California Window Tint Laws
Published by TintLegal. Content corrected September 19, 2026. Individual source-check dates appear alongside the rules; this is AI-assisted source research, not professional legal review.
Start with the correct window and vehicle
For ordinary motor vehicle, front-side requirement: >= 70% combined VLT — conditions apply. Rear-side requirement: No VLT minimum. Rear window: No VLT minimum — conditions apply.
A whole windshield and its upper visor strip have separate rules. Read the conditions below before choosing film. A “no VLT minimum” entry does not remove other restrictions.
Window and vehicle requirements
Window positions only; shading does not simulate tint or visibility. Ordinary motor vehicle:
- A — Whole windshield: Applied tint prohibited. The visor strip is a separate table row.
- B — Front side: >= 70% combined VLT — conditions apply
- C — Rear side: No VLT minimum
- D — Rear window: No VLT minimum — conditions apply
Ordinary motor vehicle
Subsection(d) front-side clear UVA film case; special medical devices are separate.
| Window | Requirement | Conditions and evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Front side | >= 70% combined VLT — conditions apply | The clear, colorless, transparent UVA-filtering film itself transmits at least 88%. Required installer/manufacturer certificate is carried; the material meets subsection(d) conditions, including FMVSS compliance and replacement if worn. Vehicle Code §26708(b),(c),(d),(e) (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Rear side | No VLT minimum | Side windows to the rear of the driver fall within subsection(b)(4). Vehicle Code §26708(b),(c),(d),(e) (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Rear window | No VLT minimum — conditions apply | Two exterior mirrors provide a view at least 200 feet to the rear. Vehicle Code §26708(b),(c),(d),(e) (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Full windshield | Applied tint prohibited | Ordinary full-windshield application outside the exceptions is prohibited; medical clear film is separate. Vehicle Code §26708(b),(c),(d),(e) (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Windshield visor strip | No VLT minimum — conditions apply | The lower edge is at least 29 inches above the statutory driver-seat reference point in §26708(c), not measured from the windshield top. The strip meets the color, reflection, lettering and visibility conditions in §26708(c). Vehicle Code §26708(b),(c),(d),(e) (checked 2026-09-19) |
Check a tint VLT requirement
Use a measured combined glass-plus-film VLT reading. A film label alone cannot tell you the installed VLT. This is a limited check, not a certificate of complete compliance.
Choose your state, class and window, then enter the measured VLT.
Read the state rules and official sources
Estimate combined VLT from film and glass specifications
Approximation: glass VLT × film VLT ÷ 100. For example, 80% glass × 35% film = 28%. An estimate is not a calibrated measurement and is never used as a passing calculator result.
Restrictions beyond darkness
Do not substitute a generic four-inch strip for the statutory seat-reference measurement. Front clear film needs certification and replacement if deteriorated. Strip color/reflection/lettering restrictions are in(c). Rear exemption requires mirrors with 200-foot view.
Window positions: front-side means beside the driver/front passenger; rear-side means behind the driver; rear window means the back-facing glass. The tables separate full-windshield coverage from an upper strip. Vehicle marketing names alone do not resolve statutory classifications.
Medical exemptions
Subsection(e) allows specified clear medical film with dermatologist certification while retaining 88% film and 70% combined requirements. A separate sun-screen-device provision references §26708.2 and cannot be used during darkness; its full device rules remain unresolved here.
Authority: Licensed dermatologist for subsection(e).
Renewal: Not yet verified; confirm with the issuing authority.
Official application or instructionsCompare verified medical instructions . Do not treat a medical diagnosis as automatic approval.
Tickets and costs
A reliable statewide total has not been verified. The cited offense, court and local fees determine the amount; dismissal is not automatic.
Official sources and research limits
- Vehicle Code §26708(b),(c),(d),(e)
Front-side UVA film at least 88% and combined 70%, certificate required; rear-side exception; rear mirror exception; strip boundary uses 29-inch seat reference. Clear medical film is not unrestricted dark tint.
Source checked 2026-09-19. Effective date established: 2026-01-01.
Unknown entries identify specific research gaps. They are not assertions that tint is prohibited or unrestricted. Contact the official motor-vehicle agency to resolve an unclear classification before installation.
Practical questions
Does a 35% film label mean the window measures 35%?
No. With 80% glass, 35% film estimates to 28% combined VLT. Measure the installed combination; understand VLT and estimates .
Does passing the calculator prove full compliance?
No. It checks the verified numerical rule and explicitly confirmed conditions for the selected case. Reflection, color, certification, special uses and approved exemptions may need separate assessment.
Neighboring state research
Use the same vehicle classification when comparing. Nonresident applicability has not been established across these states; crossing a border is not automatically a violation or an exemption.
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