How dark can front side windows be tinted in Connecticut?

35% VLT minimum. Source: C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(1), read 2026-07-29.

How dark can back side windows be tinted in Connecticut?

35% VLT minimum. Source: C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(5), read 2026-07-29.

How dark can the rear window be tinted in Connecticut?

35% VLT minimum. Source: C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(5), (c)(10), read 2026-07-29.

How far down the windshield can tint extend in Connecticut?

29 in. Source: C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(11)(A), read 2026-07-29.

Is reflective or mirrored tint legal in Connecticut?

27% reflectance maximum. Source: C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(1), read 2026-07-29.

Does Connecticut allow a medical exemption for darker tint?

Required. Source: C.G.S. §14-99g(b), read 2026-07-29.

Connecticut Window Tint Law 2026

Connecticut requires at least 35% on the front side windows, 35% on the back side windows and 35% on the rear window.

As an Amazon Associate, StreetLawful earns from qualifying purchases. Product listings are matched to statutory requirements as we read them — this is not a guarantee of compliance, and we do not test or measure any film ourselves.

Illustrative rendering of the film’s rated VLT. Not a measurement — apparent darkness varies with glass, lighting and screen. Figures on this page are for all vehicles.

Our pick at 35% VLT

35%VLTIAQWEIAQWE 35% VLT Ceramic Car Window Tint Film 20 in x 20 ft Roll | High Heat Rejection, UV Block, Privacy, Shatterproof, Scratch Resistant & No Signal InterferenceCeramic (nano-ceramic, 5-layer)20″ × 20′ rollRated 35% VLT — may comply with the 35% requirement for front side windows; verify the installed reading.View on Amazon

More options that clear this figure, darkest first

35%VLTIAQWEIAQWE 35% VLT Ceramic Car Window Tint Film 20 in x 20 ft Roll | High Heat Rejection, UV Block, Privacy, Shatterproof, Scratch Resistant & No Signal InterferenceCeramic (nano-ceramic, 5-layer)20″ × 20′ rollRated 35% VLT — may comply with the 35% requirement for front side windows; verify the installed reading.View on Amazon
35%VLTRockRoseRockRose 35% Nano Ceramic Car Window Tint 36 in x 25FT 2PLY Privacy Film Heat Block, 99% UVR, and 85% IRR Block for Auto or Home Strong Adhesive, Easy Shrink, Plotter Friendly - CharcoalCeramic (2-ply nano-ceramic)36″ × 25′ rollRated 35% VLT — may comply with the 35% requirement for front side windows; verify the installed reading.View on Amazon
50%VLTIAQWEIAQWE 50% VLT Ceramic Car Window Tint Film 20 in x 20 ft Roll | High Heat Rejection, UV Block, Privacy, Shatterproof, Scratch Resistant & No Signal InterferenceCeramic (nano-ceramic, 5-layer)20″ × 20′ rollRated 50% VLT — may comply with the 35% requirement for front side windows; verify the installed reading.View on Amazon
70%VLTARANAARANA 70% VLT 36"x15FT Ceramic Car Window Tint Film | Keep Car Cool, UV Heat Blocking, Daytime Privacy & Anti-Glare, Scratch Resistant, Phone/GPS Friendly, DIY InstallCeramic (nano-ceramic)36″ × 15′ rollRated 70% VLT — may comply with the 35% requirement for front side windows; verify the installed reading.View on Amazon

Showing 4 of the 12 films we list that clear this figure. Verify before you tint. We match a film’s own rating against the figure in the statute above. We do not measure film, and a manufacturer rating is not a compliance certificate.

The limits at a glance

Sedan / passenger carSUV, van or truck

Front side windows

35% VLT minimum

measured on the installed glass + film together

Window must not be mirror-like in appearance.

C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(1) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29

Back side windows

35% VLT minimum

measured on the installed glass + film together

Window must not be mirror-like in appearance.

C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(5) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29

Rear window

35% VLT minimum

measured on the installed glass + film together

Rearmost window, not mirror-like. Alternatively exempt outright under (c)(10) where the vehicle has dual outside mirrors.

C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(5), (c)(10) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29

Windshield strip — how far down it may extend

29 in

C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(11)(A) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29

Front side windows

35% VLT minimum

measured on the installed glass + film together

Window must not be mirror-like in appearance.

