
VIRGINIA TINT LAW 2023 (VA)
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Virginia Tint Law – Legal Tint Limit For Passenger Vehicles
- Front Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.
- Front seat side windows: up to 50% tint darkness allowed
- Back seat side windows: up to 35% tint darkness allowed
- Rear window: up to 35% tint darkness allowed
On this page we have done our best to collect all of the legal information necessary about the 2023 Virginia tint law, including how dark the tint is allowed to be and how reflective the tint is allowed to be in Virginia. Aside from the basics, like tint percentages, there are also additional car window tinting rules and regulations in Virginia that we have made available.
Virginia window tint law was first put into place in 1999 with Virginia being the 34th of the 50 states to enact these tinting laws.
What does VLT Mean according to Virginia 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 Virginia 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.

Virginia Tint Law – Legal Tint Limit For Multi-Purpose Vehicles
- Front Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.
- 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 Virginia Window Tint law Rules And Regulations:
Virginia 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 Virginia? Dual side mirrors are required only if back window is tinted.
- Is colored tint illegal in Virginia? All tint colors are allowed in Virginia except for Red, Amber and Yellow.
- What are the Window Tint Certification Rules in Virginia? Manufacturers of film do NOT need to certify the film they sell in Virginia.
- Do I need a certified sticker from the company installing my window tint in Virginia? Virginia law does state that a sticker is required but does not specify the exact rule.
- Are there Medical Exemptions in Virginia for Window Tint? Virginia allows medical exemptions for special tint.
Always remember that Virginia 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 Virginia was last updated on January 5th, 2023. Tinting laws in Virginia were enacted in 1999. 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!
Virginia Window Tint Law Medical Exemption References
To apply for a medical authorization in Virginia, the person with the medical condition must submit a completed Sun-Shading Medical Authorization Application (MD-20) to DMV. The application must include vehicle information and a statement from a physician, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner, ophthalmologist, or optometrist certifying that sunshading is necessary for the individual’s health.
The vehicle owner will receive a new registration card with “sunshading” printed in the Special Conditions space. This registration card serves as verification that the vehicle is authorized to have sunshading.
With a medical exemption, you are permitted to tint front side windows down to 35% VLT. The entire front windshield can be tinted to 70% VLT, and the top 5 inches (AS-1 line) of the windshield can have 35% VLT.
For more information regarding window tint medical exemptions in _____ you can check out this resource:
- Virginia DMV – Vehicle sun-shading medical authorization
- Virginia DMV – Sun-shading medical authorization application (.pdf form)
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 Virginia Information
Virginia is a U.S. state located in the South Atlantic region of the United States. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay, which provide habitat for much of its flora and fauna. The capital of the Commonwealth is Richmond; Virginia Beach is the most populous city, though Fairfax County is the most populous political subdivision.

What is the Capital of Virginia
The capital of Virginia is Richmond
What is the population of Virginia
The population of Virginia is 8,535,519 according to Wikipedia as of 2019.
What is the area of Virginia
The area of Virginia is 42,774.2 square miles and ranks as the 35th largest state in the United States!
Virginia Wikipedia Page
Check out Virginia’s Wikipedia page to learn all kinds of cool facts about the state!
Official Virginia state Website
If you want to learn more about the laws in Virginia check out their official Website Here
What are the main cities located in Virginia?
Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Richmond, Charlottesville, Newport News, Alexandria, Williamsburg, Chesapeake, Roanoke, Fredericksburg, Fairfax, Hampton, Manassas, Portsmouth, Falls Church, Lynchburg, Jamestown, Suffolk, Blacksburg, Harrisonburg, Leesburg, Winchester, Herndon, Quantico, Ashburn, Petersburg, Woodbridge, Staunton city, McLean, Vienna, Danville, Lexington city, Chincoteague, Altavista, Langley, Front Royal, Christiansburg, Midlothian, Abingdon, Culpeper, Warrenton, Waynesboro city, Farmville, Emporia, Glen Allen, Tangier, Stafford, Colonial Heights, Hot Springs, Salem
What are the main counties located in Virginia?
Accomack, Albemarle, Alexandria, Alleghany, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Bristol, Brunswick, Buchanan, Buckingham, Buena Vista, Campbell, Caroline, Carroll, Charles City, Charlotte, Charlottesville, Chesterfield, Clarke, Clifton Forge, Colonial Heights, Covington, Craig, Culpeper, Cumberland, Danville, Dickenson, Dinwiddie, Eastern Shore, Elizabeth City, Essex, Fairfax, Fairfax City, Falls Church, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Franklin, Franklin, Frederick, Fredericksburg, Galax, Giles, Gloucester, Goochland, Grayson, Greene, Greensville, Halifax, Hampton, Hanover, Harrisonburg, Henrico, Henry, Highland, Hopewell, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lee, Lexington, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Lynchburg, Madison, Manassas, Manassas Park, Martinsville, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Montgomery, Nansemond, Nelson, New Kent, Newport News, Norfolk, Northampton, Northumberland, Norton, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Patrick, Petersburg, Pittsylvania, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Princess Anne, Pulaski, Radford, Rappahannock, Richmond, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Salem, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Staunton, Suffolk, Surry, Sussex, Tazewell, Tidewater Area, Virginia Beach, Warren, Warwick, Washington, Waynesboro, Westmoreland, Williamsburg, Winchester, Wise, Wythe, York