The Tint On Your Windows
G.S. 20-127 — 35 percent on every window but the windshield, and more than 32 on the meter passes
In North Carolina, a windshield may be tinted only along the top, no more than five inches below the top or below the AS1 line, whichever measurement is longer; an untinted clear film that reduces ultraviolet radiation may also be applied.
| The glass | What the statute allows |
|---|---|
| The glassAny other window | What the statute allowsTotal light transmission of at least 35 percent |
| The glassA meter reading | What the statute allowsMore than 32 percent on an approved light meter is conclusively presumed to meet it |
| The glassReflectance | What the statute allows20 percent or less, and the film nonreflective |
| The glassColor | What the statute allowsNot red, yellow or amber |
Exceptions. The transmission and reflectance limits do not apply to the windows of a multipurpose vehicle behind the driver, including a minivan or pickup, a limousine, a motor home, an ambulance, a vehicle registered and compliant in another state, or a vehicle with a medical exception permit.
Fixed within 15 days. It is a defense to driving with an unlawfully tinted window that the tinting was removed within 15 days after the charge and the window now complies, shown by a certificate from the Division of Motor Vehicles or the Highway Patrol.
At a stop. The section requires the driver of a vehicle with tinted windows to roll down the driver side window when a law enforcement officer approaches, or the passenger window if the officer approaches from that side.
A medical exception permit. A person whose medical condition causes photosensitivity to visible light may apply for a permit valid for five years, which names the vehicle, the windows and the levels allowed, and is carried in the vehicle.
Federal rules for commercial vehicles and the misdemeanor for applying noncompliant tint are not all on this page. Whether a particular film passes, and how a reading was taken, are questions for a licensed North Carolina attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- G.S. 20-127 — Windows and windshield wipers
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed North Carolina attorney.