C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(1) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29

Back side windows

confirmed No VLT limit on windows behind the driver of a truck, motor bus, trailer, mobile manufactured home, or multipurpose passenger vehicle, provided the vehicle has dual outside mirrors giving a 200-foot rearward view.

We read text whose scope shows the state sets no such rule here — this is a finding, not a blank.

C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(6) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29

Rear window

unclear No published figure

Under review — this dimension is still under review. This is a gap in our research, and it says nothing about what Connecticut requires here; the state may set its rule in words rather than a percentage.

Windshield strip — how far down it may extend

29 in

C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(11)(A) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29

Film that may meet the 35% requirement for front side windows

35% VLT minimum — measured on the installed glass, film and window together Window must not be mirror-like in appearance.
C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(1) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29

This limit is measured on the installed glass, not on the film. Factory glass blocks light on its own, so film rated at or above the figure can still read below it once applied. Treat these as candidates and verify the installed reading.
C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(1) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29
This state also restricts film colour: Red and amber prohibited on the permitted topmost-windshield material. Side and rear windows must not be "mirror-like in appearance"; no color list applies to them.
C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(1), (c)(5), (c)(11)(B) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29
This state also caps reflectance for this glass at 27%. Mirrored and metallic films can exceed it regardless of their VLT rating.
C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(1) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29

