The short version
- Front side windows on all vehicles must be at least 35% VLT
- Sedans need 35% on the back side windows; SUVs, vans and trucks may go darker there with dual mirrors
- Any vehicle may tint the rear window to any darkness with dual side mirrors
- Aftermarket tint needs a DMV compliance sticker on each tinted window
- Medical exemptions through DMV Form E-220 allow tint down to 20% VLT
Tint limits by window
Percentages are the minimum VLT allowed. A lower number is a darker tint.
| Window | Sedans & coupes | SUVs, trucks & vans |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Non-red/amber strip above the AS-1 line (29 in. above seat) | Non-red/amber strip above the AS-1 line (29 in. above seat) |
| Front side windows | 35% VLT | 35% VLT |
| Back side windows | 35% VLT | Any darkness (dual side mirrors required) |
| Rear window | Any darkness (dual side mirrors required) | Any darkness (dual side mirrors required) |
Not sure what these percentages look like? See window tint percentage examples or read about the AS-1 line.
How Connecticut compares
Connecticut allows 35% VLT on the front side windows of a car. That is darker than 15 states allow and lighter than 16 states permit, and 18 other states use the same limit. If you want to see what 35% VLT actually looks like on glass, compare it in our tint percentage examples.
Connecticut borders Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island. Film that is legal here can get you a ticket in New York and Rhode Island, where the front-window limit is stricter. Our guide to crossing state lines with tinted windows explains how out-of-state cars are treated.
| Neighboring state | Front sides | Back sides | Rear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut (this page) | 35% | 35% | Any |
| Massachusetts | 35% | 35% | 35% |
| New York | 70% | 70% | Any |
| Rhode Island | 70% | 70% | 70% |
Sedans vs SUVs, trucks and vans
Connecticut treats multi-purpose vehicles differently. A sedan or coupe can run 35% VLT on the back side windows and any darkness on the rear window, while SUVs, pickups and vans can run any darkness behind the driver and any darkness on the rear glass. The front side windows are the same for both (35% VLT). Your vehicle type is printed on the federal certification label in the driver’s door jamb.
Many SUVs and trucks leave the factory with dark privacy glass behind the driver. Because most states measure the combined reading of film plus glass, adding film over privacy glass drops the number further than the film label suggests. See how film and glass add up in our VLT guide.
Windshield tint in Connecticut
The rule for the windshield is: Non-red/amber strip above the AS-1 line (29 in. above seat). The AS-1 line is a small mark etched near the top of the glass; our guide shows how to find the AS-1 line on your car.
Choosing film that passes in Connecticut
Reflectivity is regulated too: tinted side and rear windows may not be more than 27% reflective (plus or minus 3%), and film may not look mirror-like.. Metallic films are the type most likely to run into reflectivity limits, while carbon and ceramic films are non-reflective. Compare them in types of window tint film.
Most installers in Connecticut meter the glass before and after the install so you leave with a reading inside the limit. Ask for the meter reading on your receipt; it is useful if you are ever stopped.
Need an installer who knows these rules? Browse Connecticut tint shops on TintingNearMe.com.
If you get a tint ticket
Infraction for each offense, paid under the court infractions schedule. The driver must remove the illegal film and present the vehicle for inspection within 60 days; failing to report and a repeat citation can lead to impoundment after notice and a hearing.
Required. Every window with aftermarket tint must carry a DMV-issued compliance sticker (one square inch, self-destructing) in the lower left corner, applied after the DMV measures the tint. Medically exempt vehicles carry the validated E-220 form instead. To see how Connecticut stacks up, read window tint penalties by state. If you need darker film for a medical reason, the medical exemption guide covers what most states ask for.
Reflectivity and other rules
Reflectivity: Tinted side and rear windows may not be more than 27% reflective (plus or minus 3%), and film may not look mirror-like.
- The 35% VLT limit carries a plus or minus 3% meter tolerance
- Windows behind the driver of MPVs, trucks and buses, and the rearmost window of any vehicle, are exempt only with left and right outside mirrors giving a 200-foot rear view
- The windshield strip may not be red or amber, and its bottom edge must be at least 29 inches above the driver's seat
- Tinting businesses must post the legal standards and penalties at the counter
- Livery vehicles are exempt from the tint limits
Stickers and certification
Required. Every window with aftermarket tint must carry a DMV-issued compliance sticker (one square inch, self-destructing) in the lower left corner, applied after the DMV measures the tint. Medically exempt vehicles carry the validated E-220 form instead.
Penalties
Infraction for each offense, paid under the court infractions schedule. The driver must remove the illegal film and present the vehicle for inspection within 60 days; failing to report and a repeat citation can lead to impoundment after notice and a hearing.
Compare penalties in every stateConnecticut medical exemption
Apply in writing to the DMV Commissioner with documentation from a Connecticut-licensed physician or optometrist, and request DMV Form E-220. The vehicle's tint is measured at the Wethersfield DMV inspection lane, then the Commercial Vehicle Safety Division validates the form, which must be carried in the vehicle at all times. Exemptions allow tint between 32% and 20% VLT; tint below 20% is not eligible.
New to exemptions? Our medical exemption guide explains which conditions usually qualify and how the paperwork works in each state.
Connects you with a licensed doctor through MyEyeRx.
Watch: Connecticut tint law videos
From our YouTube channel. Laws can change after a video is published; the limits on this page reflect the law as reviewed on November 2, 2026.
Video from 2024
Video from 2024
Video from 2025
More on the Window Tint Laws YouTube channel.
Connecticut tint law questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Connecticut?
Front side windows must be at least 35% VLT on every vehicle, as must back side windows on sedans. The rear window, and the back side windows of SUVs, vans and trucks, may be any darkness if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides.
Can I get a medical exemption in Connecticut?
Yes. Get documentation from a Connecticut-licensed physician or optometrist, request DMV Form E-220, and have the tint measured at the Wethersfield DMV inspection lane. The validated form, which allows tint between 32% and 20% VLT, must be carried in the vehicle.
How much is a tint ticket in Connecticut?
Illegal tint is an infraction, paid under the state infractions schedule. You also must remove the film and present the vehicle for inspection within 60 days, and repeated violations can lead to impoundment. A 2025 bill to raise the fine to $100-$300 did not advance.
Is reflective tint legal in Connecticut?
Only mildly reflective film is allowed. Tinted windows may not be more than 27% reflective, plus or minus 3%, and film cannot have a mirror-like appearance.
What tint colors are banned in Connecticut?
The statute bans red and amber on the windshield's top tint strip. DMV guidance also says windows cannot be tinted to black.
Sources and how we check
Governing law: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-99g; Regs. Conn. State Agencies §§ 14-99g-1 to 14-99g-8
- CT DMV - Inspections Performed at DMV (tint)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-99g (Justia, 2011)
- Regs. Conn. State Agencies § 14-99g-2
- CT Proposed HB 6701 (2025) status
Tint laws change, and police and inspection stations can interpret them differently. Confirm with the Connecticut DMV or state police before you tint. Found something out of date? Tell us.