WA · tint law reference

Washington window tint laws

Last verified September 14, 2026 · RCW 46.37.430 (Safety glazing — Sunscreening or coloring)

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.

Washington window tint limits by window and vehicle type
Window Sedans SUVs, vans & trucks
Windshield Clear film that reduces or eliminates UV may be applied to the windshield. A greater degree of light reduction is allowed only along the top edge, so long as the product is transparent and does not extend into the AS-1 portion or more than six inches from the top (RCW 46.37.430(5)(e)). Same as sedan
Front side 24% VLT or lighter 24% VLT or lighter
Back side 24% VLT or lighter No VLT limit
Rear 24% 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

    Net film sunscreening on any window except the windshield must have total reflectance of 35% or less; mirror-finish products are prohibited outright

    Colors

    Mirror finish products; red, gold, yellow, or black material; and liquid sunscreening material brushed or sprayed on are all prohibited (RCW 46.37.430(5)(g))

    Medical exemption

    A greater degree of light reduction is permitted on all windows and the top six inches of the windshield for a vehicle operated by or carrying as a passenger a person who has written verification from a licensed physician that they must be protected from exposure to sunlight for physical or medical reasons (RCW 46.37.430(5)(d))

    Stickers & certification

    Required: a person or business tinting windows for profit within restricted areas of the glazing system must supply a sticker affixed to the driver's door post next to the manufacturer's identification tag, certifying the application meets the chapter's light-transmission, reflectance, and placement standards. Minimum 3/4 in x 1 1/2 in, maximum 2 in x 2 1/2 in, durable, and showing the installer's business name and state tax identification number.

    Measurement tolerance

    This state does not state a measurement tolerance in the sources we checked.

    Penalties

    It is a traffic infraction to operate a vehicle equipped with film sunscreening or coloring material in violation of RCW 46.37.430(7). The statute states no dollar amount; aggregator figures (~$124–$136) come from the general infraction fine schedule, not from this section.

    Notes

    The 24% VLT / 35% reflectance standard applies to 'any window, except the windshield' and is expressly conditioned on the vehicle having outside rearview mirrors on both the right and left; installing more than a single sheet of film on any window is prohibited. Subsection (5)(b) is the SUV/van carve-out: hearses, collector vehicles, limousines, passenger buses for compensation, ambulances, rescue squad and licensed EMS patient-transport vehicles, and any vehicle the manufacturer identifies as a truck, motor home, or multipurpose passenger vehicle as defined in 49 C.F.R. § 571.3 may have film below 24% VLT on any window to the rear of the driver, provided reflectance stays at or below 35% and the vehicle has both outside mirrors. Most SUVs, minivans, and pickups are factory-classified as MPVs or trucks and so qualify; a vehicle classified as a passenger car does not. Side/rear windows of law-enforcement vehicles are exempt, and factory-tinted (shaded/heat-absorbing) glazing meeting federal standards is unaffected.

    Washington tint questions

    What is the darkest legal tint in Washington?

    For a sedan in Washington, front side windows must let at least 24% of light through, back side windows at least 24%, and the rear window at least 24%. 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 24%, back side no VLT limit, rear no VLT limit.

    Is 20% tint legal in Washington?

    No, not on the front side windows. Washington requires at least 24% 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 24% floor, so 20% is too dark there too.

    Can I tint the windshield in Washington?

    Washington's rule for the windshield: Clear film that reduces or eliminates UV may be applied to the windshield. A greater degree of light reduction is allowed only along the top edge, so long as the product is transparent and does not extend into the AS-1 portion or more than six inches from the top (RCW 46.37.430(5)(e)).

    Does Washington allow a medical exemption for darker tint?

    What the source says: A greater degree of light reduction is permitted on all windows and the top six inches of the windshield for a vehicle operated by or carrying as a passenger a person who has written verification from a licensed physician that they must be protected from exposure to sunlight for physical or medical reasons (RCW 46.37.430(5)(d)) Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.

    Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Washington?

    Required: a person or business tinting windows for profit within restricted areas of the glazing system must supply a sticker affixed to the driver's door post next to the manufacturer's identification tag, certifying the application meets the chapter's light-transmission, reflectance, and placement standards. Minimum 3/4 in x 1 1/2 in, maximum 2 in x 2 1/2 in, durable, and showing the installer's business name and state tax identification number.

    Nearby states

    Where this comes from

    Statute cited: RCW 46.37.430 (Safety glazing — Sunscreening or coloring)

    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.

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