State tint law
Texas window tint law
Laws change and enforcement varies by area. Confirm with the Texas DMV before you install.
How dark can window tint be in Texas?
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 or on the top 5 inches of the windshield. | |
| Front side windows | Must let in more than 25% of light. | |
| Back side windows | Any darkness is allowed. | Any darkness is allowed. |
| Rear window | Any darkness is allowed if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides; otherwise must let in at least 25% 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
- Must not be more than 25% reflective.
- Back side windows
- Must not be more than 25% reflective.
Other Texas tint rules
- Restricted colors
- Red, blue and amber are not allowed on the tint strip at the top of the windshield. Sources differ for the other windows: many tint charts say those colors are banned on every window, but the statute names them only for the windshield.
- 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 the driver's side window.
- Medical exemption
- Carry a signed statement from a licensed physician or optometrist that names the driver or passenger and says sunscreening is necessary to protect their health. Since January 1, 2019, DPS doesn't issue exemption certificates; the statement itself is the proof, and a medical need is a defense in court (547.613(e)). Official form or instructions (opens in a new tab)
Enforcement and penalties in Texas
- Enforcement
- Police can stop you for tint alone. A business that installs film without the required label between the film and the glass faces a separate fine of up to $1,000 (547.613(a-1)). Selling a vehicle with illegal tint isn't an offense.
- Penalties
- A misdemeanor with a fine only. Sources give different maximums: $200 under the general traffic-fine rule, or $500 as the Class C misdemeanor maximum. A court may dismiss an equipment charge if you fix it before your first court appearance and pay a fee of up to $10 (547.004(c)); ask the court whether that applies to your charge.
Films of 25% VLT or lighter: legal on every window of a car in Texas. Darker films for the rear windows are in the full collection. All car window film.
Where to find the Texas tint law
These are the laws, rules and other sources we found for Texas. 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.
Sources disagree: Some commercial tint charts list different back-window limits than the statute. The statute is listed here.
- Statute Texas Transportation Code § 547.613 (opens in a new tab) Texas Legislature
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TintCenter news about the Texas tint law
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Where Tinting and the Law CollideFrom our 2013 archive; the limits above are the current law.