Every Connecticut tint rule we track

Every dimension we track for window tint in Connecticut, including the ones we have not been able to establish. A row marked *unclear* means we found no published figure — it does not mean the state permits anything here.
Rule	Applies to	What the law says	Source
Windshield strip — how dark the strip may be	All vehicles	No numeric VLT for the permitted topmost-windshield material; it must not be red or amber in color.	C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(11)(B) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29 “the material is not red or amber in color”
Windshield strip — how far down it may extend	All vehicles	29 in Detail Seat-relative clearance, as in California and Arizona — not inches-from-top and not the AS-1 line.	C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(11)(A) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29 “The bottom edge of the material is at least twenty-nine inches above the undepressed driver's seat when measured from a point five inches in front of the bottom of the backrest with the driver's seat in its rearmost and lowermost position with the vehicle on a level surface”
Windshield below the strip	All vehicles	unclear No published figure Under review — this dimension is still under review. This is a gap in our research, and it says nothing about what Connecticut requires here; the state may set its rule in words rather than a percentage.	—
Front side windows	All vehicles	35% VLT minimum measured on the installed glass + film together Window must not be mirror-like in appearance. Detail ASSEMBLY basis: §14-99g(a)(1) — light transmission is measured through "a product or material including the glazing". Statutory tolerance ±3%.	C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(1) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29 “Front side wing vents and windows which are not mirror-like in appearance and have a substance or material in conjunction with glazing material that has a total light transmission of not less than thirty-five per cent plus or minus three per cent and a luminous reflectance of twenty-seven per cent plus or minus three per cent;”
Back side windows	Sedan	35% VLT minimum measured on the installed glass + film together Window must not be mirror-like in appearance. Detail Connecticut does not step the rear windows darker than the front — both are 35%. ASSEMBLY basis: §14-99g(a)(1) — light transmission is measured through "a product or material including the glazing". Statutory tolerance ±3%.	C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(5) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29 “The right and left side windows behind the driver and the rearmost window which shall not be mirror-like in appearance, having a substance or material in conjunction with glazing material that has a total light transmission of not less than thirty-five per cent plus or minus three per cent and a luminous reflectance of twenty-one per cent to plus or minus three per cent;”
	Multipurpose passenger vehicle	confirmed No VLT limit on windows behind the driver of a truck, motor bus, trailer, mobile manufactured home, or multipurpose passenger vehicle, provided the vehicle has dual outside mirrors giving a 200-foot rearward view. Vehicle class per 49 C.F.R. §571.3; dual outside mirrors required. Detail Vehicle-class split: the 35% figure binds sedans, while trucks/buses/trailers/manufactured homes/MPVs are exempt behind the driver. Collapsing these into one number would misstate the law for most SUVs and vans.	C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(6) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29 “The windows behind the driver on any truck, motor bus, trailer, mobile manufactured home, or multipurpose passenger vehicle, as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Section 571.3, as amended from time to time, provided said vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on the left and right-hand sides which are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred feet to the rear of such motor vehicle;”
Rear window	Sedan	35% VLT minimum measured on the installed glass + film together Rearmost window, not mirror-like. Alternatively exempt outright under (c)(10) where the vehicle has dual outside mirrors. Detail Two routes coexist: meet 35% under (c)(5), or fit dual outside mirrors and take the (c)(10) exemption. ASSEMBLY basis: §14-99g(a)(1) — light transmission is measured through "a product or material including the glazing". Statutory tolerance ±3%.	C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(5), (c)(10) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29 “The rearmost window or windows, provided the motor vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on the left and right-hand sides of the vehicle which are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred feet to the rear of such motor vehicle;”
Reflectivity — front side windows	All vehicles	27% reflectance maximum Detail Connecticut sets front and rear reflectance caps at different values — 27% front, 21% rear. Most states use one figure for both.	C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(1) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29 “a luminous reflectance of twenty-seven per cent plus or minus three per cent”
Reflectivity — back side windows	All vehicles	21% reflectance maximum	C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(5) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29 “a luminous reflectance of twenty-one per cent to plus or minus three per cent”
Medical exemption	All vehicles	Required Detail Written application to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, supported by documentation from a physician or optometrist licensed in Connecticut.	C.G.S. §14-99g(b) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29 “Any person required for medical reasons to be shielded from direct rays of the sun or any person operating a motor vehicle belonging to such person or in which such person is a usual passenger shall be exempt from the provisions of this subsection. Applications for such exemption based upon such medical reason shall be made in writing to the commissioner and shall be supported by the written documentation of a physician or optometrist licensed to practice in this state.”
Certification sticker / label	All vehicles	Required. A sticker legible from outside the vehicle must be affixed to the lower left corner of each aftermarket-tinted window, carrying a sticker registration number and a certification of compliance; pressure-sensitive, self-destructive upon removal, not exceeding one square inch. Detail A genuine per-window sticker requirement — stricter than the carry-a-certificate approach in California. Connecticut also bans sale or delivery of non-compliant vehicles under §14-99g(d).	C.G.S. §14-99g(e) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29 “Each motor vehicle manufactured and sold on and after January 1, 1994, having a window which has been tinted or darkened with any tinted material after factory delivery shall have affixed to the lower left corner of each such window a sticker legible from outside the vehicle which indicates the sticker registration number, a certification of compliance with the provisions of this section, and such other information as the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles deems appropriate. The sticker shall be of a type which is pressure-sensitive, self-destructive upon removal, and shall not exceed one square inch in size.”
Restricted colors	All vehicles	Red and amber prohibited on the permitted topmost-windshield material. Side and rear windows must not be "mirror-like in appearance"; no color list applies to them.	C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(1), (c)(5), (c)(11)(B) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29 “which are not mirror-like in appearance”
Side mirrors required if the rear window is tinted	All vehicles	Required Dual outside mirrors with a 200-foot rearward view are the condition for the (c)(6) and (c)(10) exemptions behind the driver.	C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(10) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29 “provided the motor vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors on the left and right-hand sides of the vehicle which are so located as to reflect to the driver a view of the highway for a distance of at least two hundred feet to the rear of such motor vehicle”

Film that may meet the 35% requirement for the rear window

35% VLT minimum — measured on the installed glass, film and window together Rearmost window, not mirror-like. Alternatively exempt outright under (c)(10) where the vehicle has dual outside mirrors.
C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(5), (c)(10) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29

This limit is measured on the installed glass, not on the film. Factory glass blocks light on its own, so film rated at or above the figure can still read below it once applied. Treat these as candidates and verify the installed reading.
C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(5), (c)(10) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29
This state also restricts film colour: Red and amber prohibited on the permitted topmost-windshield material. Side and rear windows must not be "mirror-like in appearance"; no color list applies to them.
C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(1), (c)(5), (c)(11)(B) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29
This state also caps reflectance for this glass at 21%. Mirrored and metallic films can exceed it regardless of their VLT rating.
C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(5) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29
Tinting the glass behind the driver is conditioned here on outside mirrors, separately from the light-transmittance figure. Dual outside mirrors with a 200-foot rearward view are the condition for the (c)(6) and (c)(10) exemptions behind the driver.
C.G.S. §14-99g(c)(10) — Connecticut General Statutes · read 2026-07-29

