CT · tint law reference
Connecticut window tint laws
Last verified September 14, 2026 · Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-99g; implementing regulations R.C.S.A. § 14-99g-1 et seq.
Legal tint limits at a glance
VLT is the share of light the window must let through — a lower number is darker film, and the reading includes the factory glass.
| Window | Sedans | SUVs, vans & trucks |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Transparent material on the topmost portion only: its bottom edge must be at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat (measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest, seat in its rearmost and lowermost position, vehicle level), and it may not be red or amber. The statute uses this 29-inch measurement, not an AS-1 line (§ 14-99g(c)(11)) | Same 29-inch rule as sedan |
| Front side | 35% VLT or lighter | 35% VLT or lighter |
| Back side | 35% VLT or lighter | No VLT limit |
| Rear | 35% VLT or lighter | No VLT limit |
Dual side mirrors required if the rear is tinted? Yes — this state requires dual outside mirrors when the rear window is tinted.
Is my tint legal here?
Film darkness and glass darkness multiply. Enter the film you are considering and the VLT of the bare glass to get the number a meter would read.
70 for tinted OEM glass, 80 for clear
Net VLT 14% 20% film × 70% glass
Pass/fail compares net VLT against the limits on this page only. Some states apply a measurement tolerance — see Measurement tolerance below — and none of this replaces a meter reading on your own glass.
The rest of the rule
Reflectivity
Front side wing vents and windows: luminous reflectance of 27% ±3%. Right and left side windows behind the driver and the rearmost window: luminous reflectance of 21% ±3%. No tinted window may be mirror-like in appearance (§ 14-99g(c)(1),(5))
Colors
Red and amber on the windshield strip (§ 14-99g(c)(11)(B)); no window may be mirror-like in appearance (§ 14-99g(c)(1),(5))
Medical exemption
yes - a person required for medical reasons to be shielded from direct sun, and anyone operating a vehicle belonging to that person or in which that person is a usual passenger, is exempt; application must be made in writing to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and supported by the written documentation of a physician or optometrist licensed to practice in Connecticut (§ 14-99g(b))
Stickers & certification
yes - each window tinted or darkened after factory delivery must carry, affixed to its lower left corner, a sticker legible from outside the vehicle showing the sticker registration number and certifying compliance; it must be pressure-sensitive, self-destructive on removal, and no larger than one square inch. Before shipping film into Connecticut the manufacturer must apply to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles for approval and registration of the film and its sticker, and must supply the sticker and placement instructions with each delivery (§ 14-99g(e))
Measurement tolerance
±3%
Penalties
Infraction for each offense. A driver cited under subsection (b) must remove the offending material and report within 60 days to the police department that issued the complaint to present the vehicle for inspection and demonstrate compliance; failure to report, followed by a citation for a subsequent violation, means the vehicle is impounded after notice and opportunity for hearing (§ 14-99g(f),(g))
Notes
The SUV/van nulls come from § 14-99g(c)(6), which excepts the windows behind the driver on any truck, motor bus, trailer, mobile manufactured home, or multipurpose passenger vehicle (as defined in 49 C.F.R. 571.3) provided the vehicle has outside mirrors on the left and right giving a view at least 200 feet to the rear - so any darkness is allowed behind the driver on those bodies. Note that § 14-99g(c)(10) separately excepts 'the rearmost window or windows' on ANY vehicle when the same dual mirrors are fitted, which on a plain reading would let a sedan's rear window go darker than 35%; 35% is the conservative figure to publish, and the two secondary charts checked also list 35% for a sedan rear. Livery-service vehicles are exempt from subsections (b)-(g) (§ (h)). Tint shops must post a sign at each service counter stating the light-transmission and reflectance standards in block letters at least 3 inches high, specifying the penalties, and including actual film samples; mobile installers must give the purchaser the same information in writing (§ (i),(j)).
Connecticut tint questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Connecticut?
For a sedan in Connecticut, front side windows must let at least 35% of light through, back side windows at least 35%, and the rear window at least 35%. Lower VLT means darker glass, so those percentages are floors, not targets, and the meter reads the film and the factory glass together. SUVs, vans and trucks are listed separately: front side 35%, back side no VLT limit, rear no VLT limit.
Is 20% tint legal in Connecticut?
No, not on the front side windows. Connecticut requires at least 35% VLT there and 20% is darker than that, before you even account for the factory glass, which makes the reading darker still. The back side windows have a 35% floor, so 20% is too dark there too.
Can I tint the windshield in Connecticut?
Connecticut's rule for the windshield: Transparent material on the topmost portion only: its bottom edge must be at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat (measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest, seat in its rearmost and lowermost position, vehicle level), and it may not be red or amber. The statute uses this 29-inch measurement, not an AS-1 line (§ 14-99g(c)(11))
Does Connecticut allow a medical exemption for darker tint?
What the source says: yes - a person required for medical reasons to be shielded from direct sun, and anyone operating a vehicle belonging to that person or in which that person is a usual passenger, is exempt; application must be made in writing to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and supported by the written documentation of a physician or optometrist licensed to practice in Connecticut (§ 14-99g(b)) Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.
Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Connecticut?
yes - each window tinted or darkened after factory delivery must carry, affixed to its lower left corner, a sticker legible from outside the vehicle showing the sticker registration number and certifying compliance; it must be pressure-sensitive, self-destructive on removal, and no larger than one square inch. Before shipping film into Connecticut the manufacturer must apply to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles for approval and registration of the film and its sticker, and must supply the sticker and placement instructions with each delivery (§ 14-99g(e))
Where this comes from
Statute cited: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-99g; implementing regulations R.C.S.A. § 14-99g-1 et seq.
- cga.ct.govhttps://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_246.htm
- eregulations.ct.govhttps://eregulations.ct.gov/eRegsPortal/Browse/RCSA/Title_14Subtitle_14-99gSection_14-99g-2/
- law.justia.comhttps://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-14/chapter-246/section-14-99g/
Checked against the state's own statute or DMV page on September 14, 2026. Laws change; if you find a newer rule, email admin@getpeelboard.com.
Legal disclaimer: general information, not legal advice; verify with your DMV.