The short version
- Since July 1, 2026, front side windows must be at least 28% VLT
- Sedans may now go to 15% VLT on the back side and rear windows
- SUVs, vans and trucks may use any darkness behind the driver
- No window may be more than 20% reflective, and only the top 6 inches of the windshield may be tinted
- Illegal tint is a misdemeanor, and DPS grants medical exemptions
Tint limits by window
Percentages are the minimum VLT allowed. A lower number is a darker tint.
| Window | Sedans & coupes | SUVs, trucks & vans |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Transparent non-red/amber strip on top 6 inches only | Transparent non-red/amber strip on top 6 inches only |
| Front side windows | 28% VLT (plus or minus 3%) | 28% VLT (plus or minus 3%) |
| Back side windows | 15% VLT (plus or minus 3%) | Any darkness |
| Rear window | 15% VLT (plus or minus 3%) | Any darkness |
Not sure what these percentages look like? See window tint percentage examples or read about the AS-1 line.
How Georgia compares
Georgia allows 28% VLT on the front side windows of a car. That is darker than 37 states allow and lighter than 9 states permit, and 3 other states use the same limit. If you want to see what 28% VLT actually looks like on glass, compare it in our tint percentage examples.
Georgia borders Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Film that is legal here can get you a ticket in Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee, where the front-window limit is stricter. Shops in South Carolina can legally install darker film than Georgia allows, so check the meter reading if you tint across the border. Our guide to crossing state lines with tinted windows explains how out-of-state cars are treated.
| Neighboring state | Front sides | Back sides | Rear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia (this page) | 28% | 15% | 15% |
| Alabama | 32% | 32% | 32% |
| Florida | 28% | 15% | 15% |
| North Carolina | 35% | 35% | 35% |
| South Carolina | 27% | 27% | 27% |
| Tennessee | 35% | 35% | 35% |
Sedans vs SUVs, trucks and vans
Georgia treats multi-purpose vehicles differently. A sedan or coupe can run 15% VLT on the back side windows and 15% VLT 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 (28% 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 Georgia
The rule for the windshield is: Transparent non-red/amber strip on top 6 inches only. Measure down from the top edge of the glass. If your windshield also has an AS-1 mark, our AS-1 line guide explains how the two compare.
Choosing film that passes in Georgia
Reflectivity is regulated too: tinted front side, back side and rear windows may not be more than 20% reflective.. 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 Georgia 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 Georgia tint shops on TintingNearMe.com.
If you get a tint ticket
Misdemeanor for drivers and installers. A standard Georgia misdemeanor carries up to a $1,000 fine and/or up to 12 months in jail; actual tint fines are usually far lower and vary by court.
No sticker or label is required. Installers must certify that film they install complies with state limits. To see how Georgia 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 front side, back side and rear windows may not be more than 20% reflective.
- All VLT limits carry a plus or minus 3% tolerance and are measured through the glass and film combined
- Multipurpose vehicles (built on a truck chassis or for off-road use, carrying 10 or fewer people), limousines, buses and factory-tinted glass are exempt behind the driver
- Law enforcement vehicles, certain government vehicles and licensed private detective or security vehicles are exempt
- The rules apply to out-of-state vehicles driving in Georgia
- Before July 1, 2026, Georgia's limit was 32% on all side and rear windows
Stickers and certification
No sticker or label is required. Installers must certify that film they install complies with state limits.
Penalties
Misdemeanor for drivers and installers. A standard Georgia misdemeanor carries up to a $1,000 fine and/or up to 12 months in jail; actual tint fines are usually far lower and vary by court.
Compare penalties in every stateGeorgia medical exemption
The Georgia Department of Public Safety may grant an exemption to someone who must be shielded from direct sunlight for medical reasons, covering a vehicle they own or regularly ride in. Apply on the DPS Exemption to the Window Tint Law Application, with a letter on letterhead from a Georgia-licensed physician or optometrist, mailed directly from the medical office to the DPS Office of Professional Standards (959 United Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30316). DPS sets the conditions and limits of each exemption.
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: Georgia 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.
Georgia tint law questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Georgia?
Since July 1, 2026, front side windows must be at least 28% VLT and sedan back side and rear windows at least 15% VLT, each with a 3% tolerance. On multipurpose vehicles such as most SUVs, vans and pickups, windows behind the driver may be any darkness.
How much is a tint ticket in Georgia?
Illegal tint is a misdemeanor. The legal maximum is a $1,000 fine and up to 12 months in jail, though first-time tint fines are usually much lower and vary by court. Installers who put on illegal film can also be charged.
Can I get a medical exemption in Georgia?
Yes. Apply to the Georgia Department of Public Safety using its window tint exemption application, with a letter from a Georgia-licensed physician or optometrist mailed directly from the medical office. DPS decides the conditions and how dark the exempt tint may be.
Is 20% tint legal in Georgia?
On sedans, 20% is legal on the back side and rear windows under the 2026 law, which sets a 15% minimum, but not on the front side windows, which need 28%. On SUVs and other multipurpose vehicles, 20% or darker is legal behind the driver.
Does Georgia have different rules for SUVs?
Yes. Multipurpose passenger vehicles, including most SUVs, vans and pickups, are exempt from limits on the back side and rear windows. Their front side windows still need 28% VLT.
Sources and how we check
Governing law: O.C.G.A. § 40-8-73.1, as amended by HB 1161 (2026), eff. July 1, 2026; Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 570-22-.05
- O.C.G.A. § 40-8-73.1 (Justia, version eff. July 1, 2026)
- Georgia DPS - Medical Exemption to Window Tint Law
- Georgia House press release - HB 1161 final passage
- Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 570-22-.05 Window Tinting
Tint laws change, and police and inspection stations can interpret them differently. Confirm with the Georgia DMV or state police before you tint. Found something out of date? Tell us.