Washington State Window Tint Laws: 24% VLT, Windshield and SUV Rules
Washington generally requires at least 24% finished VLT, while qualifying trucks and multipurpose vehicles may use darker rear-window tint.
Last reviewed: September 29, 2026
Washington generally requires 24% or more visible light transmission (VLT) through a tinted vehicle window other than the windshield. This is a finished glass-and-film measurement—not permission to install film labeled “24%” over glass that already reduces light.
The rear-window rule changes for certain vehicle classes. Passenger cars generally remain subject to the 24% minimum on rear side windows and the rear window. A manufacturer-identified truck, motor home or multipurpose passenger vehicle may go below 24% behind the driver.
Washington tint limits at a glance
| Window | Passenger car | Truck, motor home or multipurpose passenger vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Transparent top strip that stays above the AS-1 boundary and within six inches of the top; clear UV film permitted | Same |
| Front side windows | 24% VLT or more | 24% VLT or more |
| Rear side windows | 24% VLT or more | Below 24% permitted behind the driver; no separate VLT floor is stated |
| Rear window | 24% VLT or more | Below 24% permitted behind the driver; no separate VLT floor is stated |
Under RCW 46.37.430, covered film must have total reflectance of 35% or less. The darker-rear-window exception also covers hearses, collector vehicles, limousines, certain passenger buses, ambulances and other listed emergency medical vehicles.
When film is installed on a window other than the windshield, the vehicle must have outside mirrors on both sides. Each mirror must provide the driver with a view of the roadway at least 200 feet behind the vehicle.
The 24% limit applies to the finished window
Washington defines “net film screening” as the combination of manufacturer-applied coloring and aftermarket film. Legality therefore depends on the completed window, not only the percentage printed on the film box.
A useful planning estimate is:
Glass VLT × film VLT = estimated finished VLT
For example, 70% glass with 35% film produces an estimated 24.5% finished VLT:
0.70 × 0.35 = 0.245
That leaves little margin above Washington’s 24% minimum. Actual glass and film can vary from their nominal ratings, so ask the installer to meter the untreated glass and the completed window. The comparisons of 20% tint and 35% tint explain how film ratings differ from finished VLT.
Washington also prohibits installing more than one sheet of film on a window. Stacking film over an existing layer is not a compliant way to adjust the shade.
Windshield tint is tightly limited
Ordinary dark film cannot cover the full windshield. Washington permits greater light reduction along the top edge only if the product is transparent, does not extend into the AS-1 portion and does not extend more than six inches down from the top. The statute also permits clear film that reduces or eliminates ultraviolet light on the windshield.
Tint must not obstruct the driver’s view. RCW 46.37.410 separately prohibits driving with nontransparent material on a windshield or another window when it obstructs a clear view of the highway or an intersecting highway. Evaluate optical clarity and installation quality as well as VLT; the front-windshield tint guide covers those trade-offs.
The darker-rear exception depends on vehicle classification
For a qualifying pickup, SUV, crossover or van:
- Front side windows still need at least 24% VLT.
- Windows behind the driver may be below 24% VLT.
- Rear film must remain at 35% reflectance or less.
- Outside mirrors are required on both sides.
The statute bases this exception on the manufacturer’s identification of the vehicle as a truck, motor home or multipurpose passenger vehicle—not simply its appearance. A sedan does not receive the exception. If a crossover or van is difficult to classify, verify its manufacturer designation before choosing rear film below 24%.
Prohibited film and installer certification
VLT is not the only requirement. RCW 46.37.430 also prohibits:
- mirror-finish products;
- red, gold, yellow or black material;
- film supplied in liquid form and brushed or sprayed on; and
- more than one film sheet on a window.
Because the statute does not provide a consumer color chart, buyers considering colored or color-shifting film should ask the installer to document why the exact product complies rather than relying on its advertised VLT.
A person or business tinting restricted areas for profit must place a certification sticker on the driver’s door post beside the manufacturer identification tag. It must display the installer’s business name and Washington tax identification number. The sticker certifies compliance with the state’s transmission, reflectance and placement standards, although it is not a substitute for checking finished VLT.
Medical tint exemption
A vehicle operated by—or carrying—a person who needs protection from sunlight for a physical or medical reason may use greater light reduction on all windows and the top six inches of the windshield. The person must possess written verification from a licensed physician.
The Washington State Patrol’s vehicle-equipment guidance says there is no state exemption form to submit. The physician’s written verification must be kept in the vehicle and provided to law enforcement on request. Obtain the documentation before installing tint that depends on the exemption.
Commercial vehicles may face a 70% federal rule
Do not assume Washington’s 24% limit governs a regulated commercial motor vehicle. Washington State Patrol directs commercial operators to the federal standard. When 49 CFR Part 393 applies, 49 CFR 393.60 requires at least 70% light transmittance through the windshield and the windows immediately to the driver’s right and left. That federal transmittance restriction does not apply to the commercial vehicle’s other windows.
A pickup is not subject to that rule merely because Washington classifies it as a truck for the rear-window exception. The vehicle and its operation must fall within the federal commercial-motor-vehicle rules.
What to confirm before installation
Ask the installer to put these details on the quote or work order:
- Vehicle classification and which windows qualify for the rear exception.
- Meter readings for the untreated and completed windows.
- Film product and labeled VLT for each window.
- Compliance with the 35% reflectance ceiling, color restrictions and single-layer rule.
- Windshield placement and the required side mirrors.
- The driver-door-post certification sticker for a professional installation in a restricted area.
Operating a vehicle with noncompliant film on Washington public highways is a traffic infraction. Knowingly performing an unlawful installation is a misdemeanor. Knowingly buying or selling unlawful installation services for compensation is a gross misdemeanor under RCW 46.37.435. Check the current statute and Washington State Patrol guidance before installing specialty, medically exempt or commercial-vehicle tint.