The Tint On Your Windows
Veh. Code 26708 — only clear film on the front side windows, and dark rear glass with two side mirrors
In California, no one may drive with any object or material on the windshield or side or rear windows, or with anything that obstructs or reduces the driver's clear view through the windshield or side windows, except as the section allows.
| The glass | What the statute allows |
|---|---|
| The glassFront side windows | What the statute allowsOnly clear, colorless, transparent material with a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent that blocks ultraviolet A rays, with the installer's certificate in the vehicle |
| The glassTop of the windshield | What the statute allowsTransparent material whose bottom edge is at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat, not red or amber, and not reflecting more glare than the windshield |
| The glassSide windows behind the driver | What the statute allowsNot covered by the prohibition |
| The glassRear window | What the statute allowsNot covered, if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides showing at least 200 feet behind |
A medical or visual condition. Sun screening devices meeting the code's standards may be on the front side windows if the driver or a front seat passenger has a letter from a licensed physician and surgeon, or a licensed optometrist, certifying the need to be shaded from the sun. They may not be used during darkness.
Stickers and devices. Signs and stickers in a seven-inch square in the lower corner of the windshield farthest from the driver, or a five-inch square nearest the driver, are allowed, along with toll devices and certain navigation systems in set places.
The sun screening device standards themselves and the rules for video event recorders are not all on this page. Whether a particular film passes, and how a reading was taken, are questions for a licensed California attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Veh. Code 26708 — Material on windshields and windows
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed California attorney.