North Carolina Window Tint Law 2026
North Carolina 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.
Choose a tint level
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
Our pick at 50% VLT
- 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
Our pick at 70% VLT
- 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
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
Film that may meet the 35% requirement for front side windows
- 35% VLT minimum — measured on the installed glass, film and window togetherN.C.G.S. §20-127(b)(1) — North Carolina General Statutes · read
- 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.N.C.G.S. §20-127(b)(1) — North Carolina General Statutes · read
- This state also restricts film colour: Tinted film or other tinting material must be nonreflective and must not be red, yellow, or amber.N.C.G.S. §20-127(b)(3) — North Carolina General Statutes · read
- This state also caps reflectance for this glass at 20%. Mirrored and metallic films can exceed it regardless of their VLT rating.N.C.G.S. §20-127(b)(2) — North Carolina General Statutes · read
Every North Carolina tint rule we track
| Rule | Applies to | What the law says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windshield strip — how dark the strip may be | All vehicles | No VLT stated for the permitted top-of-windshield strip. Separately, an untinted clear film that does not obstruct vision but reduces or eliminates ultraviolet radiation may be applied to the windshield.DetailThe (c) exceptions expressly do NOT reach the windshield: "The window tinting restrictions in subsection (b) of this section apply without exception to the windshield of a vehicle." | N.C.G.S. §20-127(b) — North Carolina General Statutes · read “Provided, however, an untinted clear film which does not obstruct vision but which reduces or eliminates ultraviolet radiation from entering a vehicle may be applied to the windshield.” |
| Windshield strip — how far down it may extend | All vehicles | AS-1 or 5 in below top, whichever measurement is LONGERDetailThe permissive tie-breaker — contrast Ohio's "whichever is closer to the top". Separately, an untinted clear UV film may be applied to the whole windshield under the proviso in (b). | N.C.G.S. §20-127(b) — North Carolina General Statutes · read “The windshield of the vehicle may be tinted only along the top of the windshield and the tinting may not extend more than five inches below the top of the windshield or below the AS1 line of the windshield, whichever measurement is longer.” |
| 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 North Carolina 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 DetailThe legal standard is 35%; 32% is an evidentiary safe harbour, not a second limit — a window metering above 32% on an approved meter is conclusively presumed compliant. Both figures belong on the page, correctly labelled. ASSEMBLY basis: the statute regulates "the total light transmission of the tinted window", i.e. the installed window rather than the film. | N.C.G.S. §20-127(b)(1) — North Carolina General Statutes · read “The total light transmission of the tinted window shall be at least thirty-five percent (35%). A vehicle window that, by use of a light meter approved by the Commissioner, measures a total light transmission of more than thirty-two percent (32%) is conclusively presumed to meet this restriction.” |
| Back side windows | Sedan | 35% VLT minimum measured on the installed glass + film together DetailNorth Carolina applies one figure to every non-windshield window rather than stepping by position; the variation comes from the (c) vehicle-class exceptions instead. ASSEMBLY basis: the statute regulates "the total light transmission of the tinted window", i.e. the installed window rather than the film. | N.C.G.S. §20-127(b)(1) — North Carolina General Statutes · read “The total light transmission of the tinted window shall be at least thirty-five percent (35%).” |
| Multipurpose passenger vehicle | confirmed Exempt from both the 35% transmission and 20% reflectance limits for any window of a multipurpose vehicle that is behind the driver. A multipurpose vehicle is a passenger vehicle carrying 10 or fewer passengers that is either built on a truck chassis or has special features for occasional off-road operation; minivans and pickup trucks are multipurpose vehicles.DetailThis exception swallows a large share of the vehicle fleet. The statute supplies its own definition rather than borrowing the federal one, and expressly names minivans and pickups. | N.C.G.S. §20-127(c)(9) — North Carolina General Statutes · read “A window of a multipurpose vehicle that is behind the driver of the vehicle. A multipurpose vehicle is a passenger vehicle that is designed to carry 10 or fewer passengers and either is constructed on a truck chassis or has special features designed for occasional off-road operation. A minivan and a pickup truck are multipurpose vehicles.” | |
| Rear window | Truck | confirmed Exempt for the rear window of a property-hauling vehicle, and for any window of a motor home, ambulance, limousine or law enforcement vehicle. Separately, (c)(1) exempts any window of an excursion passenger vehicle.DetailOnly the PROPERTY-HAULING exemption is limited to the rear window; the motor home, ambulance, limousine and law enforcement exemptions reach any window. Note also that the (c) exceptions disapply only subdivisions (b)(1) and (b)(2) — the transmission and reflectance limits — and never the windshield: "The window tinting restrictions in subsection (b) of this section apply without exception to the windshield of a vehicle." | N.C.G.S. §20-127(c)(4)–(8) — North Carolina General Statutes · read “(4) A window of a motor home, as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(27)k. (5) A window of an ambulance, as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(27)a. (6) The rear window of a property-hauling vehicle, as defined in G.S. 20-4.01(31). (7) A window of a limousine. (8) A window of a law enforcement vehicle.” |
