Idaho tint rules at a glance
- Front side windows
- 35%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Back side windows
- 20%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Rear window
- 35%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Windshield
- Nonreflective film may not come below the AS-1 line, or below a line 6 inches from the top when there is no AS-1 mark.
- Reflectivity
- Luminous reflectance may not exceed 35% (plus or minus 3%) on any tinted window.
- Medical exemption
- Yes, with documentation
- Sticker or certificate
- Not required
- Two outside mirrors
- Not required
- Penalty
- Infraction (Idaho Code 49-944(6)); a 2012 Idaho State Police notice put the fine at $67 for the driver and the installer.
VLT is the share of light the glass lets through, film and glass together. Source: Idaho Code § 49-944, checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Idaho regulates window tint through Idaho Code § 49-944. 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 Idaho
- Front side windows: at least 35% VLT.
- Back side windows: at least 20% VLT.
- Rear window: at least 35% 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
Nonreflective film may not come below the AS-1 line, or below a line 6 inches from the top when there is no AS-1 mark.
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
Luminous reflectance may not exceed 35% (plus or minus 3%) on any tinted window. No film colors are singled out.
Medical exemptions
Idaho allows darker tint with a medical exemption. A licensed physician's written verification kept in the vehicle allows windows down to 20% and a windshield at 70%, each plus or minus 3%, with reflectance still capped at 35%.
Stickers, mirrors and enforcement
No sticker or certificate is required for legal tint. Tinting the rear window does not trigger a second-mirror requirement. Infraction (Idaho Code 49-944(6)); a 2012 Idaho State Police notice put the fine at $67 for the driver and the installer.
In practice
Idaho is unusual in holding the rear window to the same 35% as the front side windows while letting rear side windows go to 20%. Every percentage carries a 3-point tolerance, so a 32% front reading still passes. Glass that left the factory or dealer with tint is exempt, and selling a noncompliant vehicle is itself a violation. The statute sets no sticker or mirror rule and lets the State Police adopt implementing rules.
Sources
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Common questions about tint in Idaho
Is 35% tint legal on front windows in Idaho?
Yes. 35% is the darkest Idaho allows on front side windows: the glass and film together must let at least 35% of visible light through. Anything darker fails a meter check.
Can I tint my windshield in Idaho?
Nonreflective film may not come below the AS-1 line, or below a line 6 inches from the top when there is no AS-1 mark. Film below that line is not permitted for ordinary drivers.
Does Idaho allow darker tint for medical reasons?
Yes, with documentation. A licensed physician's written verification kept in the vehicle allows windows down to 20% and a windshield at 70%, each plus or minus 3%, with reflectance still capped at 35%.
What happens if my tint is too dark in Idaho?
Infraction (Idaho Code 49-944(6)); a 2012 Idaho State Police notice put the fine at $67 for the driver and the installer.
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