Vermont tint rules at a glance
- Front side windows
- 70%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Back side windows
- Any
- Any darkness allowed
- Rear window
- Any
- Any darkness allowed
- Windshield
- Since July 1, 2026 shading on the windshield is lawful only if the material itself passes the FMVSS 205 level (70% VLT); otherwise only small corner spaces and official stickers are allowed.
- Medical exemption
- Yes, with documentation
- Sticker or certificate
- Not required
- Two outside mirrors
- Required when the rear window is tinted
- Penalty
- Civil traffic violation under 23 V.S.A. § 2302; § 1125 sets no specific fine, and from July 1, 2026 illegal tint also fails the annual inspection (2024 Act 165, § 15).
VLT is the share of light the glass lets through, film and glass together. Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1125 (as amended by 2024 Act 165, § 14), checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Vermont regulates window tint through 23 V.S.A. § 1125 (as amended by 2024 Act 165, § 14). 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 Vermont
- Front side windows: at least 70% 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
Since July 1, 2026 shading on the windshield is lawful only if the material itself passes the FMVSS 205 level (70% VLT); otherwise only small corner spaces and official stickers are 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
Vermont'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
Vermont allows darker tint with a medical exemption. The DMV Commissioner grants exemptions on a physician's or optometrist's certification renewed every four years; it covers only the front side and vent windows and ends when the vehicle is transferred.
Stickers, mirrors and enforcement
No sticker or certificate is required for legal tint. If the rear window is tinted, the car must have outside mirrors on both sides. Civil traffic violation under 23 V.S.A. § 2302; § 1125 sets no specific fine, and from July 1, 2026 illegal tint also fails the annual inspection (2024 Act 165, § 15).
In practice
Act 165 of 2024 rewrote § 1125 effective July 1, 2026: shading on the windshield and front side windows is lawful only if the material meets the FMVSS 205 level of 70% visible light transmission, where before no aftermarket tint was allowed there without a medical permit. Rear side and back windows may be any darkness if the car has a mirror on each side. The DMV was directed to amend the inspection manual so noncompliant tint becomes an inspection failure rather than an advisory. Torn or bubbled film must be removed.
Sources
- 23 V.S.A. § 1125 (as amended by 2024 Act 165, § 14)
- legislature.vermont.gov
- dmv.vermont.gov
- www.yahoo.com
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Common questions about tint in Vermont
Is 70% tint legal on front windows in Vermont?
Yes. 70% is the darkest Vermont allows on front side windows: the glass and film together must let at least 70% of visible light through. Anything darker fails a meter check.
Can I tint my windshield in Vermont?
Since July 1, 2026 shading on the windshield is lawful only if the material itself passes the FMVSS 205 level (70% VLT); otherwise only small corner spaces and official stickers are allowed. Film below that line is not permitted for ordinary drivers.
Does Vermont allow darker tint for medical reasons?
Yes, with documentation. The DMV Commissioner grants exemptions on a physician's or optometrist's certification renewed every four years; it covers only the front side and vent windows and ends when the vehicle is transferred.
What happens if my tint is too dark in Vermont?
Civil traffic violation under 23 V.S.A. § 2302; § 1125 sets no specific fine, and from July 1, 2026 illegal tint also fails the annual inspection (2024 Act 165, § 15).
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