Window Tinting Laws in Texas

Car window tinting laws were implemented in Texas in 2009.

We've given you all the essential details regarding the tint on your car's windows, such as the permissible darkness and reflectiveness levels, specific to your state.

Did you know that there are specific rules and regulations regarding car window tinting in Texas? It's important to familiarize yourself with these guidelines to ensure you stay within the law. Let's explore the details below.

Windows Tint darkness in Texas

VLT, short for Visible Light Transmission, refers to the percentage of visible light that can pass through the windows of your car.

Did you know that the state of Texas has specific regulations regarding the amount of light that can pass through window films and glass installed on sedan cars, SUVs, and vans? These regulations vary depending on the type of vehicle.

Window tint darkness for sedans

Windshield: it is acceptable to have a 25% VLT (Visible Light Transmission) tint on the windshield above the AS-1 line indicated by the manufacturer or within the top 5 inches, as long as the reflection is under 25%.
Front Side: The windows on the front side should permit more than 25% of light to pass through them.
Back Side: You can use tint with any darkness.
Rear Window: The utilization of side outside mirrors allows to use of any darkness, and only tint 25% visible light transmission (VLT) without.

Window Tint darkness for SUVs and vans

Windshield: it is acceptable to have a 25% VLT (Visible Light Transmission) tint on the windshield above the AS-1 line indicated by the manufacturer or within the top 5 inches, as long as the reflection is under 25%.
Front Side: The windows on the front side should permit more than 25% of light to pass through them.
Back Side: You can use tint with any darkness.
Rear Window: The utilization of side outside mirrors allows to use of any darkness, and only tint 25% visible light transmission (VLT) without.

Window Tint Reflection in Texas

Did you know that window tint has the ability to bounce back light that enters and minimize both the glare and heat?

Did you know that in Texas, there are specific guidelines regarding window tinting? It's essential to be aware of these guidelines to ensure you're within the legal limits of window reflection when using tinted windows.

Tint reflection on sedans

Front Side: The front side windows should have a maximum reflectivity of 25%.
Back Side: The windows on the back side of a vehicle are not allowed to have more than 25% reflectivity.

Tint reflection for SUVs and vans

Front Side: When it comes to the reflectivity of these windows, it is important to keep it at a maximum of 25%.
Back Side: Back side windows should not have a reflective tint that exceeds 25%.

Other Texas window tint rules and regulations

In Texas, there are various additional laws, rules, and regulations related to window tinting that are worth mentioning. These include the following:

Side Mirrors: If you have tinted your back window, it is necessary to have two side mirrors installed.
Forbidden Colors: In Texas, you cann't use red, blue and amber tint colors.
Certificates: It's an important that film manufacturers should have certificate for the film they sell. If you're purchasing film, it's a good idea to ask your dealer if they are using certified film. This ensures that you are getting a reliable and authorized product.
Stickers of Compliance: These stickers are used to indicate that the tint on the window complies with legal regulations. These stickers should be placed between the film and the glass on the driver’s side window.
Medical Exceptions: There are certain circumstances in which you can get a medical exemption for special tint on your vehicle. If you're interested in learning more about the specific conditions and requirements for this exemption, I suggest referring to the laws outlined by the state of Texas.

Just a heads up, the laws and regulations regarding window tinting in Texas might vary depending on where you live or the specific county you're in.

Make sure to verify the information provided by reaching out to your local DMV or law enforcement authorities.

Our knowledge regarding the regulations on window tint in Texas was most recently revised in 2024.

Tinting regulations were put into effect in Texas back in 2009.

If you come across any outdated or inaccurate information, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We would appreciate the opportunity to rectify it. Thank you!

Looking to learn about window tint laws? Look no further than the reputable industry expert who has built a solid reputation for delivering accurate and reliable information. Feel confident as we shed light on the regulations surrounding window tinting. So, please share weblink to us in social networks.

General Info about Texas State

Did you know that Texas is not only the second most populous state in the USA, but also the second-largest among all 50 states? In fact, it holds the title of being the largest state in the contiguous 48 states of the USA.

Texas is situated in the southern central region of the United States and shares a border with several Mexican states, including Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas to the south.

