The short version
- Since August 1, 2025, front side windows can be as dark as 25% VLT.
- Sedans need 25% on back side windows and 12% on the rear window.
- SUVs, vans and trucks can have any darkness behind the driver.
- Reflectivity is capped at 20%, and an installer label is required on the driver's window.
- Medical exemptions are issued by Louisiana State Police and generally last three years.
Tint limits by window
Percentages are the minimum VLT allowed. A lower number is a darker tint.
| Window | Sedans & coupes | SUVs, trucks & vans |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Strip on top 5 inches only (not red or amber) | Strip on top 5 inches only (not red or amber) |
| Front side windows | 25% VLT (40% before Aug. 1, 2025) | 25% VLT (40% before Aug. 1, 2025) |
| Back side windows | 25% VLT | Any darkness |
| Rear window | 12% VLT | Any darkness |
Not sure what these percentages look like? See window tint percentage examples or read about the AS-1 line.
How Louisiana compares
Louisiana allows 25% VLT on the front side windows of a car. That is darker than 43 states allow and lighter than 3 states permit, and 3 other states use the same limit. If you want to see what 25% VLT actually looks like on glass, compare it in our tint percentage examples.
Louisiana borders Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas. Film that is legal here can get you a ticket in Mississippi, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana (this page) | 25% | 25% | 12% |
| Arkansas | 25% | 25% | 10% |
| Mississippi | 28% | 28% | 28% |
| Texas | 25% | Any | Any |
Sedans vs SUVs, trucks and vans
Louisiana treats multi-purpose vehicles differently. A sedan or coupe can run 25% VLT on the back side windows and 12% 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 (25% 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 Louisiana
The rule for the windshield is: Strip on top 5 inches only (not red or amber). 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 Louisiana
Reflectivity is regulated too: sun screening film on any window may not have luminous reflectance of more than 20%.. 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana tint shops on TintingNearMe.com.
If you get a tint ticket
Vehicle operators face fines of up to $150 for a first offense, up to $250 for a second and up to $350 for a third or later offense. Sellers and installers face $1,000 for a first offense and $2,000 for a second, and are barred from the business after a third conviction.
Required. The installer must permanently place a label (no larger than 1.5 square inches) between the film and glass on the driver's side window, showing the installer's name and city. Medically exempt vehicles also display a state-issued exemption decal. To see how Louisiana 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: Sun screening film on any window may not have luminous reflectance of more than 20%.
- VLT limits include all tolerances, so there is no extra enforcement margin.
- Trucks, buses, motor homes and multi-purpose passenger vehicles (SUVs, vans) are exempt from the limits on windows behind the driver.
- Red and amber tint is not allowed on the windshield strip.
- Film manufacturers must certify their products to the Office of Motor Vehicles.
- The front side window limit dropped from 40% to 25% on August 1, 2025.
Stickers and certification
Required. The installer must permanently place a label (no larger than 1.5 square inches) between the film and glass on the driver's side window, showing the installer's name and city. Medically exempt vehicles also display a state-issued exemption decal.
Penalties
Vehicle operators face fines of up to $150 for a first offense, up to $250 for a second and up to $350 for a third or later offense. Sellers and installers face $1,000 for a first offense and $2,000 for a second, and are barred from the business after a third conviction.
Compare penalties in every stateLouisiana medical exemption
Apply to Louisiana State Police with the notarized Window Tint Medical Exemption Affidavit (DPSSP 1060), completed by a licensed physician or optometrist for conditions such as albinism, lupus, porphyria or photophobia; applicants also consent to a criminal background check and release of medical records. If approved, the state issues a decal to display on the vehicle, and the original certificate must be kept in the vehicle. Exemptions generally expire after three years and are not transferable to a new owner.
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: Louisiana 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
More on the Window Tint Laws YouTube channel.
Louisiana tint law questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Louisiana?
On sedans, the rear window can be 12% VLT, and the front and back side windows 25%. On SUVs, vans and trucks, windows behind the driver can be any darkness, with 25% on the front sides.
Do I need a sticker for window tint in Louisiana?
Yes. Installers must put a small permanent label between the film and the glass on the driver's side window showing the installer's name and city.
Can I get a medical exemption in Louisiana?
Yes. A physician or optometrist completes the Louisiana State Police medical exemption affidavit, which you have notarized and submit along with a background check. Approved exemptions come with a decal and generally expire after three years.
How much is a tint ticket in Louisiana?
Drivers face up to $150 for a first offense, $250 for a second and $350 for a third or later offense. Installers face $1,000 to $2,000 fines.
Is reflective tint legal in Louisiana?
Only up to a point. Window film may not be more than 20% reflective.
Sources and how we check
Governing law: La. R.S. 32:361.1 (as amended by Act 143 of 2025, HB 119, effective Aug. 1, 2025); medical exemption La. R.S. 32:361.2
- Louisiana Act 143 of 2025 (HB 119) digest
- La. R.S. 32:361.1 (FindLaw)
- La. R.S. 32:361.2, Medical exemption
- Louisiana State Police Window Tint Medical Exemption Affidavit (DPSSP 1060)
Tint laws change, and police and inspection stations can interpret them differently. Confirm with the Louisiana DMV or state police before you tint. Found something out of date? Tell us.