The short version
- Front side windows must allow at least 50% of light on all vehicles
- Sedans need 35% VLT on back side and rear windows; SUVs, vans and pickups can go any darkness
- Reflectance is capped at 20% with a 7-point meter tolerance
- Police cannot pull you over for tint alone
- Medical authorizations are issued by the DMV through form MED 20
Tint limits by window
Percentages are the minimum VLT allowed. A lower number is a darker tint.
| Window | Sedans & coupes | SUVs, trucks & vans |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | No tint except factory sunshield area; clear film allowed | No tint except factory sunshield area; clear film allowed |
| Front side windows | 50% VLT | 50% VLT |
| Back side windows | 35% VLT | Any darkness |
| Rear window | 35% VLT | Any darkness |
Not sure what these percentages look like? See window tint percentage examples or read about the AS-1 line.
How Virginia compares
Virginia allows 50% VLT on the front side windows of a car. That is darker than 9 states allow and lighter than 35 states permit, and 5 other states use the same limit. If you want to see what 50% VLT actually looks like on glass, compare it in our tint percentage examples.
Virginia borders Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. None of its neighbors are stricter about front windows, so legal Virginia tint is legal next door too. Shops in Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia can legally install darker film than Virginia 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia (this page) | 50% | 35% | 35% |
| Kentucky | 35% | 18% | 18% |
| Maryland | 35% | 35% | 35% |
| North Carolina | 35% | 35% | 35% |
| Tennessee | 35% | 35% | 35% |
| West Virginia | 35% | 35% | 35% |
Sedans vs SUVs, trucks and vans
Virginia treats multi-purpose vehicles differently. A sedan or coupe can run 35% VLT on the back side windows and 35% 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 (50% 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 Virginia
The rule for the windshield is: No tint except factory sunshield area; clear film allowed. Read more about how windshield limits work in our AS-1 line guide.
Choosing film that passes in Virginia
Reflectivity is regulated too: film may not exceed 20% reflectance and may not produce a holographic or prism effect. 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 Virginia tint shops on TintingNearMe.com.
If you get a tint ticket
Traffic infraction with no demerit points, fine up to $250 (Class 4 misdemeanor cap). Tint is a secondary offense: police may not stop a vehicle for a tint violation alone. Installers who apply illegal film face a Class 3 misdemeanor (Class 2 for repeat offenses)
No tint compliance sticker required; a DMV medical authorization appears as a notation on the vehicle's registration card. To see how Virginia 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: Film may not exceed 20% reflectance and may not produce a holographic or prism effect
- Officer meter readings get a tolerance of minus 7 percentage points
- Any window tint requires a side mirror on each side showing at least 200 feet to the rear
- Courts may dismiss a tint summons if proof of compliance is shown by the court date
- Clear windshield film meeting federal standard FMVSS 205 is permitted from July 1, 2026
- No specific tint colors are named, but holographic or prism-effect film is banned
Stickers and certification
No tint compliance sticker required; a DMV medical authorization appears as a notation on the vehicle's registration card
Penalties
Traffic infraction with no demerit points, fine up to $250 (Class 4 misdemeanor cap). Tint is a secondary offense: police may not stop a vehicle for a tint violation alone. Installers who apply illegal film face a Class 3 misdemeanor (Class 2 for repeat offenses)
Compare penalties in every stateVirginia medical exemption
Apply to the Virginia DMV with form MED 20 (Sun-Shading Medical Authorization Application); new applications need a certification from a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, ophthalmologist or optometrist. DMV issues a registration card with a sun-shading notation, allowing 35% VLT on all side and rear windows and 35% on the top 5 inches of the windshield (70% below). The authorization lasts until the vehicle is sold or the condition ends, and the vehicle must have left and right outside mirrors.
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: Virginia 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.
Virginia tint law questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Virginia?
Front side windows must be at least 50% VLT. Sedans may go to 35% on back side and rear windows, while SUVs, vans and pickups may use any darkness behind the driver.
Do I need a tint sticker in Virginia?
No compliance sticker is required by statute. If you have a medical authorization, it appears as a sun-shading notation on your vehicle registration card.
Can I get a medical exemption in Virginia?
Yes. Submit DMV form MED 20 with a certification from a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, ophthalmologist or optometrist. Approved vehicles may use 35% tint on all side and rear windows.
How much is a tint ticket in Virginia?
Illegal tint is a traffic infraction with no demerit points and a fine of up to $250. Police cannot stop you for tint alone, and courts may dismiss the ticket if you fix the tint before your court date.
What tint colors are banned in Virginia?
Virginia does not list specific banned colors, but film cannot exceed 20% reflectance or create a holographic or prism effect.
Sources and how we check
Governing law: Va. Code §§ 46.2-1052, 46.2-1053 (amended 2026, c. 894, eff. July 1, 2026)
- Va. Code § 46.2-1052 (Virginia LIS)
- Virginia DMV MED 20 Sun-Shading Medical Authorization Application
- VA SB506 (2026) - Clear film on windshields
- Va. Code § 46.2-113 Violations; penalties
Tint laws change, and police and inspection stations can interpret them differently. Confirm with the Virginia DMV or state police before you tint. Found something out of date? Tell us.