Texas tint laws were enacted in 2009. The darkest legal tint in Texas is 25% of VLT for the windshield according to the window tint laws in Texas State.
How tint percentage is measured by the Texas Tint Laws?
The legal tint darkness level is measured by Visible Light Transmission (VLT), which indicates the percentage of light that passes through the film. Here’s a breakdown of the legal VLT limits for different types of vehicles.
Legal tint darkness for sedans:
- Windshield: Only 25% VLT tint is allowed on the top 5 inches of the windshield or above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line and Reflection should be less than 25%.
- Front side windows: Allow more than 25% of VLT.
- Back Side windows: Any darkness level is allowed.
- Rear window: Any darkness is allowed with both side mirrors, 25% VLT without.
Legal Tint Darkness for SUV and Van:
- Windshield: Only 25% VLT tint is allowed on the top 5 inches of the windshield or above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line and Reflection should be less than 25%.
- Front side windows: Allow more than 25% of VLT.
- Back Side windows: Any darkness level is allowed.
- Rear window: Any darkness is allowed with both side mirrors, 25% VLT without.
Important Note: It’s crucial to remember that these are the minimum VLT requirements. You can have lighter tint (higher VLT percentage) as long as it meets the legal limit. However, anything darker than the specified VLT is considered illegal.
Window tint reflection in Texas:
Car window tinting can help reduce heat and reflect incoming light. Like all other states, Texas State also allows a limited level of tint reflection.
Tint Reflection for sedans:
- Front Side windows: It should not be more than 25% reflective.
- Back Side windows: It should not be more than 25% reflective.
Tint Reflection for SUV and Van:
- Front Side windows: It should not be more than 25% reflective.
- Back Side windows: It should not be more than 25% reflective.
Texas Window Tinting Rules and Regulations:
- Side mirrors: Both side mirrors are required in case of a tinted rear window.
- Restricted Colors: Red, blue, and amber colors are illegal for window tinting purposes. Other colors are allowed to be used by Texas window tint laws.
- Certificates: Upon installation, a certificate of compliance from the tint shop should be provided. Only use certified film by film manufacturers.
- Stickers: A tint certification sticker must be placed on the lower left corner of the driver’s side window.
- Medical exemptions: Texas tinting laws allow medical exceptions. Drivers with medical conditions requiring protection from direct sunlight may be eligible for a medical exemption from the tint restrictions.
Medical exemption application form (PDF)
Tint law reference: Texas Department of Public Safety – Window Tinting Standards
Information about Texas State
Texas boasts a rich history as an independent republic and a vibrant Southern culture. Nicknamed the “Lone Star State,” it stretches from the Gulf Coast to the Mexican border, offering diverse landscapes from pine forests to arid deserts. Renowned for its oil production and cattle ranching, Texas is also a major center for technology and boasts a booming metropolis in Houston.
It is the 2nd largest US state by land area and the 2nd most populous (estimated 2023). The largest city is Houston.
Capital
Austin
Population
30,503,301 (2023)
Area
268,597 mi² (695,662 km²)
Major cities in Texas State
Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Arlington, Corpus Christi, Plano, Laredo, Lubbock, Garland, Irving, Amarillo, Grand Prairie, Brownsville, Pasadena, McKinney, Mesquite, McAllen, Killeen, Frisco, Waco, Carrollton, Denton, Midland, Abilene, Beaumont, Round Rock, Richardson, Odessa, Pearland, College Station, Wichita Falls, Lewisville, Tyler, San Angelo, League City, Allen, Sugar Land, Edinburg, Mission, Longview, Bryan, Pharr, Baytown, Missouri City, Temple, Flower Mound, New Braunfels
Counties in Texas State
The State of Texas is divided into 254 counties.
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, 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, De Witt, Deaf Smith, Delta, Denton, Dickens.
Dimmit, Donley, Duval, Eastland, Ector, Edwards, El Paso, Ellis, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Fayette, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Fort Bend, Franklin, Freestone, Frio, Gaines, Galveston, Garza, Gillespie, Glasscock, Goliad, Gonzales, Gray, Grayson, 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 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, Wharton, Wheeler, Wichita, Wilbarger, Willacy, Williamson, Wilson, Winkler, Wise, Wood, Yoakum, Young, Zapata, and Zavala.