| Sedan | 35% VLT minimum measured on the installed glass + film together | N.C.G.S. §20-127(b)(1) — North Carolina General Statutes · read “The total light transmission of the tinted window shall be at least thirty-five percent (35%).” | |
| Reflectivity — front side windows | All vehicles | 20% reflectance maximumDetailNorth Carolina additionally requires the film itself be nonreflective and not red, yellow or amber — a prose requirement layered on top of the 20% cap. | N.C.G.S. §20-127(b)(2) — North Carolina General Statutes · read “The light reflectance of the tinted window shall be twenty percent (20%) or less.” |
| Reflectivity — back side windows | Sedan | 20% reflectance maximumDetailDoes not apply behind the driver on a multipurpose vehicle — (c)(9) exempts those windows from (b)(1) and (b)(2) alike. | N.C.G.S. §20-127(b)(2) — North Carolina General Statutes · read “The light reflectance of the tinted window shall be twenty percent (20%) or less.” |
| Medical exemption | All vehicles | RequiredDetailA formal state-issued permit, not a carried letter: written application to the Drivers Medical Evaluation Program plus a physician-completed evaluation form; valid five years; renewal requires medical recertification; no more than four permits valid at once. The permit specifies the vehicle, the windows that may be tinted, and the permitted tint levels, and must be carried in the vehicle. | N.C.G.S. §20-127(f) — North Carolina General Statutes · read “Medical Exception. - A person who suffers from a medical condition that causes the person to be photosensitive to visible light may obtain a medical exception permit. To obtain a permit, an applicant shall apply in writing to the Drivers Medical Evaluation Program and have his or her doctor complete the required medical evaluation form provided by the Division. The permit shall be valid for five years from the date of issue, unless a shorter time is directed by the Drivers Medical Evaluation Program.” |
| Certification sticker / label | All vehicles | A sticker is required only under the medical exception: the Division issues one for the lower left-hand corner of the rear window, placed between the window and the tinting, warning prospective purchasers that the vehicle does not meet §20-127(b). Failure to display it is an infraction carrying a $200 fine.DetailDistinct in purpose from the compliance labels Connecticut, Ohio and Pennsylvania require — this sticker exists to disclose NON-compliance to a future buyer. There is no general installer-compliance sticker duty in §20-127. | N.C.G.S. §20-127(f) — North Carolina General Statutes · read “The Division shall give a person who receives a medical exception permit a sticker to place on the lower left-hand corner of the rear window of the vehicle to which it applies. The sticker shall be designed to give prospective purchasers of the vehicle notice that the windows of the vehicle do not meet the requirements of G.S. 20-127(b), and shall be placed between the window and the tinting when the tinting is installed. ... Failure to display the sticker is an infraction punishable by a two hundred dollar ($200.00) fine.” |
| Restricted colors | All vehicles | Tinted film or other tinting material must be nonreflective and must not be red, yellow, or amber. | N.C.G.S. §20-127(b)(3) — North Carolina General Statutes · read “Tinted film or another material used to tint the window shall be nonreflective and shall not be red, yellow, or amber.” |
| Side mirrors required if the rear window is tinted | All vehicles | unclear No published figure Under review — the official sources we read state no figure for this. This is a gap in our research, and it says nothing about what North Carolina requires here; the state may set its rule in words rather than a percentage. Not addressed in §20-127. North Carolina conditions no tint allowance on mirrors; §20-127 also separately obliges a driver with tinted windows to roll down the driver-side (or passenger-side) window on a law enforcement officer's approach under subsection (g), which is a stop procedure rather than an equipment rule. | — |
Film that may meet the 35% requirement for the rear window
- 35% VLT minimum — measured on the installed glass, film and window togetherN.C.G.S. §20-127(b)(1) — North Carolina General Statutes · read
- 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.N.C.G.S. §20-127(b)(1) — North Carolina General Statutes · read
- This state also restricts film colour: Tinted film or other tinting material must be nonreflective and must not be red, yellow, or amber.N.C.G.S. §20-127(b)(3) — North Carolina General Statutes · read
- This state also caps reflectance for this glass at 20%. Mirrored and metallic films can exceed it regardless of their VLT rating.N.C.G.S. §20-127(b)(2) — North Carolina General Statutes · read
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.
Choose a tint level
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
Our pick at 50% VLT
- 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
Our pick at 70% VLT
- 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
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
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.
Sources
- N.C.G.S. §20-127(b) — North Carolina General Statutes, read
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