CALIFORNIA TINT LAW 2023 (CA)
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California Tint Law – Legal Tint Limit For Passenger Vehicles
Here are the key points on California’s window tint laws for passenger vehicles in 2023:
- The front windshield cannot have any tint that blocks light transmission. Only the top 4 inches can be tinted.
- Front-side windows must allow over 70% of light to be transmitted. This restricts tint to 30% or lighter.
- Back-side windows must allow over 60% of light transmission, restricting tint to 40% or lighter.
- The rear windshield can have any darkness of tint applied.
- Medical exemptions allow darker tints on front side windows with a doctor’s note.
- Reflective tints that mirror or glitter are not permitted on any windows.
- Violating these restrictions can result in a fix-it ticket, with fines starting at $25 per window for a first offense.
- Local regulations may further restrict tinting, so some California cities have additional limitations.
In summary, California law limits front-side window tinting to 30% or lighter and rear-side windows to 40% or lighter for passenger vehicles in 2023.
- Front Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 4 inches of the windshield (AS-1 line).
- Front seat side windows: up to 88% tint darkness allowed with aftermarket film – up to 70% tint darkness allowed if combined with factory-tinted windows.
- Back seat side windows: Any tint darkness can be used
- Rear window: Any tint darkness can be used
California Tinting Law Video:
On this page, we have done our best to collect all of the legal information necessary about the 2023 California tint law, including how dark the tint is allowed to be and how reflective the tint is allowed to be in California.
Aside from the basics, like tint percentages, there are also additional car window tinting rules and regulations in California that we have made available.
California window tint law was first put into place in 1999 with California being the 32nd of the 50 states to enact these tinting laws.
What does VLT Mean according to California State Law?
The percentage of light that a window tint film allows to pass through your car windows is called the VLT (Visible Light Transmission), and each state has different legal allowable limits.
The amount of light allowed to pass through your film and glass in California is very specific to the state and is different for Passenger Vehicles and Multi-Purpose Vehicles.
A HIGHER VLT means that more light is allowed to pass through the window tint film.
Example: a 75% tint will allow 75% of the light to pass through whereas a 5% tint will only allow 5% of the light to pass through, making the 5% tint a much darker film.
HOW MUCH DOES CAR WINDOW TINTING COST? The cost of tinting your car windows can be very affordable. If you want to learn how much it costs to tint your car, click here.
California Tint Law – Legal Tint Limit For Multi-Purpose Vehicles
- Front Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 4 inches of the windshield.
- Front seat side windows: up to 88% tint darkness allowed with aftermarket film – up to 70% tint darkness allowed if combined with factory-tinted windows.
- Back seat side windows: Any tint darkness can be used
- Rear window: Any tint darkness can be used
Want to D-I-Y?
How to tint car windows. To D-I-Y, check out how to tint car windows yourself here.
We have created an article discussing everything you need to know about VLT and Window Tint Percentages for your reference. If you want to learn the difference between the tint levels and preview the tint percentages we recommend you check it out.
Other California Window Tint Law rules And Regulations:
California has a few other important things that you will need to consider regarding window tinting and we recommend that you check them out before deciding whether or not you tint your windows:
- Do I have to have side mirrors in California? Dual side mirrors are required on your car in California if the rear window is tinted.
- Is colored tint illegal in California? All tint colors are allowed in California except Red, Amber, and Blue. You are not legally allowed to have any colored tint on your side windows.
- What are the Window Tint Certification Rules in California? Manufacturers of film must certify the film they sell in California. Drivers must have the name and address of the tint manufacturer on the certificate. Drivers are also required to have the certificate in his/her possession while driving.
- Do I need a certified sticker from the company installing my window tint in California? State law requires a certificate or a sticker from the installing company and the film manufacturer’s name and address.
- Are there Medical Exemptions in California for Window Tint? California law has allowed medical exemptions for lower tints on all windows since September 2017.
Always remember that California tint laws can change on a daily basis and these rules and regulations may be interpreted differently on a city-to-city or county-to-county basis. We recommend double-checking the information contained on this website with your local DMV or local law enforcement agencies for accuracy. This information relating to window tint laws in California was last updated on August 11th, 2023. Tinting laws in California were enacted in 1999. In case any of our info provided is not up to date or correct be sure to contact us so we can fix it. Thanks!
California Automotive Window Tint Law References
CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE – VEH DIVISION 12. EQUIPMENT OF VEHICLES [24000 – 28160]
California Window Tint Medical Exemption References
California State Law allows window tint medical exemptions to be given to vehicle owners. To file for a medical exemption in California you will need a letter stating the medical necessity for darker window tints that is signed by a licensed physician. If your physician determines it is in your best interest to be exempt from California Window Tint Laws for diseases and disorders, you can file an exemption.
You are required to carry the physical medical exemption certification with you at all times in your vehicle if you have window tint installed on the side windows in the front seat or on the windshield.
It is also stated in the law that the window tint installed according to these medical exemptions shall not be used during darkness. This seems to imply that your car may be rendered useless or at least illegal to drive at night. Only clear, colorless, and transparent film may be applied to your windshield and front windows according to the California window tint medical exemption rules. If an alternative type of window tint film is found to have been applied to the vehicle, authorities may require you to remove the tint.
For more information regarding window tint medical exemptions in California you can check out this resource:
Want a complete guide for medical exemptions for tinted windows in all 50 states?
Click this button to be taken to a PDF file that will help you to understand the medical exemptions in all 50 states
State of California Information
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is the most populous U.S. state, home to 1 out of 8 Americans, and is the third-largest state by area (after Alaska and Texas). It is home to the nation’s second and fifth-largest census statistical areas (Greater Los Angeles area and San Francisco Bay Area, respectively), and eight of the nation’s 50 most populated cities (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, and Oakland). The capital city is Sacramento.
What is the Capital of California
The capital of California is Sacramento
What is the population of California
The population of California is 39,512,223 according to Wikipedia as of 2019.
What is the area of California?
The area of California is 163,696 square miles and ranks as the 3rd largest state in the United States!
California Wikipedia Page
Check out California’s Wikipedia page to learn all kinds of cool facts about the state!
Official California state Website
If you want to learn more about the laws in California check out their official Website Here
What are the main cities located in California?
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, Richmond, 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
What are the main counties located in California?
Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, San Jose, Oakland, Santa Barbara, Mountain View, Pasadena, Anaheim, Beverly Hills, Berkeley, 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
