Texas window tint laws

Texas 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.

Texas borders Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma. None of its neighbors are stricter about front windows, so legal Texas tint is legal next door too. Shops in New Mexico can legally install darker film than Texas 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.

Texas uses the same limits for every vehicle type: 25% VLT on the front side windows, any darkness on the back side windows and any darkness on the rear window, whether you drive a sedan, SUV, pickup or van.

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.

The rule for the windshield is: 25% VLT strip above AS-1 line or top 5 inches, whichever is less. 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.

Reflectivity is regulated too: windshield strip and front side windows must be no more than 25% 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 Texas 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 Texas tint shops on TintingNearMe.com.

Misdemeanor punishable by a fine of $1 to $200 under the general Transportation Code penalty (§ 542.401); drivers are typically required to remove the film. Installers who skip the required label face fines up to $1,000

Installers must permanently place a compliance label between the film and the glass on each tinted window showing the film meets state light transmission and reflectance standards; installers face fines up to $1,000 for omitting it. To see how Texas 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.