Did you know that this particular region shares borders with states like New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana?

Texas spans across a vast area of 268,820 square miles (696,200 km2) and is home to a thriving population of 26.1 million people.

Houston holds the title of being the biggest city in Texas and the fourth-largest in the entire United States. On the other hand, San Antonio, the second-largest city in Texas, also boasts the distinction of being the seventh-largest city in the United States overall.

Texas boasts the highest number of counties among all the states in the US, with a total of 254 counties.

Capital: Austin

Population: 29,527,941 peoples

The area spans across 268,581 square miles or 696,241 square kilometers.

Cities in Texas

Houston, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Waco, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Plano, Lubbock, Amarillo, West, Arlington, McAllen, Frisco, Grapevine, College Station, Marfa, McKinney, Sugar Land, Fredericksburg, Midland, Laredo, Tyler, New Braunfels, Denton, Killeen, Round Rock, Irving, Grand Prairie, Abilene, South Padre Island, Wichita Falls, Odessa, Brownsville, San Angelo, Katy, Beaumont, San Marcos, Point Blank, Carrollton, Humble, Longview, Richardson, Garland, Lewisville, Garden Ridge, Conroe, Clint, Port Aransas

Counties in Texas

Anderson, Andrews, Angelina, Aransas, Archer, Armstrong, Atascosa, Austin, Bailey, Bandera, Bastrop, Baylor, Bee, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Borden, Bosque, Bowie, Brazoria, Brazos, Brewster, Briscoe, Brooks, Brown, Buchanan, Buchel, Burleson, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Callahan, Cameron, Camp, Carson, Cass, Castro, Chambers, Cherokee, Childress, Clay, Cochran, Coke, Coleman, Collin, Collingsworth, Colorado, Comal, Comanche, Concho, Cooke, Coryell, Cottle, Crane, Crockett, Crosby, Culberson, Dallam, Dallas, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Delta, Denton, DeWitt, Dickens, Dimmit, Donley, Duval, Eastland, Ector, Edwards, El Paso, Ellis, Encinal, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Foley, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Frio, Gaines, Galveston, Garza, Gillespie, Glasscock, Goliad, Gonzales, Gray, Grayson, Greer, Gregg, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hale, Hall, Hamilton, Hansford, Hardeman, Hardin, Harris, Harrison, Hartley, Haskell, Hays, Hemphill, Henderson, Hidalgo, Hill, Hockley, Hood, Hopkins, Houston, Howard, Hudspeth, Hunt, Hutchinson, Irion, Jack, Jackson, Jasper, Jeff Davis, Jefferson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Johnson, Jones, Karnes, Kaufman, Kendall, Kenedy, Kent, Kerr, Kimble, King, Kinney, Kleberg, Knox, La Baca, La Salle, Lamar, Lamb, Lampasas, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Limestone, Lipscomb, Live Oak, Llano, Loving, Lubbock, Lynn, Madison, Marion, Martin, Mason, Matagorda, Maverick, McCulloch, McLennan, McMullen, Medina, Menard, Midland, Milam, Mills, Mitchell, Montague, Montgomery, Moore, Morris, Motley, Nacogdoches, Navarro, Newton, Nolan, Nueces, Ochiltree, Oldham, Orange, Palo Pinto, Panola, Parker, Parmer, Pecos, Polk, Potter, Presidio, Rains, Randall, Reagan, Real, Red River, Reeves, Refugio, Roberts, Robertson, Rockwall, Runnels, Rusk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, San Saba, Schleicher, Scurry, Shackelford, Shelby, Sherman, Smith, Somervell, Starr, Stephens, Sterling, Stonewall, Sutton, Swisher, Tarrant, Taylor, Terrell, Terry, Throckmorton, Titus, Tom Green, Travis, Trinity, Tyler, Upshur, Upton, Uvalde, Val Verde, Van Zandt, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Ward, Washington, Webb, Wegefarth, Wharton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Willacy, Williamson, Wilson, Winkler, Wise, Wood, Yoakum, Young, Zapata, Zavala

Where to look more info about Texas

Tint Law References

Info About Medical Exemption

Texas Department of Public Safety – Application for window tint medical exemption