Under California window tint law, you may tint the rear side windows and the back window as dark as you like, but the front side windows can only take clear film that lets through at least 88% of light. The windshield allows a tinted strip along the very top and nothing below it. Those are the rules in the California Vehicle Code as of October 2026, and they apply to cars, trucks and SUVs alike.
This guide covers each window, the medical exemptions, how officers check tint and what a ticket costs. It is general information, so the statute itself is always the final word.
California tint rules by window
The main rules sit in Vehicle Code section 26708, with a ban on altering glass in section 26708.5. Read together, they produce the limits below.
| Window | What is allowed | Where the rule comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Transparent, non-red, non-amber strip at the top only. Its lower edge must sit at least 29 inches above the driver’s seat. In practice that is the top few inches, near the AS-1 mark. | VC 26708(c) |
| Front side windows (driver and front passenger) | Only clear, colorless film with at least 88% light transmittance that blocks UV-A. The glass and film together must still meet the federal 70% standard. | VC 26708(d), FMVSS 205 |
| Rear side windows (behind the driver) | Any darkness. | VC 26708(b) |
| Back window | Any darkness, if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides. | VC 26708(b) |
| Stickers and devices | A 7-inch square in the lower windshield or rear window corner farthest from the driver, a 5-inch square in the corner nearest the driver, and a 5-inch square at the top center for toll tags. | VC 26708(b) |
Front side windows: the 70% and 88% numbers
Most confusion comes from two numbers that seem to clash. They actually describe different things.
The 88% figure applies to the film alone. California only permits film on the front side windows if it is clear, colorless and passes at least 88% of visible light. It must also filter UV-A rays. So a “light” 50% or 35% film from a tint shop is not legal on these windows, however subtle it looks.
The 70% figure applies to the whole window. Federal standard FMVSS 205 requires glass in areas needed for driving visibility to pass at least 70% of light. California’s tint section points back to that standard. Factory glass is rarely perfectly clear, because many cars ship with a slight green or gray tint. That means a factory window at 75% plus an 88% film can drop the total to about 66%, which fails.
In practice, check what your glass reads before you buy film. A reputable installer can meter the bare window first. You also need to keep a certificate in the car from the installer, or from the film maker if you applied it yourself. Torn, bubbled or badly worn film has to come off or be replaced.
Windshield, reflectivity and colors
The windshield rule is not a flat “four inches.” The statute says the bottom of any strip must be at least 29 inches above the driver’s seat, measured with the seat all the way down and back. Most shops simply follow the AS-1 line marked on the glass, which usually lands in the top four to six inches. If you sit low or the car has a tall windshield, the legal strip may be slightly different.
The strip itself has limits too. It cannot be red or amber, cannot carry opaque lettering and cannot distort the view. It also must not reflect more glare at other drivers than the bare windshield would. As a result, mirrored or chrome film does not belong at the top of the windshield.
For the rear windows, section 26708 does not set a separate darkness or color cap. Still, film that throws strong glare at other drivers can draw attention, and installers generally steer away from heavy mirror finishes for that reason.
Medical exemptions in California
California has two separate medical routes, and neither allows dark film on the front side windows.
Removable sun screens with a doctor’s letter
If the driver or a front passenger has a medical condition that requires shade, a licensed physician and surgeon, or an optometrist for a visual condition, can sign a letter. That allows a removable sun-screening device on the front side windows. Under section 26708.2, transparent screens must be green, gray or neutral smoke and pass at least 35% of light. Their surfaces cannot reflect more than 35%. They must come off easily, for example a roller shade or a framed panel, and they cannot be used after dark.
Clear UV film with a dermatologist’s certificate
The second route covers clear film on any window, including the windshield. It still has to meet the same 88% light and UV-A standards as front side film. The difference is that the driver carries a certificate from a licensed dermatologist saying the person should avoid ultraviolet exposure. So this exemption is about UV protection, not privacy or darkness.
Either way, keep the letter or certificate in the vehicle. An officer can ask for it at a stop.
How officers check tint and what a ticket costs
Officers usually spot dark front windows by eye, then confirm with a handheld light meter. The meter clips over the lowered or closed window and shows the percentage of light passing through glass and film together. A reading under 70% on the front side windows is the usual basis for a citation.
Most first tint tickets are “fix-it” tickets, formally a correctable violation. You remove the illegal film, then have an officer or authorized agency sign the back of the citation. After that you show proof to the court. Under Vehicle Code 40611, the court collects a $25 transaction fee for each corrected violation.
If you ignore the ticket or keep the tint, the case turns into a regular fine. With California’s penalty assessments, that can run well above the base amount. Totals vary by county and change over time, so check the bail schedule on your local superior court website. Repeat stops for the same car can also lead an officer to skip the fix-it option.
Buying a used car with dark tint
Dark film on a used car becomes your problem the day you drive it. The citation goes to the driver, not the previous owner. Also, the California smog check does not test tint, so a passed inspection says nothing about it.
Before you buy, look at the front side windows in daylight. If you can barely see the driver’s seat from outside, assume the film is illegal. Then factor in removal, which shops typically charge for by the window. Prices vary, so ask for a quote. You can also ask the seller to remove it before the sale. Film on the rear windows can usually stay as it is.
Out-of-state cars are a common trap. Many states allow tinted front side windows, and the film stays when the car moves. Once the vehicle is registered and driven in California, local rules apply. Our Los Angeles and California guides cover other rules that newcomers often miss.
Trucks, SUVs and vans
California applies the same tint rules to pickups, SUVs and vans as to sedans. The front side windows and the windshield follow the limits above. Behind the driver, any darkness is fine as long as the vehicle has mirrors on both sides.
That said, many SUVs and minivans leave the factory with dark “privacy glass” in the rear. That is tinted safety glass built to federal standards, which section 26708.5 expressly allows. It is not aftermarket film, so it is legal. Pickups follow the same logic for the back cab window when both outside mirrors are in place.
This article is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the darkest legal tint in California?
On rear side windows and the back window, any darkness is legal if the car has two outside mirrors. On the front side windows, only clear film with at least 88% light transmittance is allowed.
Is 70% tint legal in California?
A 70% film is not legal on the front side windows. The film itself must pass at least 88% of light, and the combined window must still read 70% or higher.
Can I get a medical exemption for dark tint in California?
Not for permanent dark film. A doctor’s letter allows removable sun screens of at least 35% transmittance on the front side windows. A dermatologist’s certificate allows clear UV film on any window.
Is a window tint ticket a fix-it ticket in California?
Usually yes, for a first offense. You remove the film, get the correction signed off and pay a $25 fee to the court.
Is windshield tint legal in California?
Only a non-red, non-amber strip at the top, above a line 29 inches over the driver’s seat. Clear UV film on the full windshield needs a dermatologist’s certificate.
Have a question about this topic? Ask in the comments below. Our editors read every comment and answer questions here, and we add useful answers to the guide.
Sources
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml
- leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml
- ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-V/part-571/subpart-B…
- nhtsa.gov/interpretations/11-000697trooperkile205