Tennessee 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
- Windshield
- No film may cut windshield transmittance below 70%; the factory shade band is the only exception (TCA 55-9-107(a)(1)).
- Medical exemption
- Yes, with documentation
- Sticker or certificate
- Required
- Two outside mirrors
- Not required
- Penalty
- Class C misdemeanor, up to 30 days and/or a $50 fine (TCA 55-9-107(d), 40-35-111).
VLT is the share of light the glass lets through, film and glass together. Source: Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-107, checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Tennessee regulates window tint through Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-107. 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 Tennessee
- Front side windows: at least 35% VLT.
- Back side windows: at least 35% 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
No film may cut windshield transmittance below 70%; the factory shade band is the only exception (TCA 55-9-107(a)(1)).
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
Tennessee's statute sets no separate reflectivity limit; the VLT limits above still apply to metallic and mirrored films. No film colors are singled out.
Medical exemptions
Tennessee allows darker tint with a medical exemption. A physician's statement goes to the Department of Safety's medical review board; approved drivers receive a commissioner-signed certificate and decal to display in the vehicle.
Stickers, mirrors and enforcement
A certificate or sticker identifying legal tint is required. Installers must put a label with their business name and 'Complies with TCA 55-9-107' in the lower right corner of the driver's window and give a receipt kept with the registration. Tinting the rear window does not trigger a second-mirror requirement. Class C misdemeanor, up to 30 days and/or a $50 fine (TCA 55-9-107(d), 40-35-111).
In practice
Tennessee uses a single 35% floor for every window behind the windshield, so sedans and SUVs are treated alike. A POST-certified officer may detain a vehicle to run a field comparison test, refusing the test is itself a Class C misdemeanor, and the owner carries the burden of proving compliance. Vehicles registered elsewhere that meet their home-state rule are exempt, as are rear windows on law-enforcement vehicles.
Sources
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Common questions about tint in Tennessee
Is 35% tint legal on front windows in Tennessee?
Yes. 35% is the darkest Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
No film may cut windshield transmittance below 70%; the factory shade band is the only exception (TCA 55-9-107(a)(1)). Film below that line is not permitted for ordinary drivers.
Does Tennessee allow darker tint for medical reasons?
Yes, with documentation. A physician's statement goes to the Department of Safety's medical review board; approved drivers receive a commissioner-signed certificate and decal to display in the vehicle.
What happens if my tint is too dark in Tennessee?
Class C misdemeanor, up to 30 days and/or a $50 fine (TCA 55-9-107(d), 40-35-111).
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