Montana tint rules at a glance
- Front side windows
- 24%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Back side windows
- 14%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Rear window
- 14%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- SUVs, trucks and vans
- Behind the driver: back side windows any darkness, rear window any darkness.
- Windshield
- Only clear film below the AS-1 line; non-clear film may sit above it but may not be red, yellow or amber.
- Reflectivity
- Luminous reflectance may not exceed 35% on any side or rear window.
- Film colors not allowed
- red, yellow or amber above the AS-1 line
- Medical exemption
- Yes, with documentation
- Sticker or certificate
- Not required
- Two outside mirrors
- Not required
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $500 and 6 months in county jail, for owners, drivers and installers (MCA 61-9-429 and 46-18-212).
VLT is the share of light the glass lets through, film and glass together. Source: MCA 61-9-405, checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Montana regulates window tint through MCA 61-9-405. 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 Montana
- Front side windows: at least 24% VLT.
- Back side windows: at least 14% VLT.
- Rear window: at least 14% 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
Only clear film below the AS-1 line; non-clear film may sit above it but may not be red, yellow or amber.
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% on any side or rear window. Film colors not permitted: red, yellow or amber above the AS-1 line.
Medical exemptions
Montana allows darker tint with a medical exemption. The Highway Patrol or a local police agency grants a written waiver on an affidavit from a physician, PA or APRN; the waiver lists the vehicle and dates and the certificate is displayed on the vehicle.
Stickers, mirrors and enforcement
No sticker or certificate is required for legal tint. Tinting the rear window does not trigger a second-mirror requirement. Misdemeanor, up to $500 and 6 months in county jail, for owners, drivers and installers (MCA 61-9-429 and 46-18-212).
In practice
Montana allows 24% VLT on the front door windows and 14% behind the front seat on cars, with a 35% reflectance cap, and the limits apply to the glass and film together. Multipurpose vehicles, vans and buses have no state minimum behind the front seat, and factory-tinted MPVs, hearses, ambulances and government vehicles are exempt. Waivers for medical, safety or security reasons come from the Highway Patrol or a local police department, not the MVD. Vehicles tinted before Oct 1, 1991 could receive a grandfather waiver.
Sources
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Common questions about tint in Montana
Is 24% tint legal on front windows in Montana?
Yes. 24% is the darkest Montana allows on front side windows: the glass and film together must let at least 24% of visible light through. Anything darker fails a meter check.
Can I tint my windshield in Montana?
Only clear film below the AS-1 line; non-clear film may sit above it but may not be red, yellow or amber. Film below that line is not permitted for ordinary drivers.
Does Montana allow darker tint for medical reasons?
Yes, with documentation. The Highway Patrol or a local police agency grants a written waiver on an affidavit from a physician, PA or APRN; the waiver lists the vehicle and dates and the certificate is displayed on the vehicle.
What happens if my tint is too dark in Montana?
Misdemeanor, up to $500 and 6 months in county jail, for owners, drivers and installers (MCA 61-9-429 and 46-18-212).
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