Window Tint Laws in Texas: Legal Limits

Last reviewed: October 17, 2026. This article is general information, not legal advice. Texas tint limits are in the Transportation Code and can be amended; check the current statute before you buy film.

Window film helps a lot in a Texas summer, and Texas is more relaxed than many states about the back of the car. The front is a different story: the law sets firm limits on how dark and how shiny the windshield strip and front side windows can be.

Short answer: Window tint laws in Texas require the front side windows to let through at least 25% of light, with luminous reflectance of 25% or less. Side windows behind the driver have no darkness limit, and the rear window has none if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides. Windshield tint is limited to a strip above the AS-1 line or the top five inches. A medical need is a defense to a tint charge.

What the law actually says

Tex. Transp. Code § 547.613(b)(2), front side windows Subsection (a) does not apply to "a wing vent or a window that is to the left or right of the vehicle operator if the vent or window has a sunscreening device that in combination with the vent or window has: (A) a light transmission of 25 percent or more; and (B) a luminous reflectance of 25 percent or less"

§ 547.613(b)(2-a) and (b)(3), behind the driver The restrictions also do not apply to "a side window that is to the rear of the vehicle operator" or to "a rear window, if the motor vehicle is equipped with an outside mirror on each side of the vehicle that reflects to the vehicle operator a view of the highway for a distance of at least 200 feet from the rear"

Read Tex. Transp. Code § 547.613 (Texas Legislature)

Texas tint limits at a glance

Window	Rule in § 547.613
Windshield	Strip above the AS-1 line or within 5 inches of the top, whichever is closer to the top; at least 25% light, 25% or less reflectance; not red, blue or amber
Front side windows and wing vents	At least 25% light transmission and 25% or less luminous reflectance, film and glass combined
Side windows behind the driver	No light-transmission limit
Rear window	No light-transmission limit if the vehicle has an outside mirror on each side giving at least 200 feet of rear view

Under § 547.613(d), the Department of Public Safety may treat a front side window as compliant if its light transmission or reflectance is within 3 percent of the standard.

How the 25% rule works

Light transmission (VLT) is the share of visible light that gets through. Texas measures it for the film "in combination with" the window, so the factory glass counts. A film labelled 25% will usually measure darker once it is on your glass, which is why careful installers meter the finished window.

Reflectance is capped at 25% on the windshield strip and front side windows. A mirror-like film can break the law even when its darkness is legal.

The colour rule (no red, blue or amber) appears in the windshield provision, § 547.613(b)(1)(C). Most common films (charcoal, grey, bronze) are not affected.

Who the rule does not cover

Section 547.613(b) lists exceptions, including:

Factory tint: a window that complies with federal standards, including factory-tinted glass and manufacturer-spec replacement windows.
Vehicles not registered in Texas.
Side windows behind the driver on a multipurpose vehicle.
Vehicles regularly used to carry passengers for a fee under a local licence or permit, law enforcement vehicles, and commercial motor vehicles as defined in § 644.001.

Labels and installer rules

Film must carry a legible, permanent label between the film and the glass with the department's light-transmission and reflectance information (§ 547.609). A business that installs film without a compliant label commits a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 (§ 547.613(a-1)). Under § 547.613(a)(2), placing non-compliant film on a vehicle is itself an offense, so a shop cannot simply rely on the customer's request.

Penalties and fix-it dismissals

A tint violation under § 547.613 is a misdemeanor. Where the Transportation Code sets no other penalty, the general penalty is a fine of $1 to $200 (§ 542.401). Under § 547.004(c), a court may dismiss an equipment charge if you remove or fix the illegal tint before your first court appearance and pay a fee of no more than $10. Court costs vary by court, so read your citation.

Inspections: older guides say illegal tint will fail your annual state inspection. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles says that as of January 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles are no longer required to obtain a safety inspection before registration. The tint limits still apply on the road.

Medical exemptions

Texas does not require a state certificate in the statute. Instead, § 547.613(e) makes it "a defense to prosecution" that the driver or a passenger "is required for a medical reason to be shielded from direct rays of the sun." In practice, keep a signed statement from your doctor in the vehicle and show it if you are stopped; check the Texas Department of Public Safety's current guidance on what it should contain.

Common mistakes

Assuming the back windows are limited. Texas places no darkness limit on side windows behind the driver.
Forgetting the mirrors. A dark rear window is legal only with outside mirrors on both sides.
Tinting below the AS-1 line. The windshield strip stops at the AS-1 line or five inches from the top, whichever is higher.
Ignoring reflectance. The 25% reflectance cap catches metallic films.

For the safety reasons behind these rules, see why there are window tint laws. To compare states, see window tint laws in Florida and the window tint laws by state chart. Other Texas driving rules are covered in what the legal alcohol limit is in Texas.

What is the legal tint limit in Texas?

Front side windows (to the left and right of the driver) must have at least 25% light transmission and no more than 25% luminous reflectance with the film and glass combined. Side windows behind the driver have no limit, and the rear window has none if the car has outside mirrors on both sides (Tex. Transp. Code § 547.613(b)).

Can I tint my windshield in Texas?

Only a strip at the top that stays above the AS-1 line or within five inches of the top, whichever is closer to the top. It must have at least 25% light transmission, no more than 25% reflectance, and cannot be red, blue or amber (§ 547.613(b)(1)).

What is the fine for illegal tint in Texas?

A tint violation is a misdemeanor. Where no other penalty is set, Texas's general traffic penalty is a fine of $1 to $200 (Tex. Transp. Code § 542.401). Under § 547.004(c), a court may dismiss an equipment charge if you fix the problem before your first court appearance and pay a fee of up to $10.

Is there a medical exemption for tint in Texas?

Texas makes it a defense to prosecution that the driver or a passenger is required for a medical reason to be shielded from direct sunlight (§ 547.613(e)). Keep a signed statement from your doctor in the vehicle so you can show it if you are stopped.

Do I still need a Texas safety inspection for tint?

Not for most cars. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles says that as of January 1, 2025, non-commercial vehicles no longer need a safety inspection before registration. Emissions testing still applies in some counties, and the tint limits themselves did not change.

Window Tint Laws in Texas: Legal Limits for Each Window