Alabama Window Tint Law 2026

Alabama measures from the top of the windshield in inches and never mentions the AS-1 line or FMVSS 205 for this purpose. The allowance is framed as an exception to §32-5C-2 rather than as a positive permission.

This is stricter than the common "70% on the windshield" pattern: (a)(1) carries no figure and no tolerance, so any measurable reduction is within the prohibition, subject only to the §32-5C-3 exceptions and the (b) law-enforcement exemption.

NET ASSEMBLY basis: §32-5C-2(a)(2) measures light transmission "through the rear windshield or side windows" after material or glazing has been applied to them, i.e. the finished window rather than the film in isolation. The definition in §32-5C-1(2) is basis-neutral ("through a surface"), so the operative subsection is what settles it. A measurement tolerance of at least 3% is written into the same sentence.

Alabama draws no line between front side and rear side windows: "the side or door windows" is one undifferentiated class at 32%. NET ASSEMBLY basis: §32-5C-2(a)(2) measures light transmission "through the rear windshield or side windows" after material or glazing has been applied to them, i.e. the finished window rather than the film in isolation. The definition in §32-5C-1(2) is basis-neutral ("through a surface"), so the operative subsection is what settles it. A measurement tolerance of at least 3% is written into the same sentence.

NET ASSEMBLY basis: §32-5C-2(a)(2) measures light transmission "through the rear windshield or side windows" after material or glazing has been applied to them, i.e. the finished window rather than the film in isolation. The definition in §32-5C-1(2) is basis-neutral ("through a surface"), so the operative subsection is what settles it. A measurement tolerance of at least 3% is written into the same sentence.

The 20% reflectance ceiling sits in the same clause as the 32% transmittance floor and therefore covers the same windows: the rear windshield and the side or door windows. The front windshield is governed by (a)(1) instead, which bars any reduction outright.

Same clause, same class of windows as reflectivity_front — Alabama sets one reflectance ceiling for all glass behind the windshield.

A state-issued exemption with a numbered decal, not a certificate carried in the glovebox: §32-5C-4(c) requires ALEA to design a decal with a unique identification number, to be placed on the windshield of each vehicle the exempt person operates, and permits a fee. The grant is discretionary ("may issue") and may carry conditions. §32-5C-4(b) is a carve-out from that discretion: an exemption granted to a person with light-sensitive porphyria applies to all areas of the windshield and windows the physician prescribes. The statute spells the condition "prophyria".

The duty is on the VEHICLE ("shall display"), and the label must be readable from outside. It is backed upstream by §32-5C-5, which requires each manufacturer to register the material and its label with the director before shipping into the state, and makes altering or reproducing an approved label unlawful.

Recorded rather than left as a gap because the restriction is real but narrow — reading it as a general colour rule would overstate it, and omitting it would lose the windshield rule entirely.