Each state has different laws and regulations surrounding window tint, so in order to avoid fines and other penalties, it’s important to understand your state’s window tint laws. If you’re a California resident, check out your state’s window tint laws below:

Window Tint Reflection in California

Window tint reflects incoming light, making it a useful tool for reducing glare and heat. However, California law limits how much reflection your window tint can have. Here’s what you need to know about California’s window tint reflection regulations: 

Permitted Tint Reflection for SUVs and Vans

1. Front side windows: Cannot be more reflective than a regular window.
2. Back side windows: Cannot be more reflective than a regular window.

Permitted Tint Reflection for Sedans

1. Front side windows: Cannot be more reflective than a regular window.
2. Back side windows: Cannot be more reflective than a regular window.

Window Tint Darkness in California

California regulates how dark the tint on your vehicle windows can be, based on a measurement called Visual Light Transmission, or VLT, which is the percentage of visible light allowed through your car windows. The permitted VLT in California depends on the type of vehicle that you drive. Here’s what you need to know:

Permitted Tint Darkness for SUVs and Vans

1. Windshield: Non-reflective tint is only permitted on the top 4 inches of the windshield.
2. Front side windows: Aftermarket film must have more than 88% light transmission. However, if used in conjunction with factory-tinted windows, 70% VLT or higher is permitted.
3. Back side windows: No restrictions.
4. Rear window: No restrictions.

Permitted Tint Darkness for Sedans

1. Windshield: Non-reflective tint is only permitted on the top 4 inches of the windshield.
2. Front side windows: Aftermarket film must have more than 88% light transmission. However, if used in conjunction with factory-tinted windows, 70% VLT or higher is permitted.
3. Back side windows: No restrictions.
4. Rear window: No restrictions.

Other Window Tint Rules in California

While California’s window tint laws mainly pertain to how dark and reflective the tint can be, there are other policies you should be familiar with too. 

1. Certificates: Film used in windows must be certified, and the driver is required to keep the certificate in the vehicle.
2. Stickers: No stickers or labels required.
3. Medical Exceptions: California allows medical exemptions for lower windows if your health conditions require a special tint.
4. Side Mirrors: If your rear window is tinted, dual side mirrors are required.
5. Restricted Colors: Blue, red, and amber tints are not allowed. Side windows must not contain color.

Please note: 

1. California window tint laws were first put into place in 1999. 
2. The information in this article was last updated in 2023.
3. Some rules may vary by county, so it’s important to check with your local law enforcement or DMV for more detailed guidelines.

Facts About California

Located on the West Coast of the United States, California has the 3rd largest geographic area and the largest population of the fifty states. Two of California’s major cities, Los Angeles and San Francisco, are among the top 5 largest census areas. California also contains 8 of the United States’ most populated cities. Here are a couple of fun facts about California:

1. Population: 39,237,836 people
2. Geographic area: 163,696 square miles
3. Capital: Sacramanto
4. Cities: Anaheim, Beverly Hills, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Mountain View, Pasadena, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Long Beach, Palm Springs, Santa Monica, Hollister, Malibu, Fresno, Bakersfield, Palo Alto, Big Sur, Calabasas, Irvine, Newport Beach, Cupertino, Huntington Beach, Napa, Temecula, Modesto, Torrance, Santa Cruz, Laguna Beach, San Luis Obispo, Riverside, Sunnyvale, Stockton, Pleasanton, Ontario, Ventura, Fremont, Menlo Park, Orange, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carlsbad, Burbank, Santa Rosa, Solvang, Eureka
5. Counties: Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lake, Lassen, Los Angeles, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Placer, Plumas, Riverside, Sacramento, San Benito, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Ventura, Yolo, Yuba