The Tint On Your Windows
Va. Code 46.2-1052 — 50 percent on the front side windows, 35 behind, and a tolerance of minus seven percentage points
In Virginia, tinting film may be applied only to a vehicle with a mirror on each side showing the highway at least 200 feet behind, and only within the limits the section sets.
| The glass | What the statute allows |
|---|---|
| The glassFront side windows | What the statute allowsTotal light transmittance of not less than 50 percent |
| The glassRear side windows and rear window | What the statute allowsNot less than 35 percent, except on a multipurpose passenger vehicle or pickup truck |
| The glassAny window | What the statute allowsReflectance not over 20 percent, and no holographic or prism effect |
| The glassWindshield | What the statute allowsFilm only to replace the manufacturer's sunshield in the uppermost area; clear film that keeps the federal glazing standard |
A tolerance of minus seven percentage points. An officer's light transmittance measurement, taken with equipment meeting the state's standards, is given a tolerance of minus seven percentage points.
An infraction without points. Driving with film outside the limits is a traffic infraction, but no demerit points are awarded for it. The court may dismiss the summons where proof of compliance is provided on or before the court date.
Installers. A person or business that applies film outside the limits commits a Class 3 misdemeanor for a first offense, and a Class 2 misdemeanor after that.
The medical authorization under the next section and the vehicles the section exempts are not all on this page. Whether a particular film passes, and how a reading was taken, are questions for a licensed Virginia attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Va. Code 46.2-1052 — Tinting films, signs, decals, and stickers on windshields, etc.; penalties
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Virginia attorney.