California Window Tint Laws 2026: What Is the Legal Tint in California?
Short answer
Partly. In California you can tint the rear side windows and back window as dark as you like if the car has two outside mirrors. The front side windows can only take clear film that lets in at least 88% of light, and the windshield only a strip at the very top, under Vehicle Code § 26708.
Last verified October 24, 2026 against current California law
So what is the legal tint in California? It depends on which window you mean. Legal tint in California is generous behind the driver and strict in front of the driver, and most tickets come from the two front side windows. This guide walks through every window, the percentages people ask about, the medical exemptions, and what happens if you get a fix-it ticket.
California’s rules come from two short sections of the Vehicle Code: § 26708, which lists what you may put on your glass, and § 26708.5, which bans any film that darkens or colors the glass unless one of those exceptions applies.
California tint law at a glance
| Item | What California law says |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Allowed on rear side and back windows; front side windows and windshield heavily restricted |
| Windshield | No tint except a strip above a line 29 inches over the driver’s seat, not red or amber |
| Front side windows | Only clear film with at least 88% visible light transmittance, and the glass plus film must still meet the federal 70% standard |
| Rear side windows | Any darkness |
| Back window | Any darkness if the car has left and right outside mirrors |
| Medical exemptions | Removable sun screens with a doctor’s or optometrist’s letter; clear UV film anywhere with a dermatologist’s certificate |
| Penalty | Infraction, usually a correctable fix-it ticket |
| Governing law | Vehicle Code §§ 26708, 26708.2, 26708.5, 40610 |
| Last changed | Tint rules last changed by AB 1303 (2017), effective January 1, 2018. § 26708 was amended again by SB 506 (2025), effective January 1, 2026, only for commercial-truck safety devices |
What is the legal tint limit in California, window by window?
The legal tint limit in California is set separately for each window, and only the rear glass has no darkness limit at all.
Windshield
You cannot tint the windshield, except for a band across the very top. Under § 26708(c), the bottom edge of that band must sit at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver’s seat, measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the seatback with the seat all the way back and down. In most cars that works out to a strip of a few inches.
The strip cannot be red or amber, cannot carry opaque lettering, and cannot reflect more glare into other drivers’ eyes than the bare windshield would.
Front side windows
The front side windows are where California differs from almost every other state. Darkening film is not allowed on the windows next to the driver and front passenger at all. The only aftermarket product allowed there is clear, colorless film under § 26708(d) that:
- lets through at least 88% of visible light on its own;
- keeps the window, with the film on, within Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205, which requires 70% light transmittance for glass needed for driving visibility;
- is designed to help the glass block UVA rays; and
- comes with a certificate kept in the car, signed by the installer (or by the manufacturer if you installed it yourself).
That is why you will often hear that California’s front window limit is “70%.” The 70% figure is the federal floor for the glass itself. In practice, it means no visibly dark film on the front side windows.
Rear side windows and back window
Side windows behind the driver can be any darkness under § 26708(b)(4). The back window can also be any darkness under § 26708(b)(8), as long as the car has outside mirrors on both the left and right sides that each give a view of at least 200 feet behind you.
Is 5%, 15%, 20%, 30% or 35% tint legal in California?
Each of those percentages is legal on the rear side windows and the back window, and illegal on the front side windows and windshield. The percentage refers to visible light transmission, so 5% tint (often called limo tint) lets through 5% of light and is the darkest film commonly sold.
| Tint | Rear side windows | Back window (two mirrors) | Front side windows | Windshield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5% (limo) | Legal | Legal | Illegal | Illegal |
| 15% | Legal | Legal | Illegal | Illegal |
| 20% | Legal | Legal | Illegal | Illegal |
| 30% or 35% | Legal | Legal | Illegal | Illegal |
| Clear film, 88% or higher | Legal | Legal | Legal with certificate | Top strip only, or anywhere with a dermatologist’s certificate |
So the darkest legal tint in California is any darkness you choose for the rear glass, and clear film only in front. A shop that offers “light” 50% or 70% film for the front side windows is selling a product that § 26708.5 does not allow there, because it reduces the light coming through the glass.
Medical exemptions to California tint law
California has two medical exemptions, and neither one allows dark permanent film on the front side windows.
Removable sun screens with a doctor’s or optometrist’s letter
Under § 26708(b)(10), you can use sun screening on the side windows next to the front seat if the driver or front passenger carries a letter signed by a licensed physician and surgeon or a licensed optometrist certifying a medical or visual need for shading. The screens cannot be used during darkness.
Vehicle Code § 26708.2 sets the specifications. The screens must be readily removable, held by a frame, a rigid panel on temporary fasteners, or a roller shade. Transparent screens must be green, gray or neutral smoke, let through at least 35% of light, and be no more than 35% reflective.
Clear UV film with a dermatologist’s certificate
Under § 26708(e), added by AB 1303 in 2017, clear UV-blocking film that meets the same 88% and federal standards may go on any window, including the windshield, if a certificate signed by a licensed dermatologist, stating that the person should not be exposed to ultraviolet rays because of a medical condition, is with the driver or in the vehicle.
