State tint law
South Dakota window tint law
Laws change and enforcement varies by area. Confirm with the South Dakota DMV before you install.
How dark can window tint be in South Dakota?
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 more than 35% of light. | |
| Back side windows | Must let in more than 20% of light. | Must let in more than 20% of light. |
| Rear window | Must let in more than 20% of light. | Must let in more than 20% of light. |
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 South Dakota tint rules
- Restricted colors
- No tint colors are banned.
- 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
- The law has no medical exemption for darker tint.
Enforcement and penalties in South Dakota
- Enforcement
- The meter must be used by its maker's procedure, and the officer must write the meter's serial number and certification date on the citation (32-15-2.10).
- Penalties
- A Class 2 misdemeanor: up to 30 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both.
Films of 35% VLT or lighter: legal on every window of a car in South Dakota. Darker films for the rear windows are in the full collection. All car window film.
Where to find the South Dakota tint law
These are the laws, rules and other sources we found for South Dakota. 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 South Dakota Codified Laws § 32-15-2.4 (opens in a new tab) South Dakota Legislature
- Statute South Dakota Codified Laws § 32-15-2.5 (opens in a new tab) South Dakota Legislature
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