Minnesota 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 passenger car / sedan, front-side requirement: >= 50% combined VLT. Rear-side requirement: >= 50% combined VLT. Rear window: >= 50% combined VLT.
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 passenger car / sedan:
- A — Whole windshield: Applied tint prohibited. The visor strip is a separate table row.
- B — Front side: >= 50% combined VLT
- C — Rear side: >= 50% combined VLT
- D — Rear window: >= 50% combined VLT
Ordinary passenger car / sedan
Does not include the specific pickup, qualifying van, limousine or medical exceptions in subd.4 a.
| Window | Requirement | Conditions and evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Front side | >= 50% combined VLT | Ordinary sedan glazing, including rear glass. Statutory tolerance is not the normal minimum. Tolerance, separate from minimum: ±3 percentage points in the statutory transmission requirement; not subtracted by this calculator. §169.71 subd.4 and 4 a (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Rear side | >= 50% combined VLT | Ordinary sedan glazing, including rear glass. Statutory tolerance is not the normal minimum. Tolerance, separate from minimum: ±3 percentage points in the statutory transmission requirement; not subtracted by this calculator. §169.71 subd.4 and 4 a (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Rear window | >= 50% combined VLT | Ordinary sedan glazing, including rear glass. Statutory tolerance is not the normal minimum. Tolerance, separate from minimum: ±3 percentage points in the statutory transmission requirement; not subtracted by this calculator. §169.71 subd.4 and 4 a (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Full windshield | Applied tint prohibited | Light-reducing or reflective windshield material is prohibited for the ordinary case. §169.71 subd.4 and 4 a (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Windshield visor strip | Not yet verified | No general visor-strip allowance established in the retrieved statute; do not assume a five-inch allowance. |
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
Mirrored appearance prohibited; reflectance limit 20% with statutory ±3% tolerance. Permanent transmittance and reflectance marking required. Specific pickup/van exemptions must be checked individually.
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
A qualifying physician or optometrist statement must be possessed. It specifies minimum transmission and temporary/permanent condition. Certain designated relative/caregiver vehicle uses also qualify; read subd.4 a.
Authority: Physician or optometrist.
Renewal: Expiration within two years unless permanent condition supports no expiration.
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
- §169.71 subd.4 and 4 a
Ordinary side and rear glazing: at least 50% transmission, ±3%; reflection at most 20% ±3%. Exceptions are enumerated by class; light-reducing windshield material prohibited.
Source checked 2026-09-19. Effective date not independently established; see source history.
- 2026 Ch 89 §1
Adds optometrists to medical statement authority; retroactive to prescriptions issued on or after July 1,2025. Prescription identifies transmission and duration.
Source checked 2026-09-19. Effective date established: 2025-07-01.
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.
- Iowa — ordinary passenger front: >= 50% combined VLT
- North Dakota — ordinary passenger front: >= 35% combined VLT
- South Dakota — ordinary passenger front: >= 35% combined VLT
- Wisconsin — ordinary passenger front: >= 50% combined VLT
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