Florida tint rules at a glance
- Front side windows
- 28%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Back side windows
- 15%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Rear window
- 15%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- SUVs, trucks and vans
- Behind the driver: back side windows 6% VLT or more, rear window 6% VLT or more.
- Windshield
- Transparent sunscreening only on the strip above the AS-1 line; nothing may intrude on the driver's forward view.
- Reflectivity
- Reflectance capped at 25% on the front side windows and 35% on windows behind the driver.
- Medical exemption
- Yes, with documentation
- Sticker or certificate
- Required
- Two outside mirrors
- Required when the rear window is tinted
- Penalty
- Noncriminal traffic infraction, nonmoving violation (316.2956); selling or installing illegal film is a second-degree misdemeanor.
VLT is the share of light the glass lets through, film and glass together. Source: Fla. Stat. §§ 316.2951-316.2957, checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Florida regulates window tint through Fla. Stat. §§ 316.2951-316.2957. 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.
Legal tint limits in Florida
- Front side windows: at least 28% VLT.
- Back side windows: at least 15% VLT.
- Rear window: at least 15% VLT.
SUVs, trucks and vans follow a different rule behind the driver: back side windows at least 6% VLT and the rear window at least 6% VLT.
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 sunscreening only on the strip above the AS-1 line; nothing may intrude on the driver's forward view.
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
Reflectance capped at 25% on the front side windows and 35% on windows behind the driver. No film colors are singled out.
Medical exemptions
Florida allows darker tint with a medical exemption. FLHSMV issues a vehicle-specific medical exemption certificate (lupus, autoimmune or other light-sensitive conditions) that must be kept in the car and becomes void when the vehicle is sold.
Stickers, mirrors and enforcement
A certificate or sticker identifying legal tint is required. The installer must affix a non-removable compliance label showing the film's trade name and the shop's name on the inside left door jamb (316.2955). If the rear window is tinted, the car must have outside mirrors on both sides. Noncriminal traffic infraction, nonmoving violation (316.2956); selling or installing illegal film is a second-degree misdemeanor.
In practice
Florida measures film and glass together and gives every percentage a 3-point tolerance, so a 25% reading on a front window still passes. Vehicles built on a truck chassis or with off-road features (SUVs, pickups, vans) may use 6% behind the driver instead of 15%. Both outside mirrors are required once the rear window is darkened. Readings from a state-approved meter are presumed accurate in court. Certified process servers, licensed private investigators and undercover police vehicles are exempt.
Sources
- Fla. Stat. §§ 316.2951-316.2957
- www.flsenate.gov
- www.leg.state.fl.us
- www.leg.state.fl.us
- www.flsenate.gov
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Common questions about tint in Florida
Is 28% tint legal on front windows in Florida?
Yes. 28% is the darkest Florida allows on front side windows: the glass and film together must let at least 28% of visible light through. Anything darker fails a meter check.
Can I tint my windshield in Florida?
Transparent sunscreening only on the strip above the AS-1 line; nothing may intrude on the driver's forward view. Film below that line is not permitted for ordinary drivers.
Does Florida allow darker tint for medical reasons?
Yes, with documentation. FLHSMV issues a vehicle-specific medical exemption certificate (lupus, autoimmune or other light-sensitive conditions) that must be kept in the car and becomes void when the vehicle is sold.
What happens if my tint is too dark in Florida?
Noncriminal traffic infraction, nonmoving violation (316.2956); selling or installing illegal film is a second-degree misdemeanor.
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