South Dakota 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
- 20%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Windshield
- Sunscreening film only along the top: it may not extend below the AS-1 line or past the lowest point of the sun visor, and may not reduce the driver's clear view (SDCL 32-15-2.9).
- Reflectivity
- One-way (mirror-type) glass or film is prohibited on all windows; the statute sets no numeric reflectance limit.
- Medical exemption
- No
- Sticker or certificate
- Not required
- Two outside mirrors
- Not required
- Penalty
- Class 2 misdemeanor, up to 30 days in jail and/or a $500 fine (SDCL 32-15-2.4, 32-15-2.5, 22-6-2).
VLT is the share of light the glass lets through, film and glass together. Source: SDCL 32-15-2.4, 32-15-2.5, 32-15-2.9, checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
South Dakota regulates window tint through SDCL 32-15-2.4, 32-15-2.5, 32-15-2.9. 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 South Dakota
- Front side windows: at least 35% VLT.
- Back side windows: at least 20% VLT.
- Rear window: at least 20% 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
Sunscreening film only along the top: it may not extend below the AS-1 line or past the lowest point of the sun visor, and may not reduce the driver's clear view (SDCL 32-15-2.9).
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
One-way (mirror-type) glass or film is prohibited on all windows; the statute sets no numeric reflectance limit. No film colors are singled out.
Medical exemptions
South Dakota does not provide a medical exemption from its tint limits.
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 2 misdemeanor, up to 30 days in jail and/or a $500 fine (SDCL 32-15-2.4, 32-15-2.5, 22-6-2).
In practice
South Dakota measures the combined transmittance of glass plus film and grants a 9-point enforcement tolerance, so a 35% front window is not cited until the meter reads below about 26%. Rear windows behind the driver have their own 20% floor, and the law draws no distinction between sedans and SUVs. Officers must follow the meter maker's test procedure and record the meter serial number and certification date on the citation (32-15-2.10). Online charts claiming any darkness is legal in back misread the statute.
Sources
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Common questions about tint in South Dakota
Is 35% tint legal on front windows in South Dakota?
Yes. 35% is the darkest South Dakota 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 South Dakota?
Sunscreening film only along the top: it may not extend below the AS-1 line or past the lowest point of the sun visor, and may not reduce the driver's clear view (SDCL 32-15-2.9). Film below that line is not permitted for ordinary drivers.
Does South Dakota allow darker tint for medical reasons?
No. South Dakota's statute does not provide a medical exemption from its tint limits.
What happens if my tint is too dark in South Dakota?
Class 2 misdemeanor, up to 30 days in jail and/or a $500 fine (SDCL 32-15-2.4, 32-15-2.5, 22-6-2).
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