Reference Guide
Automotive Window Tint Laws by State
Automotive window-tint requirements vary by state, vehicle classification, window location, factory glass, and other factors. Select a state below for a general overview of its automotive tint requirements. Visible Light Transmission, or VLT, is the percentage of visible light allowed through the glass-and-film system.
General information only. Laws can change, and sunxero® does not guarantee the accuracy or current status of this guide. Confirm all requirements with the applicable government authority.
California
NET VLT generally refers to the visible light transmitted through the combined factory glass and installed film—not merely the film's advertised shade.
Visible Light Transmission (VLT) Requirements
Reflectivity & Color Restrictions
Additional Requirements
Notes
California uses NET VLT, meaning the combined visible light transmission of the factory glass and installed film must meet the stated minimums. Front side windows must allow at least 70% NET VLT. Under CVC §26708(d), qualifying clear front-side-window film must itself have a minimum VLT of 88%, the completed glass-and-film system must meet the 70% combined VLT requirement, the material must be clear, colorless and transparent and designed for ultraviolet-A protection, and the required installer certificate must be carried in the vehicle. Rear side windows and the rear window may be any darkness if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides. Side mirrors are required if rear window tint is applied.
Reference source: Solar Gard Automotive Film Tint Laws, which identifies the International Window Film Association as its information source. sunxero® does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or current status of this information.
Exclusive Offer
California Compliance Review
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Receive $50 off a qualifying complete-vehicle window tint installation using an available film-and-shade combination selected with California's published tint requirements in mind.
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Claim Legal Tint OfferValid for new customers on qualifying complete-vehicle automotive window tint installations. Minimum purchase of $400 before taxes, fees, removal, or additional services. Appointment and deposit required. One coupon per vehicle. Not valid on windshield-only, front-two-window-only, removal-only, warranty, correction, or previously completed work. Cannot be combined with another discount, promotion, package credit, or negotiated price. Vehicle, film, shade, and installation eligibility are determined by sunxero®. Coupon must be presented before the estimate is accepted. No cash value.
Legal requirements can change and may depend on the vehicle, factory glass, combined glass-and-film VLT, exemptions, testing methods, and enforcement interpretation. sunxero® can help identify film options intended to align with published California requirements at the time of installation, but does not provide legal advice or guarantee compliance, inspection results, or protection from enforcement. The vehicle owner remains responsible for confirming and complying with applicable law.
Final measured VLT may differ from the film's labeled VLT because factory glass already reduces visible light.
Legal Tint Can Still Deliver Serious Performance
A lighter or more transparent window film can still provide substantial ultraviolet protection, infrared heat rejection, glare reduction, and improved comfort. Darkness alone does not determine a film's overall performance. sunxero® offers professional-grade ceramic film technologies so customers can compare appearance, clarity, heat rejection, protection, and comfort.
Film shade and final VLT are not always the same. Factory automotive glass already reduces some visible light. After window film is installed, the final measured VLT may be lower than the film's labeled percentage. Laws using NET VLT generally apply to the combined glass-and-film system.
Questions about window tint for your vehicle?
sunxero® installs professional-grade ceramic films in Orange County.
Important Legal Disclaimer
This page is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice and must not be relied upon as a definitive or current statement of any law.
Automotive window-tint laws, regulations, interpretations, testing methods, enforcement practices, exemptions, and vehicle classifications may change at any time and may vary by jurisdiction. The information displayed may be incomplete, outdated, incorrectly interpreted, or contain errors.
sunxero® does not represent, warrant, or guarantee that any information on this page is accurate, complete, current, or applicable to a particular vehicle, installation, location, or situation. sunxero® assumes no responsibility or liability for errors, omissions, changes in law, citations, warnings, fines, failed inspections, required film removal, vehicle-related expenses, enforcement actions, damages, losses, or other consequences arising from the use of or reliance upon this information, to the fullest extent permitted by law.
The vehicle owner and operator are solely responsible for confirming and complying with all applicable laws and regulations. Before selecting, purchasing, or installing automotive window film, independently verify current requirements with the applicable state DMV, state police, highway patrol, inspection authority, or another official government source. Applicable law and official government authorities control over all information displayed on this page.
Original publication date: August 31, 2026. The publication or review date does not represent that sunxero® continuously monitors, maintains, or updates this information. Information may have changed after the stated date.