 4513.99).
Films of 50% VLT or lighter: legal on every window of a car in Ohio. Darker films for the rear windows are in the full collection. All car window film.
Where to find the Ohio tint law
These are the laws, rules and other sources we found for Ohio. 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 Ohio Revised Code § 4513.241 (opens in a new tab) Ohio Laws and Administrative Rules
- Regulation Ohio Administrative Code 4501-41-03 (opens in a new tab) Ohio Laws and Administrative Rules
- Statute Ohio Revised Code § 4513.241 (opens in a new tab) FindLaw
- Regulation Ohio Administrative Code 4501-41-03 (opens in a new tab) Cornell Legal Information Institute
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TintCenter news about the Ohio tint law
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Where Tinting and the Law CollideFrom our 2013 archive; the limits above are the current law.