Wisconsin tint rules at a glance
- Front side windows
- 50%
- 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
- Film only on the part of the windshield above the manufacturer's 'A' (AS-1) mark and outside the critical area; if the glass carries no such mark, no film at all (Trans 305.34(6)).
- Reflectivity
- Tinting film may not be reflective on any window; no numeric limit is given.
- Medical exemption
- Yes, with documentation
- Sticker or certificate
- Not required
- Two outside mirrors
- Required when the rear window is tinted
- Penalty
- Civil forfeiture; the 2026 Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule lists $175.30 and 0-3 demerit points for Trans 305 equipment violations (wicourts.gov).
VLT is the share of light the glass lets through, film and glass together. Source: Wis. Admin. Code Trans 305.32, 305.34, checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Wisconsin regulates window tint through Wis. Admin. Code Trans 305.32, 305.34. 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 Wisconsin
- Front side windows: at least 50% 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
Film only on the part of the windshield above the manufacturer's 'A' (AS-1) mark and outside the critical area; if the glass carries no such mark, no film at all (Trans 305.34(6)).
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
Tinting film may not be reflective on any window; no numeric limit is given. No film colors are singled out.
Medical exemptions
Wisconsin allows darker tint with a medical exemption. A written statement from a physician or Christian Science practitioner, carried in the vehicle, allows front side windows down to 35%; the film must come off when the vehicle is sold or the condition ends.
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 forfeiture; the 2026 Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule lists $175.30 and 0-3 demerit points for Trans 305 equipment violations (wicourts.gov).
In practice
Wisconsin's limits live in an administrative rule, not a statute: film plus glass must pass 50% on front side windows and 35% on rear side and rear windows, with a 3% tolerance for police meters. A rear window below 60% requires outside mirrors on both sides. The same subchapter covers automobiles, light trucks and motor homes, so SUVs follow the sedan numbers. Factory tint is accepted at any level, and a 2015 bill to lower the thresholds to 17% did not pass.
Sources
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Common questions about tint in Wisconsin
Is 50% tint legal on front windows in Wisconsin?
Yes. 50% is the darkest Wisconsin allows on front side windows: the glass and film together must let at least 50% of visible light through. Anything darker fails a meter check.
Can I tint my windshield in Wisconsin?
Film only on the part of the windshield above the manufacturer's 'A' (AS-1) mark and outside the critical area; if the glass carries no such mark, no film at all (Trans 305.34(6)). Film below that line is not permitted for ordinary drivers.
Does Wisconsin allow darker tint for medical reasons?
Yes, with documentation. A written statement from a physician or Christian Science practitioner, carried in the vehicle, allows front side windows down to 35%; the film must come off when the vehicle is sold or the condition ends.
What happens if my tint is too dark in Wisconsin?
Civil forfeiture; the 2026 Uniform State Traffic Deposit Schedule lists $175.30 and 0-3 demerit points for Trans 305 equipment violations (wicourts.gov).
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