California window tint law
In California, a passenger car's front side windows may not have darkening tint film; rear side windows: any darkness; rear window: any darkness with outside mirrors on both sides. Source: California Vehicle Code §26708 (as amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 417, eff. Jan 1, 2026), checked November 2026.
| Front side windows | No tint film No darkening film: only clear, colourless UV-blocking film of at least 88% VLT, and the window with film must still let in at least 70%. Keep the installer's certificate in the car. |
|---|---|
| Rear side windows | Any darkness Side windows behind the driver are exempt from the restriction: any darkness. |
| Rear window | Any darkness Any darkness if the car has outside mirrors on both the left and right sides showing at least 200 feet to the rear. |
| Windshield | No tint film except a transparent, non-red/amber strip at the very top (its bottom edge at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat). Clear UV film (88%+ VLT) on the windshield only with a dermatologist's certificate. |
| Medical exemption | Sun-screening devices meeting §26708.2 may be used on the front side windows if the driver or front passenger carries a letter from a licensed physician (or optometrist, for a visual condition); not to be used during darkness. |
The California front-side limit on a car
Source
California Vehicle Code §26708 (as amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 417, eff. Jan 1, 2026)
“(1) The material has a minimum visible light transmittance of 88 percent. (2) The window glazing with the material applied meets all requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205”
Checked November 2026 (read from an archived copy of the official page). A summary of the passenger-car rules, not legal advice: laws change, so check the source or ask a local tint shop before you buy.
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