The short version
- Rhode Island requires 70% VLT on all side and rear windows of passenger cars
- SUVs, vans and trucks may use any darkness behind the driver with dual side mirrors
- Windshield tint is limited to the top 6 inches
- Installers must place a label on the front window showing the tint level
- Fines are up to $250, and medical exemptions are approved by the DMV
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 tint on top 6 inches only | Transparent tint on top 6 inches only |
| Front side windows | 70% VLT | 70% VLT |
| Back side windows | 70% VLT | Any darkness (dual side mirrors required) |
| Rear window | 70% VLT | 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 Rhode Island compares
Rhode Island allows 70% VLT on the front side windows of a car. That is darker than 3 states allow and lighter than 41 states permit, and 5 other states use the same limit. If you want to see what 70% VLT actually looks like on glass, compare it in our tint percentage examples.
Rhode Island borders Connecticut and Massachusetts. None of its neighbors are stricter about front windows, so legal Rhode Island tint is legal next door too. Shops in Connecticut and Massachusetts can legally install darker film than Rhode Island 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island (this page) | 70% | 70% | 70% |
| Connecticut | 35% | 35% | Any |
| Massachusetts | 35% | 35% | 35% |
Sedans vs SUVs, trucks and vans
Rhode Island treats multi-purpose vehicles differently. A sedan or coupe can run 70% VLT on the back side windows and 70% 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 (70% 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 Rhode Island
The rule for the windshield is: Transparent tint 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 Rhode Island
Reflectivity is regulated too: rhode Island sets no separate reflectivity percentage; any reflective or non-reflective film is illegal unless total light transmittance stays at 70% or more.. 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.
With front windows this strict, the usual approach is a light ceramic film on the fronts. It keeps the cabin noticeably cooler and blocks UV without dropping below the legal reading, and you can still go darker behind the driver where the law allows.
Need an installer who knows these rules? Browse Rhode Island tint shops on TintingNearMe.com.
If you get a tint ticket
Vehicle owners with illegal tint face a fine of up to $250, and installers of non-compliant film face up to $250 per offense. Drivers are often summoned to court to show the tint was removed.
Installers must affix a label no larger than 1.5 sq in to the lower left corner of the front window showing the installer's name and the light transmittance percentage. Medically exempt vehicles also display a DMV-issued sticker. To see how Rhode Island 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: Rhode Island sets no separate reflectivity percentage; any reflective or non-reflective film is illegal unless total light transmittance stays at 70% or more.
- VLT is total light transmittance of film and glass combined, measured perpendicular to the glass
- Trucks, SUVs, vans, limousines and similar vehicles may tint windows behind the driver only with two outside mirrors
- Factory glass meeting federal standards is exempt
- Executive security vehicles may be exempt with written permission from the local police chief
- No statutory tolerance is specified
Stickers and certification
Installers must affix a label no larger than 1.5 sq in to the lower left corner of the front window showing the installer's name and the light transmittance percentage. Medically exempt vehicles also display a DMV-issued sticker.
Penalties
Vehicle owners with illegal tint face a fine of up to $250, and installers of non-compliant film face up to $250 per offense. Drivers are often summoned to court to show the tint was removed.
Compare penalties in every stateRhode Island medical exemption
Rhode Island residents can apply to the DMV Adjudication Office with the notarized Medical Exemption from Window Tint Limits application and an affidavit from a licensed physician or optometrist stating why lower light transmittance is needed and what percentage is required. The original must be submitted within 30 days of the affidavit. Approved applicants receive a permit with an expiration date and a DMV sticker for the driver's side window; exemptions do not cover the windshield.
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: Rhode Island 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.
Rhode Island tint law questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Rhode Island?
Passenger cars must have 70% VLT on all side and rear windows. SUVs, vans and trucks need 70% on the front side windows but may use any darkness behind the driver if they have dual side mirrors.
Do I need a tint sticker in Rhode Island?
Yes. The installer must place a small label in the lower left corner of the front window showing the installer's name and the light transmittance percentage.
Can I get a medical exemption in RI?
Yes. Send the notarized DMV medical exemption application with a physician's or optometrist's affidavit to the DMV Adjudication Office. If approved, you get a permit and a sticker for the driver's side window. The windshield is not covered.
How much is a tint ticket in Rhode Island?
Owners face a fine of up to $250, and installers face up to $250 per offense. You may also need to show the court that the tint has been removed.
Are rules different for SUVs in RI?
Yes. SUVs, vans and trucks may use any darkness on windows behind the driver, as long as the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides.
Sources and how we check
Governing law: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 31-23.3-2 through 31-23.3-5; 280-RICR-30-15-7
- RI DMV: Window tinting
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23.3-5 Penalties
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-23.3-3 Standards and labels
- RI DMV Medical Exemption from Window Tint Limits application
Tint laws change, and police and inspection stations can interpret them differently. Confirm with the Rhode Island DMV or state police before you tint. Found something out of date? Tell us.