Virginia Window Tint Law 2026
Virginia requires at least 50% 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 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 50% 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 50% requirement for front side windows; verify the installed reading.View on Amazon
More options that clear this figure, darkest first
- 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 50% requirement for front side windows; verify the installed reading.View on Amazon
- 50%VLTRockRoseRockRose 50% Premium Carbon Car Window Tint Film 40 in x 100FT 2PLY Charcoal Privacy Film UV, Heat Blocking Tint for Car or Home Adhesive Film Easy Shrink, Plotter Friendly Pro GradeCarbon (2-ply PET)40″ × 100′ rollRated 50% VLT — may comply with the 50% requirement for front side windows; verify the installed reading.View on Amazon
- 50%VLTTOYOCOTOYOCO Ceramic Car Window Tint Film, 50% VLT, 36" x 25FT Window Privacy Film, No Signal Interference, 99% UV Protection & Scratch-Resistant for Side & Rear Windows, DIY InstallCeramic (2-ply)36″ × 25′ rollRated 50% VLT — may comply with the 50% 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 50% requirement for front side windows; verify the installed reading.View on Amazon
Showing 4 of the 8 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 50% requirement for front side windows
- 50% VLT minimum — measured on the installed glass, film and window togetherVa. Code §46.2-1052(D)(2) — Code of Virginia · 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.Va. Code §46.2-1052(D)(2) — Code of Virginia · read
- This state also restricts film colour: No colour list. Virginia instead bans films producing a holographic or prism effect, and caps reflectance at 20%.Va. Code §46.2-1052(D)(3) — Code of Virginia · read
- This state also caps reflectance for this glass at 20%. Mirrored and metallic films can exceed it regardless of their VLT rating.Va. Code §46.2-1052(D)(3) — Code of Virginia · read
Every Virginia tint rule we track
| Rule | Applies to | What the law says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windshield strip — how dark the strip may be | All vehicles | No VLT figure; the permitted material is a replacement for the factory sunshield rather than a rated film. | Va. Code §46.2-1052(F) — Code of Virginia · read “except to replace the sunshield in the uppermost area as installed by the manufacturer of the vehicle” |
| Windshield strip — how far down it may extend | All vehicles | No aftermarket tinted strip is authorized. Film or darkening material may be applied to the windshield only to REPLACE the manufacturer-installed sunshield in the uppermost area. Clear film may be applied to the whole windshield if maintained consistently with 49 C.F.R. §571.205.DetailVirginia expresses the windshield rule by reference to the factory sunshield, giving no inches figure and no AS-1 reference — a fourth distinct form alongside inches-from-top, AS-1, and seat-relative clearance. | Va. Code §46.2-1052(F) — Code of Virginia · read “No film or darkening material may be applied on the windshield except to replace the sunshield in the uppermost area as installed by the manufacturer of the vehicle. However, clear film may be applied to a windshield, so long as it is maintained in a condition consistent with 49 C.F.R. § 571.205, Standard No. 205, Glazing Materials.” |
| 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 Virginia requires here; the state may set its rule in words rather than a percentage. | — |
| Front side windows | All vehicles | 50% VLT minimum measured on the installed glass + film together DetailVirginia's front side floor is 50%, higher (lighter) than its 35% rear figure. Law-enforcement measurements carry a tolerance of minus seven percentage points under subsection E. ASSEMBLY basis: the statute regulates films that "reduce the total light transmittance of such window", i.e. the installed window. | Va. Code §46.2-1052(D)(2) — Code of Virginia · read “No sun-shading or tinting films may be applied or affixed to the front side windows of any motor vehicle operated on the highways of the Commonwealth that reduce total light transmittance of such window to less than 50 percent;” |
| Back side windows | Sedan | 35% VLT minimum measured on the installed glass + film together DetailASSEMBLY basis: the statute regulates films that "reduce the total light transmittance of such window", i.e. the installed window. | Va. Code §46.2-1052(D)(1) — Code of Virginia · read “No sun-shading or tinting films may be applied or affixed to the rear side windows or rear window or windows of any motor vehicle operated on the highways of the Commonwealth that reduce the total light transmittance of such window to less than 35 percent;” |
