California Window Tint Laws Explained (2026 Update)

The two-second summary

California Vehicle Code §26708 governs window tint. The rules every driver needs to know:

• Windshield: clear, except for a tint strip across the top no lower than the AS-1 line (about 4–5 inches from the top).
• Front side windows (driver and passenger): must let in more than 70% of light (VLT > 70%).
• Rear side windows and rear windshield: any darkness is legal as long as the car has dual side mirrors.

In plain English: the front two windows have to be very light. Everything behind the driver can be as dark as you want.

What about a 70% ceramic film on the front?

This is where ceramic shines. A 70% VLT ceramic film like SunTek CIR 70 looks essentially clear but rejects up to 46% of total solar energy. It is legal on the front side windows in California and is the most common upgrade we install for daily drivers.

You get heat rejection, UV protection, and a slight glare reduction knockdown without the cop-magnet look of a 5% tint.

The windshield strip

CHP officers regularly ticket "dark tint on the windshield." The legal allowance is a non-reflective tint strip above the AS-1 line — the small marking etched into the upper corner of most windshields. A 5–6 inch strip in the windshield is the sweet spot.

Fix-it tickets

A California window tint ticket is usually a "correctable violation" — a fix-it ticket. You pay a small fine, remove the illegal film, and get a CHP officer to sign off. Removal usually costs $50–$120 per window because old adhesive bonds to the glass.

If you got pulled over for tint and need to comply, we strip the front windows down to get it ready to have the correction taken care of.

Medical exemptions

California allows darker front side windows for drivers with documented medical conditions (lupus, severe photosensitivity, certain skin cancers). You need a signed letter from a licensed physician kept in the vehicle. We will install the film and provide a written installation receipt for your records.

Out-of-state cars

If you registered your car in Arizona or Nevada with 20% all around, you have 20 days to bring it into California compliance after re-registering here. We see this constantly with active-duty military moves to March Air Reserve Base.

Get it done right

Book a legal tint job and we will hand you a SunTek certificate with the exact VLT printed on it — useful if a CHP officer ever asks.