Penalties for illegal tint in California
Illegal tint is an infraction, not a crime, and it is usually written as a correctable “fix-it” ticket under Vehicle Code § 40610.
| Situation | What happens | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Fix-it ticket, corrected on time | Remove the film, get proof of correction signed off, and the court dismisses the violation after a $25 transaction fee | §§ 40610, 40611 |
| Not correctable | Infraction; base fine of up to $100 for a first offense, plus state and county penalty assessments that raise the total | §§ 40000.1, 42001 |
| Promised to correct, then willfully did not, or did not deliver proof | Misdemeanor | § 40616 |
| Repeat infraction within a year | Base fine of up to $200 for a second offense and $250 for a third | § 42001 |
| Torn or bubbled clear film | Must be removed or replaced if it blocks clear vision | § 26708(d)(5), (e)(5) |
An officer can decline to treat a violation as correctable when there is evidence of fraud or persistent neglect, when the condition presents an immediate safety hazard, or when the driver will not or cannot promptly correct it, under § 40610(b). A tint citation is an equipment violation, not a moving violation, and it does not add a point to your DMV record under the point system in Vehicle Code § 12810.
Real California scenarios
- You buy a used car in Fresno with 20% tint on all four side windows. The rear side windows are legal. The front two are not, and you can be cited even though the previous owner applied the film. Removing the front film is the fix.
- Your installer in San Diego offers 70% “nearly clear” film for the front windows. A 70% film lets through only 70% of light on its own, below the 88% minimum in
§ 26708(d), so§ 26708.5does not allow it on the front side windows. Ask for clear UV film rated 88% or higher and keep the certificate in the glovebox. - You have lupus and a dermatologist has told you to avoid UV. With a dermatologist’s certificate you can put clear UV film on every window, including the windshield. Dark film on the front windows is still not allowed.
- You drive a pickup with a camper shell blocking the back window. You need mirrors on both sides under
§ 26709whether or not the back glass is tinted.
Myths vs facts about tint in California
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| “70% tint is legal on the front windows.” | 70% is the federal minimum for the glass. California only allows clear film of at least 88% on the front side windows. |
| “A doctor’s note lets me tint my front windows dark.” | A doctor’s or optometrist’s letter allows removable sun screens of at least 35% transmittance, used only in daylight. Permanent dark film is still illegal. |
| “Tint tickets go on my driving record.” | A corrected fix-it ticket is dismissed, and even a tint conviction is an equipment violation that carries no DMV point. |
| “The back window can never be tinted.” | It can be any darkness if the car has outside mirrors on both sides. |
California tint law compared with neighboring states
California is stricter about front side windows than its neighbors, which matters if you move here or buy a car from out of state.
| State | Front side windows | Rear side and back windows |
|---|---|---|
| California | Clear film of at least 88% only | Any darkness (back window needs two mirrors) |
| Nevada | At least 35% light transmission | Any darkness with two outside mirrors |
| Arizona | At least 33% light transmission | Any darkness (reflectance limit of 35%) |
| Oregon | At least 35% total light transmission (film itself at least 50%) | At least 35% on cars; any darkness behind the driver on SUVs, vans and pickups with mirrors on both sides |
California’s tint rules apply to every vehicle driven on California roads; § 26708 does not exempt cars with out-of-state plates. New residents must also register their vehicles in California, generally within 20 days of becoming residents under Vehicle Code § 4152.5.
Do tint rules differ in Los Angeles, San Francisco or San Diego?
No. Window tint is governed by the state Vehicle Code, and the same rules apply in every city and county, whether you are stopped by the CHP on Interstate 5 or by city police in San Jose. What varies is how often officers write tint tickets, not the law itself.
What to do if you get a tint ticket in California
- Read the citation to see whether the officer marked it as correctable.
- Remove the illegal film, or replace front-window film with certified clear film of at least 88%.
- Have the correction signed off where the citation directs, usually by a law enforcement officer who inspects the car.
- Submit the proof of correction to the court by the deadline on the ticket and pay the $25 transaction fee.
- If you have a medical exemption, bring the signed letter or dermatologist’s certificate.
For more rules that affect drivers, see our California driving and vehicle law guides, and check California Legal News for new laws each January.
Frequently asked questions
What is the legal tint in California for front windows?
Only clear, colorless film that lets through at least 88% of visible light is allowed on the front side windows, and the glass with the film must still meet the federal 70% standard. You must keep the installer’s or manufacturer’s certificate in the car. Any film that visibly darkens or colors the front side windows is illegal under Vehicle Code § 26708.5.
Is 35% tint legal in California?
35% tint is legal on the rear side windows and on the back window if your car has outside mirrors on both sides. It is not legal on the front side windows or the windshield. The same is true of 30%, 20%, 15% and 5% film.
What is the darkest legal tint in California?
There is no darkness limit for the rear side windows, and none for the back window if you have two outside mirrors, so 5% limo tint is legal there. In front, the darkest legal option is clear film rated at least 88%, which does not noticeably darken the glass.
Can you tint your windshield in California?
Only a strip along the top, with its lower edge at least 29 inches above the driver’s seat as measured under Vehicle Code § 26708(c). The strip cannot be red or amber. Clear UV film can cover the whole windshield only if you carry a dermatologist’s certificate.
How much is a tint ticket in California?
If the ticket is correctable and you fix the tint on time, the court dismisses it after you submit proof and pay a $25 transaction fee. If not, it is an infraction with a base fine of up to $100 for a first offense, and penalty assessments increase the amount you actually pay.
Can police pull you over just for tint in California?
Yes. Illegal tint is a Vehicle Code violation, so an officer who reasonably believes the front windows are too dark can stop the car and check them, often with a light meter.
Are tint certificates required in California?
Yes, if you have clear film on the front side windows. Vehicle Code § 26708(d) requires a certificate in the car or with the driver, signed by the installer, or by the manufacturer if you installed the film yourself, naming the installer and manufacturer.
What changed on this page
October 24, 2026: Published and verified against current California law.
If this affects you: for a tint citation, follow the instructions on the ticket and contact the traffic division of the superior court in the county where you were cited. For questions about a disputed citation, a California-licensed traffic attorney can help. Read how we check the law, or report an error.
