Maryland tint rules at a glance
- Front side windows
- 35%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Back side windows
- 35%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Rear window
- 35%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- SUVs, trucks and vans
- Behind the driver: back side windows any darkness, rear window any darkness.
- Windshield
- No aftermarket tint below the AS1 line or below 5 inches from the top, whichever is less.
- Reflectivity
- Reflective or mirrored film is prohibited on every vehicle (State Police, COMAR 11.14.02).
- Film colors not allowed
- red, yellow, amber; sparkle-effect film
- Medical exemption
- Yes, with documentation
- Sticker or certificate
- Not required
- Two outside mirrors
- Not required
- Penalty
- Citation plus a safety equipment repair order; the order must be certified at an inspection station within 30 days or registration is suspended (TR 22-406(i)(2); State Police).
VLT is the share of light the glass lets through, film and glass together. Source: Md. Code, Transp. § 22-406(i), checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Maryland regulates window tint through Md. Code, Transp. § 22-406(i). 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 Maryland
- Front side windows: at least 35% VLT.
- Back side windows: at least 35% VLT.
- Rear window: at least 35% VLT.
SUVs, trucks and vans follow a different rule behind the driver: back side windows any darkness and the 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
No aftermarket tint below the AS1 line or below 5 inches from the top, whichever is less.
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
Reflective or mirrored film is prohibited on every vehicle (State Police, COMAR 11.14.02). Film colors not permitted: red, yellow, amber; sparkle-effect film.
Medical exemptions
Maryland allows darker tint with a medical exemption. A Maryland-licensed physician completes the State Police ASED certification, kept in the vehicle; it runs up to 2 years, or indefinitely for a permanent condition, and the car may be driven without the patient aboard.
Stickers, mirrors and enforcement
No sticker or certificate is required for legal tint. Tinting the rear window does not trigger a second-mirror requirement. Citation plus a safety equipment repair order; the order must be certified at an inspection station within 30 days or registration is suspended (TR 22-406(i)(2); State Police).
In practice
Passenger cars registered under 13-912 must keep 35% on every window with added film, while multipurpose vehicles, vans and light trucks under 13-913, 13-917 and 13-937 are limited only on the two front door windows and may run any darkness behind the driver. The rule reaches only material added after manufacture. Easily removed shades protecting a child under 10 are excluded, and limousines may not tint the front doors at all. The statute states no tolerance; police and inspectors use State Police-approved meters.
Sources
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Common questions about tint in Maryland
Is 35% tint legal on front windows in Maryland?
Yes. 35% is the darkest Maryland 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 Maryland?
No aftermarket tint below the AS1 line or below 5 inches from the top, whichever is less. Film below that line is not permitted for ordinary drivers.
Does Maryland allow darker tint for medical reasons?
Yes, with documentation. A Maryland-licensed physician completes the State Police ASED certification, kept in the vehicle; it runs up to 2 years, or indefinitely for a permanent condition, and the car may be driven without the patient aboard.
What happens if my tint is too dark in Maryland?
Citation plus a safety equipment repair order; the order must be certified at an inspection station within 30 days or registration is suspended (TR 22-406(i)(2); State Police).
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