DE · tint law reference
Delaware window tint laws
Last verified September 14, 2026 · 21 Del. C. § 4313, as amended by 85 Del. Laws c. 425 (Senate Substitute 1 for S.B. 255, 153rd General Assembly), signed and effective Aug. 17, 2026; see also § 4313A (commercial window tinting) and § 4315(d),(g) (penalties)
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 | Window tint or other material may be applied along the top edge only if it is transparent and does not encroach on the AS-1 portion of the windshield per FMVSS 205; otherwise the windshield must meet FMVSS 205 as in effect at the time of manufacture (§ 4313(a),(b)) | Same as sedan - § 4313 makes no distinction by body style |
| Front side | 50% VLT or lighter | 50% VLT or lighter |
| Back side | No VLT limit | No VLT limit |
| Rear | No VLT limit | No VLT limit |
Dual side mirrors required if the rear is tinted? No — this state does not tie a mirror requirement to rear tint.
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
Not addressed by § 4313
Colors
No color is banned; the material applied along the top edge of the windshield must be transparent (§ 4313(b))
Medical exemption
yes - a person is not in violation if they possess a statement signed by a licensed practitioner of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine, or optometry verifying that tinted windows are medically necessary for the owner or usual operator of the vehicle (§ 4313(d))
Stickers & certification
None required by § 4313
Measurement tolerance
This state does not state a measurement tolerance in the sources we checked.
Penalties
Operator, owner or custodian: fine of not less than $28.75 nor more than $100 (§ 4315(d)). Where no collision has occurred, a § 4313 charge may be dismissed before trial if the defendant establishes that repairs have been made so the vehicle complies (§ 4315(g)). A commercial installer who installs tint in violation of § 4313 is fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 and must pay the vehicle owner restitution of the installation fee (§ 4313A)
Notes
DELAWARE'S TINT LAW CHANGED ON 2026-08-17 and most published charts have not caught up. Before that date the front side windows had to meet FMVSS 205 (70% VLT), which in practice meant no aftermarket film there, and there was no VLT requirement at all for the side windows behind the driver or the rear window - the bill's own synopsis says exactly that. The amended § 4313(c)(1) now allows front side window film at 50% VLT or greater, and § 4313(c)(2) expressly allows film of '0% or greater' visible light transmission behind the driver and on the rear window, while subsection (a) now brings those rear windows under the FMVSS 205 baseline. Both secondary charts checked (tinting-laws.com, tintwiz) still show the old 'no aftermarket tint allowed on front side windows' rule and are out of date. Anodized glass correctly installed in an antique vehicle or street rod under §§ 2196/2197, or in a vehicle insured under an antique/classic/street-rod policy under § 2118, is exempt (§ 4313(e)), as are vehicles operated by law-enforcement officers (§ 4313(f)).
Delaware tint questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Delaware?
For a sedan in Delaware, front side windows must let at least 50% of light through, no number is stated for the back side windows, and none for the rear window. Lower VLT means darker glass, so those percentages are floors, not targets, and the meter reads the film and the factory glass together.
Is 20% tint legal in Delaware?
No, not on the front side windows. Delaware requires at least 50% VLT there and 20% is darker than that, before you even account for the factory glass, which makes the reading darker still. Behind the driver the statute states no VLT number, so 20% may be allowed on the back side and rear windows — read the notes on this page and confirm with the DMV.
Can I tint the windshield in Delaware?
Delaware's rule for the windshield: Window tint or other material may be applied along the top edge only if it is transparent and does not encroach on the AS-1 portion of the windshield per FMVSS 205; otherwise the windshield must meet FMVSS 205 as in effect at the time of manufacture (§ 4313(a),(b))
Does Delaware allow a medical exemption for darker tint?
What the source says: yes - a person is not in violation if they possess a statement signed by a licensed practitioner of medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine, or optometry verifying that tinted windows are medically necessary for the owner or usual operator of the vehicle (§ 4313(d)) Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.
Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Delaware?
None required by § 4313
Where this comes from
Statute cited: 21 Del. C. § 4313, as amended by 85 Del. Laws c. 425 (Senate Substitute 1 for S.B. 255, 153rd General Assembly), signed and effective Aug. 17, 2026; see also § 4313A (commercial window tinting) and § 4315(d),(g) (penalties)
- delcode.delaware.govhttps://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c043/sc01/index.html
- legis.delaware.govhttps://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?legislationId=143240
- law.justia.comhttps://law.justia.com/codes/delaware/title-21/chapter-43/subchapter-i/section-4313/
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.