What is the darkest legal tint in California?
Michael Henderson
Published Mar 03, 2026
What is the darkest legal tint in California?
The 2021 California window tint laws requirements are for the front windshield and front side windows to have a 70% VLT. California car window tint law has no restriction on how dark the tint on the rear and back side windows can be. However, if the rear window of a vehicle is tinted, it has to have dual side mirrors.
What is the darkest legal tint in LA?
40%
Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line or top 5 inches. Front Side windows: Must allow more than 40% of light in. Back Side windows: Any darkness can be used. Rear Window: Any darkness can be used.
Can you get pulled over for tinted windows in California?
Can You Get Pulled Over for Tinted Windows in California? Yes. California vehicle code, division 12, chapter 4, section 26708 restricts the tint darkness, reflectiveness, color, and placement of window tint with regard to a private vehicle.
What does 70 window tint mean?
For example, if you apply a tint of 70% VLT, it allows 70% of sunlight to pass through your windows. Therefore, it only blocks 30% of the sun. The darker the film you apply, the lower the amount of light that can get through will be — more light will be reflected off your window.
Is 20 tint illegal in California?
Is 20% tint illegal in California? Yes, that is illegal. The only percentage allowed is 70% if that is combined with factory tinted windows.
What is Chameleon tint?
Chameleon Tint The colour of the film will change depending on weather, lighting, temperature, and different angle of view. It does not constantly have the same look and will look differently depending on these factors which is why it is a “chameleon” tint.
Whats the darkest tint you can get?
5%
A 5% is the darkest tint you can get, and you can’t see through 5% tinted car windows at all. In most states, a 5% tint is illegal. It’s most commonly used on the back windows of private cars and limousines.
Do cops care about tint in California?
The way Andrew Gade sees it, cops enforce California’s tint law the way they do the speed limit: They let people slide up to a point. Fully 95 percent of them request that their front windows be shaded just as darkly as their rear windows. Gade encourages them.
Is 20% or 35% tint darker?
A 35% tint will give you more darkness, but it’s still easy to see through. Drivers like this tint because of it’s stylish and sleek aesthetic. If privacy is your purpose for tinting, a 20% tint is an excellent choice. You can see through windows with a 20% tint if you’re up close, but it’s still difficult.
Can I get 35 tint in California?
Due to strict California’s tinting laws, the 35% tint is illegal. The only way to get a 35% tint on your vehicle is by having a specific disease that requires you a darker tint.
What is the California law on window tint?
Window tint darkness. The amount of light that can pass through your car windows is measured in percentages (called VLT), so make sure your tinting film is up to these standards! In California there is no difference in regulations for sedans, or SUVs and vans, so these laws are for all vehicles.
Is a 20 percent tint legal?
As noted, 5 percent is considered a limo tint; 20 percent is considered dark; 35 percent is considered medium; 50 percent is considered a light tint. There is no federally mandated regulation governing tint, but many states have placed legal restrictions on the maximum allowable percentages for road-use vehicles.
Is window tint illegal in California?
Just about every state in the union, it turns out, has laws about tinted car windows. In California, it’s illegal to tint either windshield (except for the strip at the very top), and the windows next to the driver and front-seat passenger.
How dark can I tint my Windows?
Windshield: Tinting on the windshield is limited to 7.5cm,also equal to 75mm or three inches) from the top.