Washington tint rules at a glance
- Front side windows
- 24%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Back side windows
- 24%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Rear window
- 24%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- SUVs, trucks and vans
- Behind the driver: back side windows any darkness, rear window any darkness.
- Windshield
- A transparent tinted strip along the top is allowed if it stays out of the AS-1 area and within 6 inches of the top; clear UV-reducing film may cover the windshield.
- Reflectivity
- Film reflectance may not exceed 35%, and mirror-finish products are banned.
- Film colors not allowed
- red, gold, yellow, black; mirror finish
- Medical exemption
- Yes, with documentation
- Sticker or certificate
- Required
- Two outside mirrors
- Required when the rear window is tinted
- Penalty
- Traffic infraction (RCW 46.37.430(7)); knowingly installing noncompliant film is a separate offense for installers (RCW 46.37.435).
VLT is the share of light the glass lets through, film and glass together. Source: RCW 46.37.430, checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Washington regulates window tint through RCW 46.37.430. 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 Washington
- Front side windows: at least 24% VLT.
- Back side windows: at least 24% VLT.
- Rear window: at least 24% 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
A transparent tinted strip along the top is allowed if it stays out of the AS-1 area and within 6 inches of the top; clear UV-reducing film may cover the windshield.
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
Film reflectance may not exceed 35%, and mirror-finish products are banned. Film colors not permitted: red, gold, yellow, black; mirror finish.
Medical exemptions
Washington allows darker tint with a medical exemption. A licensed physician's written verification of a medical need permits darker film on all windows and the top 6 inches of the windshield; the statute does not say the paper must be carried.
Stickers, mirrors and enforcement
A certificate or sticker identifying legal tint is required. Paid installers must affix a sticker (0.75x1.5 to 2x2.5 inches) with their business name and state tax ID to the driver's door post certifying compliance. If the rear window is tinted, the car must have outside mirrors on both sides. Traffic infraction (RCW 46.37.430(7)); knowingly installing noncompliant film is a separate offense for installers (RCW 46.37.435).
In practice
Washington's 24% floor applies to every window except the windshield and is measured on film plus glass together, with only one layer of film permitted per window. Vehicles the manufacturer classifies as trucks, motor homes or multipurpose passenger vehicles, plus hearses, limousines, buses and ambulances, may go darker than 24% behind the driver as long as reflectance stays at or below 35% and both outside mirrors are fitted. Liquid spray-on or brush-on tint is prohibited. Factory-tinted glass meeting federal standards is outside the rule.
Sources
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Common questions about tint in Washington
Is 24% tint legal on front windows in Washington?
Yes. 24% is the darkest Washington 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 Washington?
A transparent tinted strip along the top is allowed if it stays out of the AS-1 area and within 6 inches of the top; clear UV-reducing film may cover the windshield. Film below that line is not permitted for ordinary drivers.
Does Washington allow darker tint for medical reasons?
Yes, with documentation. A licensed physician's written verification of a medical need permits darker film on all windows and the top 6 inches of the windshield; the statute does not say the paper must be carried.
What happens if my tint is too dark in Washington?
Traffic infraction (RCW 46.37.430(7)); knowingly installing noncompliant film is a separate offense for installers (RCW 46.37.435).
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