| Multipurpose passenger vehicle | confirmed Multipurpose passenger vehicles and pickup trucks may have rear side windows tinted below 35% — the subsection D limits do not bind them there. | Va. Code §46.2-1052(H) — Code of Virginia · read “Nothing in this section shall prohibit applying to the rear side windows or rear window of any multipurpose passenger vehicle or pickup truck sun-shading or tinting films that reduce the total light transmittance of such window or windows below 35 percent.” | |
| Rear window | Sedan | 35% VLT minimum measured on the installed glass + film together | Va. Code §46.2-1052(D)(1) — Code of Virginia · read “No sun-shading or tinting films may be applied or affixed to the rear side windows or rear window or windows of any motor vehicle ... that reduce the total light transmittance of such window to less than 35 percent;” |
| Multipurpose passenger vehicle | confirmed Multipurpose passenger vehicles and pickup trucks may have the rear window tinted below 35%. | Va. Code §46.2-1052(H) — Code of Virginia · read “Nothing in this section shall prohibit applying to the rear side windows or rear window of any multipurpose passenger vehicle or pickup truck sun-shading or tinting films that reduce the total light transmittance of such window or windows below 35 percent.” | |
| Reflectivity — front side windows | All vehicles | 20% reflectance maximumDetailThe 20% reflectance cap and the holographic/prism ban apply to ANY window, front or rear. | Va. Code §46.2-1052(D)(3) — Code of Virginia · read “No sun-shading or tinting films shall be applied or affixed to any window of a motor vehicle that (i) have a reflectance of light exceeding 20 percent or (ii) produce a holographic or prism effect.” |
| Reflectivity — back side windows | All vehicles | 20% reflectance maximum | Va. Code §46.2-1052(D)(3) — Code of Virginia · read “No sun-shading or tinting films shall be applied or affixed to any window of a motor vehicle that (i) have a reflectance of light exceeding 20 percent or (ii) produce a holographic or prism effect.” |
| Medical exemption | 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 Virginia requires here; the state may set its rule in words rather than a percentage. Va. Code §46.2-1052(D) opens "Except as provided in § 46.2-1053" — that cross-referenced section is Virginia's exemption provision and was NOT retrieved this session. Recorded as a gap rather than described, because the scope of §46.2-1053 (medical vs other) cannot be read off the cross-reference alone. | — |
| Certification sticker / label | 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 Virginia requires here; the state may set its rule in words rather than a percentage. Not established as a compliance-label duty in §46.2-1052. Subsection G permits a single rear-window sticker no larger than 20 square inches within the lower five inches of the window, which is a permission rather than a requirement. Phase 1b should check §46.2-1053 and Virginia State Police inspection rules. | — |
| Restricted colors | All vehicles | No colour list. Virginia instead bans films producing a holographic or prism effect, and caps reflectance at 20%. | |
| Side mirrors required if the rear window is tinted | All vehicles | Required Required before ANY sun-shading or tinting film may be applied to any window — not only when rear glass is tinted. DetailBroader than the equivalent rules in California, Arizona and Ohio, which tie mirrors specifically to rear-window tint. | Va. Code §46.2-1052(D) — Code of Virginia · read “no sun-shading or tinting film may be applied or affixed to any window of a motor vehicle unless such motor vehicle is equipped with a mirror on each side of such motor vehicle, so located as to reflect to the driver of the vehicle a view of the highway for at least 200 feet to the rear of such vehicle” |
Film that may meet the 35% requirement for the rear window
- 35% VLT minimum — measured on the installed glass, film and window togetherVa. Code §46.2-1052(D)(1) — Code of Virginia · 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.Va. Code §46.2-1052(D)(1) — Code of Virginia · read
- This state also restricts film colour: No colour list. Virginia instead bans films producing a holographic or prism effect, and caps reflectance at 20%.Va. Code §46.2-1052(D)(3) — Code of Virginia · read
- This state also caps reflectance for this glass at 20%. Mirrored and metallic films can exceed it regardless of their VLT rating.Va. Code §46.2-1052(D)(3) — Code of Virginia · read
- Tinting the glass behind the driver is conditioned here on outside mirrors, separately from the light-transmittance figure. Required before ANY sun-shading or tinting film may be applied to any window — not only when rear glass is tinted.Va. Code §46.2-1052(D) — Code of Virginia · 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
- Va. Code §46.2-1052(D) — Code of Virginia, read
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