Virginia Window Tint Laws 2024
Are you a car owner in Virginia looking to beat the heat while staying on the right side of the law? Understanding Virginia tint laws is crucial for ensuring your car windows are tinted within the legal limits.
From VLT percentages to reflectivity restrictions, navigating these regulations can be daunting. But fear not! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about VA tint laws, empowering you to make informed decisions and keep your car cool and legal.
Window tint laws in Virginia were enacted in 1999 and the darkest legal tint in Virginia is 50% of VLT for front side windows, 35% of VLT is for back and rear windows for sedans.
Understanding Virginia Tint Laws:
Window tint darkness is measured by Visible Light Transmission (VLT), which indicates the percentage of light allowed through the tinted window. Here’s a breakdown of legal tint darkness for different vehicle types.
Legal tint darkness for Cars:
- Windshield: Only non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line or top 5 inches.
- Front side windows: It should be allowed more than 50% of VLT.
- Back side windows: It should be allowed more than 35% of VLT.
- Rear window: It should be allowed more than 35% of VLT.
Legal tint darkness for Trucks:
- Windshield: Only non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line or top 5 inches.
- Front side windows: It should be allowed more than 50% of VLT.
- Backside windows: Any darkness level is permitted.
- Rear window: Any darkness level is permitted.
Important Note: It’s crucial to remember that these are the minimum VLT requirements. You can have a lighter tint (higher VLT percentage) as long as it meets the legal limit. However, anything darker than the specified VLT is considered illegal.
Medical exemption for window tinting:
Virginia offers exemptions for individuals with specific medical conditions that require protection from sunlight. By obtaining a medical exemption, you can tint your windows to a darker shade while staying within the legal boundaries.
Medical Exemption Form – Virginia DMV – Vehicle Sun-Shading Medical Authorization
With medical exemptions, you can tint your car’s windshield 35% VLT on top 5 inches or 70% VLT for the entire windshield.
Medical Exemption Information – Virginia DMV – Vehicle Sun-Shading Medical Authorization
Window Tint Reflection in Virginia:
Virginia tint laws allow a certain percentage of tint reflection for all types of vehicles.
Tint Reflection for Cars:
- Front side windows: It should not be more reflective than 20%.
- Back Side windows: It should not be more reflective than 20%.
Tint Reflection for Trucks:
- Front side windows: It should not be more reflective than 20%.
- Back Side windows: It should not be more reflective than 20%.
Virginia Window Tinting Rules and Regulations:
- Side mirrors: Both side mirrors are required in case of rear window tint.
- Restricted Colors: It is illegal to use red, amber, and yellow colors. Any other color can be used for tinting purposes.
- Certificates: it is not necessary to certify the film by the film manufacturers.
- Stickers: A tint certification sticker must be placed on the lower left corner of the driver’s side window.
- Penalties: A first illegal tint violation is classified as a Class 3 misdemeanor, with fines of up to $500. Subsequent offenses escalate to a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Virginia Tint Laws Reference: Code of Virginia – § 46.2-1052. Tinting films, signs, decals, and stickers on windshields, etc.; penalties.
In case any of our info provided about Virginia tint laws is not up to date or correct be sure to contact us so we can fix it. Thanks!
Information about Virginia State
The State of Virginia is located in the South Atlantic Region of the United States. Virginia is bordered by the states of North Carolina in the south, Tennessee in the southwest; Kentucky in the west; West Virginia in the northwest and Maryland and Washington D.C. in the northeast. It is also bounded by the Chesapeake Bay in the east and by the Atlantic Ocean in the southeast.
Virginia is the 35th largest and 12th most populous state in the United States. Virginia Beach is the largest and the most populous city in Virginia
Capital
Richmond
Population
8,715,698 (2023)
Area
42,775 mi² (110,787 km²)
Cities in Virginia State
Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Richmond, Charlottesville, Newport News, Alexandria, Williamsburg, Chesapeake, Roanoke, Fredericksburg, Fairfax, Hampton, Manassas, Portsmouth, Falls Church, Lynchburg, Jamestown, Suffolk, Blacksburg, Harrisonburg, Leesburg, Winchester, Herndon, Quantico, Ashburn, Petersburg, Woodbridge, Staunton City, McLean, Vienna, Danville, Lexington City, Chincoteague, AltaVista, Langley, Front Royal, Christiansburg, Midlothian, Abingdon, Culpeper, Warrenton, Waynesboro City, Farmville, Emporia, Glen Allen, Tangier, Stafford, Colonial Heights, Hot Springs, Salem
Counties in Virginia State
Accomack, Albemarle, Alexandria City, Alleghany, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bedford City, Bland, Botetourt, Bristol, Brunswick, Buchanan, Buckingham, Buena Vista City, Campbell, Caroline, Carroll, Charles City, Charlotte, Charlottesville City, Chesapeake City, Chesterfield, Clarke, Colonial Heights City, Covington City, Craig, Culpeper, Cumberland, Danville City, Dickenson, Dinwiddie, Emporia City, Essex, Fairfax, Fairfax City, Falls Church City, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Franklin, Franklin City, Frederick, Fredericksburg City, Galax City, Giles, Gloucester, Goochland, Grayson, Greene.
Greensville, Halifax, Hampton City, Hanover, Harrisonburg City, Henrico, Henry, Highland, Hopewell City, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lee, Lexington City, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Lynchburg City, Madison, Manassas City, Manassas Park City, Martinsville City, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, Montgomery, Nelson, New Kent, Newport News City, Norfolk City, Northampton, Northumberland, Norton City, Nottoway, Orange, Page, Patrick, Petersburg City.
Pittsylvania, Poquoson City, Portsmouth City, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Pulaski, Radford City, Rappahannock, Richmond, Richmond City, Roanoke, Roanoke City, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Salem, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Staunton City, Suffolk City, Surry, Sussex, Tazewell, Virginia Beach City, Warren, Washington, Waynesboro City, Westmoreland, Williamsburg City, Winchester City, Wise, Wythe, and York.