DC · tint law reference

District of Columbia window tint laws

Last verified September 14, 2026 · D.C. Code § 50-2207.02 (Tinted windows prohibited); implemented through Title 18 DCMR

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.

District of Columbia window tint limits by window and vehicle type
Window Sedans SUVs, vans & trucks
Windshield Film that drops light transmittance below 70% is allowed only above the AS-1 line, or within 5 inches from the top of the windshield (§ 50-2207.02(b)) Same AS-1 / 5-inch allowance as sedan
Front side 70% VLT or lighter 70% VLT or lighter
Back side 50% VLT or lighter 50% VLT or lighter
Rear 50% VLT or lighter 50% VLT or lighter

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 in D.C. Code § 50-2207.02. Title 18 DCMR could not be retrieved (dcregs.dc.gov requires a scripted browser), so an administrative reflectance limit cannot be ruled out; the reflectance figures quoted by aggregator sites are unverified

    Colors

    None specified in the statute

    Medical exemption

    yes - the vehicle is exempt if a letter is kept in it, issued on letterhead and signed by a physician, physician assistant, ophthalmologist, or optometrist, certifying that protection from sunlight or bright lights is necessary because of a medical condition of the registered owner or a member of the registered owner's household; the Director of the DMV grants the exemption (§ 50-2207.02(h)(5); DC DMV medical-waiver page)

    Stickers & certification

    None required - the statute has no compliance sticker or film-certification requirement

    Measurement tolerance

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

    Penalties

    $50 citation for operating or parking a non-compliant vehicle; the vehicle must then be inspected at an official District Inspection Station within 5 business days, and if it is not brought into compliance the owner may be fined up to $1,000 (first finding) or up to $5,000 (second or subsequent). Police may order a vehicle removed immediately to an inspection station if the tint puts public health and safety at risk. Installing non-compliant tint in the District is itself prohibited. Failure to answer a notice of infraction within 30 days suspends the registration certificate. Violations are adjudicated as moving violations but no points are assessed, and DMV must reject a non-compliant vehicle at inspection (§ 50-2207.02(c)-(g),(k)-(p))

    Notes

    CORRECTED SUV/VAN FIGURES. The statute creates exactly two classes: 'mini-van' (front windshield and front side windows at least 55%, rear windshield and rear side windows at least 35%) and every other motor vehicle (70% front, 50% rear). SUVs, pickups and full-size vans are not mini-vans, so they take the standard 70%/50% limits - the previous record applied the mini-van numbers (55/35/35) to the whole SUV/van bucket, which would have told shops they could legally put 35% film on an SUV's rear glass in DC. 'Mini-van' is not defined in the statute or, so far as could be checked, in Title 18 DCMR. Note the disagreement among secondary sources: recordinglaw.com agrees that SUVs are standard vehicles at 70/50/50, while tinting-laws.com and tintwiz both extend the 35% rear allowance to all SUVs and vans. If a customer's vehicle is a true minivan, 55% front / 35% rear applies. Also exempt: limousines, ambulances, buses and hearses meeting 18 DCMR § 413.10; church-owned vehicles; all official government vehicles; and factory tint installed by the manufacturer before purchase (§ (h)).

    District of Columbia tint questions

    What is the darkest legal tint in District of Columbia?

    For a sedan in District of Columbia, front side windows must let at least 70% of light through, back side windows at least 50%, and the rear window at least 50%. 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 District of Columbia?

    No, not on the front side windows. District of Columbia requires at least 70% 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 50% floor, so 20% is too dark there too.

    Can I tint the windshield in District of Columbia?

    District of Columbia's rule for the windshield: Film that drops light transmittance below 70% is allowed only above the AS-1 line, or within 5 inches from the top of the windshield (§ 50-2207.02(b))

    Does District of Columbia allow a medical exemption for darker tint?

    What the source says: yes - the vehicle is exempt if a letter is kept in it, issued on letterhead and signed by a physician, physician assistant, ophthalmologist, or optometrist, certifying that protection from sunlight or bright lights is necessary because of a medical condition of the registered owner or a member of the registered owner's household; the Director of the DMV grants the exemption (§ 50-2207.02(h)(5); DC DMV medical-waiver page) Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.

    Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in District of Columbia?

    None required - the statute has no compliance sticker or film-certification requirement

    Nearby states

    Where this comes from

    Statute cited: D.C. Code § 50-2207.02 (Tinted windows prohibited); implemented through Title 18 DCMR

    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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