WV · tint law reference

West Virginia window tint laws

Last verified September 14, 2026 · W. Va. Code § 17C-15-36a (Sun-screening devices; penalty)

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.

West Virginia window tint limits by window and vehicle type
Window Sedans SUVs, vans & trucks
Windshield Nonreflective only, along the top of the windshield, not extending downward beyond the AS-1 (statute spells it 'ASI') line or more than five inches from the top, whichever is closer to the top; may not be red, yellow, or amber Same 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

    Nonreflective type with reflectivity of not more than 20 percent on the front side wings/side windows, the side windows behind the driver, and the rearmost windows

    Colors

    Red, yellow, and amber are banned on the windshield strip (§ 17C-15-36a(b)). The statute states no color restriction for side or rear window film — several secondary sites claim red/yellow/amber are banned on all windows in West Virginia, which the text does not say.

    Medical exemption

    The section does not apply to a vehicle registered in the name of a person (or their legal guardian) who has an affidavit signed by a physician or optometrist licensed in West Virginia stating that a physical condition makes it necessary to equip the vehicle with sun-screening material of a light transmittance or luminous reflectance otherwise in violation. The affidavit must be in the possession of the afflicted person or their guardian at all times while being transported in the vehicle.

    Stickers & certification

    The manufacturer must certify compliance to the West Virginia State Police and the DMV and must provide a label no larger than 1.5 square inches for permanent, legible installation between the sun-screening material and each glazing surface, showing the manufacturer's name and its percentage of light transmission; the label goes in the lower-left corner of each glazing surface viewed from outside the vehicle. Installing film without permanently affixing that label is prohibited.

    Measurement tolerance

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

    Penalties

    Misdemeanor; fine of not more than $200 on conviction (§ 17C-15-36a(i))

    Notes

    The SUV/van difference is the key correction: § 17C-15-36a(g) provides that the light transmittance requirement does not apply to windows behind the driver on trucks, buses, trailers, mobile homes, and multipurpose passenger vehicles — so those vehicles may run any darkness behind the driver, while the front side windows stay at 35%. Note that (g) exempts only the light-transmittance requirement, so the 20% reflectivity cap and the nonreflective requirement still apply to those rear windows. 'Multipurpose passenger vehicle' is defined in (h)(6) as a vehicle designed to carry ten persons or less constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation, and 'passenger car' expressly excludes MPVs. Dual outside rearview mirrors (one right, one left) are required whenever a sun-screening device is used on glazing behind the driver. Additional exemptions: factory-installed tint, law-enforcement K-9 and emergency animal-transport vehicles, and unmarked law-enforcement vehicles used for covert work (which may not make routine traffic stops).

    West Virginia tint questions

    What is the darkest legal tint in West Virginia?

    For a sedan in West Virginia, 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 West Virginia?

    No, not on the front side windows. West Virginia 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 West Virginia?

    West Virginia's rule for the windshield: Nonreflective only, along the top of the windshield, not extending downward beyond the AS-1 (statute spells it 'ASI') line or more than five inches from the top, whichever is closer to the top; may not be red, yellow, or amber

    Does West Virginia allow a medical exemption for darker tint?

    What the source says: The section does not apply to a vehicle registered in the name of a person (or their legal guardian) who has an affidavit signed by a physician or optometrist licensed in West Virginia stating that a physical condition makes it necessary to equip the vehicle with sun-screening material of a light transmittance or luminous reflectance otherwise in violation. The affidavit must be in the possession of the afflicted person or their guardian at all times while being transported in the vehicle. Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.

    Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in West Virginia?

    The manufacturer must certify compliance to the West Virginia State Police and the DMV and must provide a label no larger than 1.5 square inches for permanent, legible installation between the sun-screening material and each glazing surface, showing the manufacturer's name and its percentage of light transmission; the label goes in the lower-left corner of each glazing surface viewed from outside the vehicle. Installing film without permanently affixing that label is prohibited.

    Nearby states

    Where this comes from

    Statute cited: W. Va. Code § 17C-15-36a (Sun-screening devices; penalty)

    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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