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State tint law · · 2-minute read

Window Tint Laws in Delaware (2026): Legal VLT Limits and Exemptions

What Delaware allows on each window, the windshield rule, medical exemptions and how roadside checks work, with the statute cited.

By Armor Atlas · Summarized from the statute, linked on this page

Delaware tint rules at a glance

Front side windows
50%
Minimum VLT, film and glass together
Back side windows
Any
Any darkness allowed
Rear window
Any
Any darkness allowed
Windshield
Transparent tint along the top edge only, staying clear of the AS-1 area.
Medical exemption
Yes, with documentation
Sticker or certificate
Not required
Two outside mirrors
Not required
Penalty
$28.75 to $100 fine (21 Del. C. 4315(d)), dismissable before trial if corrected; commercial installers face $100 to $500 plus restitution (4313A).

VLT is the share of light the glass lets through, film and glass together. Source: 21 Del. C. § 4313, checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.

Delaware regulates window tint through 21 Del. C. § 4313. Below: the minimum visible light transmission (VLT) for each window, the windshield rule, what counts as too reflective, who can get a medical exemption, and how an officer checks a car at the roadside.

  • Front side windows: at least 50% VLT.
  • Back side windows: any darkness.
  • Rear window: any darkness.

VLT is measured through film and glass together. Factory glass already blocks some light, usually landing between 70% and 80% VLT before any film, so a roll sold as "35%" on a window that started at 75% ends up darker than 35% once installed. Officers meter the finished window, not the box the film came in.

Windshield

Transparent tint along the top edge only, staying clear of the AS-1 area.

Federal standard FMVSS 205 sets the baseline for the glass itself: the windshield and front side windows of a new car must transmit at least 70% of visible light. State law decides what film may be added afterwards, which is why the windshield rule is usually a strip above the AS-1 line rather than a percentage.

Reflective and colored film

Delaware's statute sets no separate reflectivity limit; the VLT limits above still apply to metallic and mirrored films. No film colors are singled out.

Medical exemptions

Delaware allows darker tint with a medical exemption. DMV Medical Tint Waiver, started online, with a physician's, osteopath's or optometrist's certification; the sealed waiver is noted on the registration card (21 Del. C. 4313(d)).

Stickers, mirrors and enforcement

No sticker or certificate is required for legal tint. Tinting the rear window does not trigger a second-mirror requirement. $28.75 to $100 fine (21 Del. C. 4315(d)), dismissable before trial if corrected; commercial installers face $100 to $500 plus restitution (4313A).

In practice

Delaware rewrote section 4313 effective Aug 17, 2026 (SS 1 for SB 255, 85 Del. Laws c. 425): front side windows and side wings now need 50% visible light transmission instead of the old factory-level 70%, and the statute now says outright that windows behind the driver and the rear window have no transmission requirement. Law-enforcement vehicles are exempt. Any source still quoting 70% is describing pre-2026 law. The DMV medical waiver remains for people who need darker front glass than 50%.

Sources

Checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.

Common questions about tint in Delaware

Is 50% tint legal on front windows in Delaware?

Yes. 50% is the darkest Delaware allows on front side windows: the glass and film together must let at least 50% of visible light through. Anything darker fails a meter check.

Can I tint my windshield in Delaware?

Transparent tint along the top edge only, staying clear of the AS-1 area. Film below that line is not permitted for ordinary drivers.

Does Delaware allow darker tint for medical reasons?

Yes, with documentation. DMV Medical Tint Waiver, started online, with a physician's, osteopath's or optometrist's certification; the sealed waiver is noted on the registration card (21 Del. C. 4313(d)).

What happens if my tint is too dark in Delaware?

$28.75 to $100 fine (21 Del. C. 4315(d)), dismissable before trial if corrected; commercial installers face $100 to $500 plus restitution (4313A).

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