
OHIO TINT LAW 2023 (OH)
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Ohio Tint Law – Legal Tint Limit For Passenger Vehicles
Here are the key details on Ohio’s window tint laws for passenger vehicles in 2023:
- Front Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 5 inches of the windshield.
- Front seat side windows: up to 50% tint darkness allowed. Front side windows must allow at least 50% light transmission, restricting tint to 50% or lighter.
- Back seat side windows: Any tint darkness can be used
- Rear window: Any tint darkness can be used
- Medical exemptions permit darker tints on front side windows with a doctor’s note.
- Mirrored and reflective tints are prohibited on all vehicle windows.
- Violating the restrictions results in fines around $150 for a first offense.
- Ohio has a statewide tint law that overrides any local ordinances.
In summary, Ohio restricts front seat window tint to 50% VLT or lighter for passenger vehicles in 2023. Only the top 5 inches of the front windshield may have tint applied.
On this page we have done our best to collect all of the legal information necessary about the 2023 Ohio tint law, including how dark the tint is allowed to be and how reflective the tint is allowed to be in Ohio. Aside from the basics, like tint percentages, there are also additional car window tinting rules and regulations in Ohio that we have made available.
Ohio window tint law was first put into place in 2004 with Ohio being the 43rd of the 50 states to enact these tinting laws.
What does VLT Mean according to Ohio 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 Ohio 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.

Ohio Tint Law – Legal Tint Limit For Multi-Purpose Vehicles
- Front Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 5 inches of the windshield.
- Front seat side windows: up to 50% tint darkness allowed
- 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 Ohio Window Tint law Rules And Regulations:
Ohio 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 Ohio? Side mirrors are only required in Ohio if the view from the Windshield mirror is obstructed.
- Is colored tint illegal in Ohio? All tint colors are allowed in Ohio.
- What are the Window Tint Certification Rules in Ohio? Manufacturers of film need to certify the film they sell in Ohio. Ask your dealer if they are using certified film.
- Do I need a certified sticker from the company installing my window tint in Ohio? The sticker to identify legal tinting is required between the film & glass on each tinted window.
- Are there Medical Exemptions in Ohio for Window Tint? Ohio State law makes no mention of medical exemptions for special tint.
Always remember that Ohio 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 Ohio was last updated on August 11th, 2023. Tinting laws in Ohio were enacted in 2004. 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!
Ohio Window Tint Medical Exemption References
The State of Ohio does not currently allow for window tint medical exemptions that would allow you to tint your windows darker for medical purposes. If you would like to file a petition with the State in order to appeal this and request that they change the law we suggest you contact the Ohio State Representative directly.
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 Ohio Information
Ohio is a state in the Midwestern United States. Ohio is the 34th largest (by area), the 7th most populous, and the 10th most densely populated of the 50 United States. The state’s capital and largest city is Columbus.

What is the Capital of Ohio
The capital of Ohio is Columbus
What is the population of Ohio
The population of Ohio is 11,689,100 according to Wikipedia as of 2019.
What is the area of Ohio
The area of Ohio is 44,825 square miles and ranks as the 34th largest state in the United States!
Ohio Wikipedia Page
Check out Ohio’s Wikipedia page to learn all kinds of cool facts about the state!
Official Ohio state Website
If you want to learn more about the laws in Ohio check out their official Website Here
What are the main cities located in Ohio?
Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Steubenville, Akron, Dayton, Toledo, Youngstown, Canton, Defiance, Sandusky, Avon, Warren, Lima, Dublin, Put-in-Bay, Cuyahoga Falls, Strongsville, Xenia, Westerville, Findlay, Zanesville, Elyria, Mentor, Mansfield, Lakewood, Chillicothe, Springfield, Delphos, Wooster, Mason, Parma, Marysville, Kettering, Perrysburg, Shaker Heights, Grove City, Westlake, Columbiana, Athens, Yellow Springs, Massillon, Stow, West Chester Township, Hamilton, Loveland, Oberlin, Middletown, Chagrin Falls, Troy
What are the main counties located in Ohio?
Adams, Allen, Ashland, Ashtabula, Athens, Auglaize, Belmont, Brown, Butler, Carroll, Champaign, Clark, Clermont, Clinton, Columbiana, Coshocton, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Darke, Defiance, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Gallia, Geauga, Greene, Guernsey, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardin, Harrison, Henry, Highland, Hocking, Holmes, Huron, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lake, Lawrence, Licking, Logan, Lorain, Lucas, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Meigs, Mercer, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Morrow, Muskingum, Noble, Ottawa, Paulding, Perry, Pickaway, Pike, Portage, Preble, Putnam, Richland, Ross, Sandusky, Scioto, Seneca, Shelby, Stark, State Level Sites, Summit, Trumbull, Tuscarawas, Union, Van Wert, Vinton, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Williams, Wood, Wyandot