Our pick at 35% VLT

35%VLTIAQWEIAQWE 35% VLT Ceramic Car Window Tint Film 20 in x 20 ft Roll | High Heat Rejection, UV Block, Privacy, Shatterproof, Scratch Resistant & No Signal InterferenceCeramic (nano-ceramic, 5-layer)20″ × 20′ rollRated 35% VLT — may comply with the 35% requirement for the rear window; verify the installed reading.View on Amazon

More options that clear this figure, darkest first

35%VLTIAQWEIAQWE 35% VLT Ceramic Car Window Tint Film 20 in x 20 ft Roll | High Heat Rejection, UV Block, Privacy, Shatterproof, Scratch Resistant & No Signal InterferenceCeramic (nano-ceramic, 5-layer)20″ × 20′ rollRated 35% VLT — may comply with the 35% requirement for the rear window; verify the installed reading.View on Amazon
35%VLTRockRoseRockRose 35% Nano Ceramic Car Window Tint 36 in x 25FT 2PLY Privacy Film Heat Block, 99% UVR, and 85% IRR Block for Auto or Home Strong Adhesive, Easy Shrink, Plotter Friendly - CharcoalCeramic (2-ply nano-ceramic)36″ × 25′ rollRated 35% VLT — may comply with the 35% requirement for the rear window; verify the installed reading.View on Amazon
50%VLTIAQWEIAQWE 50% VLT Ceramic Car Window Tint Film 20 in x 20 ft Roll | High Heat Rejection, UV Block, Privacy, Shatterproof, Scratch Resistant & No Signal InterferenceCeramic (nano-ceramic, 5-layer)20″ × 20′ rollRated 50% VLT — may comply with the 35% requirement for the rear window; verify the installed reading.View on Amazon
70%VLTARANAARANA 70% VLT 36"x15FT Ceramic Car Window Tint Film | Keep Car Cool, UV Heat Blocking, Daytime Privacy & Anti-Glare, Scratch Resistant, Phone/GPS Friendly, DIY InstallCeramic (nano-ceramic)36″ × 15′ rollRated 70% VLT — may comply with the 35% requirement for the rear window; verify the installed reading.View on Amazon

Sources

C.G.S. §14-99g — Connecticut General Statutes, read 2026-07-29

Nearby states

Other Connecticut modification laws

Connecticut exhaust and muffler laws
Not published yet. We have not researched this category for Connecticut — which is a statement about us, not about whether Connecticut regulates it.
Connecticut lighting and underglow laws
Not published yet. We have not researched this category for Connecticut — which is a statement about us, not about whether Connecticut regulates it.
Connecticut lift kit and bumper height laws
Not published yet. We have not researched this category for Connecticut — which is a statement about us, not about whether Connecticut regulates it.
Connecticut wheel and tire laws
Not published yet. We have not researched this category for Connecticut — which is a statement about us, not about whether Connecticut regulates it.
Connecticut ECU tuning and emissions laws
Not published yet. We have not researched this category for Connecticut — which is a statement about us, not about whether Connecticut regulates it.
Connecticut intake laws
Not published yet. We have not researched this category for Connecticut — which is a statement about us, not about whether Connecticut regulates it.
Connecticut body and appearance laws
Not published yet. We have not researched this category for Connecticut — which is a statement about us, not about whether Connecticut regulates it.

Compare all 51 jurisdictions →

This is not legal advice

This page describes what we read in Connecticut’s published law on the dates shown beside each citation. It is information, not legal advice, and no lawyer–client relationship is created by reading it. This page is provided as is; we make no warranty that it is accurate, complete, or current.

Verify before you tint. Laws change — states have amended the very statutes cited here during our own research — and enforcement practice can differ from the written text. Follow the citation on any figure you are about to rely on and read the current section yourself, or ask your state’s motor vehicle agency or a licensed attorney.

Where we say a figure is unclear, we mean we could not establish it — not that the law permits anything. A missing number here is a gap in our research, and the state may still regulate that glass in words rather than percentages.

Connecticut Window Tint Law 2026

The limits at a glance

Film that may meet the 35% requirement for front side windows

Every Connecticut tint rule we track

Film that may meet the 35% requirement for the rear window

Sources

Nearby states

Other Connecticut modification laws

Connecticut exhaust and muffler laws

Connecticut lighting and underglow laws

Connecticut lift kit and bumper height laws

Connecticut wheel and tire laws

Connecticut ECU tuning and emissions laws

Connecticut intake laws

Connecticut body and appearance laws