Missouri tint rules at a glance
- Front side windows
- 35%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Back side windows
- Any
- Any darkness allowed
- Rear window
- Any
- Any darkness allowed
- Windshield
- No aftermarket film anywhere on the windshield; only the glass maker's factory shade band at the top is allowed.
- Reflectivity
- Front door windows may reflect no more than 35% of light (3-point tolerance); the statute sets no limit for glass behind the driver.
- Medical exemption
- Yes, with documentation
- Sticker or certificate
- Not required
- Two outside mirrors
- Not required
- Penalty
- Class C misdemeanor (RSMo 307.173(4)).
VLT is the share of light the glass lets through, film and glass together. Source: RSMo 307.173, checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Missouri regulates window tint through RSMo 307.173. 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 Missouri
- Front side windows: at least 35% 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
No aftermarket film anywhere on the windshield; only the glass maker's factory shade band at the top is allowed.
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
Front door windows may reflect no more than 35% of light (3-point tolerance); the statute sets no limit for glass behind the driver. No film colors are singled out.
Medical exemptions
Missouri allows darker tint with a medical exemption. A physician prescription dated within one year is presented with the vehicle to the Highway Patrol, which issues an SHP-524 permit kept in the car plus a windshield sticker; front door windows only.
Stickers, mirrors and enforcement
No sticker or certificate is required for legal tint. Tinting the rear window does not trigger a second-mirror requirement. Class C misdemeanor (RSMo 307.173(4)).
In practice
Missouri regulates only the windshield and the two front door windows (35% VLT and 35% reflectance, each with a 3-point tolerance); the statute is silent on rear side and rear glass, so any darkness is allowed there. Medical permits are issued by the Highway Patrol's Motor Vehicle Inspection Division under 11 CSR 30-7.010 after you bring the vehicle and a prescription less than a year old, and the permit stays valid while you own that vehicle. Recreational vehicles and historic-plate vehicles are exempt.
Sources
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Common questions about tint in Missouri
Is 35% tint legal on front windows in Missouri?
Yes. 35% is the darkest Missouri 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 Missouri?
No aftermarket film anywhere on the windshield; only the glass maker's factory shade band at the top is allowed. Film below that line is not permitted for ordinary drivers.
Does Missouri allow darker tint for medical reasons?
Yes, with documentation. A physician prescription dated within one year is presented with the vehicle to the Highway Patrol, which issues an SHP-524 permit kept in the car plus a windshield sticker; front door windows only.
What happens if my tint is too dark in Missouri?
Class C misdemeanor (RSMo 307.173(4)).
What we don't publish
No reviews, no star ratings, no "best installer" lists. Prices on shop profiles are entered by the owner and checked for format, not negotiated or verified by us; where a shop lists nothing, we say "Quote on request" rather than fill the gap. What a person at Armor Atlas does verify is that the shop exists, installs the service and answers the phone — and that check is dated on every listing.
Verified installers
Find a verified PPF installer near you
Every shop confirmed by a person, with listed starting prices where the owner publishes them.