California Window Tint Laws (Vehicle Code 26708), Explained

Summary of California Vehicle Code 26708 for passenger vehicles. Red, amber and blue tints are not allowed on any window.

Legal tint by window

Window	Rule	In practice
Windshield	Non-reflective tint only on the top 4 inches	A sun strip; the AS-1 mark is used as a guide
Front side windows	At least 70% VLT, measured through glass and film together	Film rated around 88% VLT or lighter on typical factory glass
Rear side windows	Any darkness	Anything from light to 5%
Back glass	Any darkness, if the vehicle has left and right outside mirrors	Most cars already have both
All windows	No red, amber or blue film	Stick to neutral shades

What VLT means, and why 70% is harder than it sounds

VLT (visible light transmission) is the share of visible light that passes through. A 70% rule sounds generous, but factory glass already blocks some light. Film multiplies the loss: a 70% film on glass that passes 80% gives roughly 56% combined, which fails. That's why legal front film is usually rated around 88% or lighter, and why a reputable installer meters your glass first.

Medical exemptions

Section 26708 includes exceptions for people with medical conditions that make them sensitive to sunlight. The law allows certain sun-screening devices or clear, UV-blocking film with a signed certificate or letter from a qualifying licensed provider (the statute names dermatologists, and later amendments broadened who can sign). The documentation must stay in the vehicle, and there are limits, including on use at night. It is not a license for dark film on the front windows.

Tint tickets

Illegal tint is usually cited as a correctable violation. You remove or replace the film and get the correction signed off by the deadline on the citation. The base fine is small, but court fees and assessments commonly bring the total to roughly $100 to $200, more if you miss the correction deadline. If your front windows are too dark, tint removal is the fix.

How to stay legal and still beat the heat

Choose a light ceramic film for the front side windows; it blocks infrared heat without darkening.
Go as dark as you like on the rear side windows and back glass.
Add a sun strip for glare, kept to the top 4 inches.
Ask the installer to meter the front windows and note the reading on your receipt.

General information, not legal advice; laws change. Read the statute: California Vehicle Code 26708 (FindLaw). Plain-language summaries: My Law Company (2026), Blackout Window Tinting (2026). Want a legal tint quote? See window tinting in Brentwood.

Common questions

Is 35% tint legal in California?

On the rear side windows and back glass, yes; any darkness is allowed there. On the front side windows, no: they need at least 70% light transmission with glass and film combined.

Is 5% limo tint legal in California?

Only behind the driver: rear side windows and the back glass, and the car must have left and right side mirrors if the back glass is tinted.

Do the rules differ for SUVs and trucks?

No. California applies the same limits to sedans, SUVs, vans and trucks. SUVs and trucks often come with dark factory privacy glass in the back, which is legal.

Can police measure my tint?

Yes. Officers can use a tint meter to measure light transmission through the glass and film together.

Does a medical exemption let me tint the front windows dark?

Not to limo darkness. With a signed letter from a qualifying licensed provider, the law allows specific sun-screening measures for people with light-sensitive conditions, with limits, including on night use. Keep the letter in the car and read the conditions carefully.