What Are the Current Window Tint Laws in Pennsylvania?
Passenger cars built in 1998 or later must also meet 70% on rear side windows and the rear window. Mr. Tint reviewed PennDOT’s April 2025 fact sheet and state regulations. This guide explains each rule in plain language for Pittsburgh drivers.
Pennsylvania regulates tint through PennDOT rules in 67 Pa. Code Chapter 175 and a state vehicle code provision, 75 Pa.C.S. § 4524. The core test is visibility. No sun screening film or material may block a person from seeing inside. That covers the windshield, side wings, and side windows. PennDOT then adds numeric limits in a chart called Table X, sorted by vehicle type.
| Vehicle Type | Windshield | Front Side Windows | Rear Side Windows | Rear Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger cars, 1998 and newer | 70% | 70% | 70% | 70% |
| Passenger cars, pre-1998 | 70% | 70% | 70% | VESC-20 label required |
| Trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles | 70% | 70% | No requirement | No requirement |
| Medium and heavy trucks and buses | 70% | 70% | No requirement | No requirement |
| All other vehicles | 70% | 70% | No requirement | No requirement |
Each number is a minimum, so a higher percentage means lighter tint. Table X states that its light transmittance levels assume a measurement accuracy of 3%. These figures match PennDOT’s Vehicle Window Tint Fact Sheet dated April 2025. It was the newest version found at the time of writing.
What Does VLT Mean, and How Is Window Tint Measured?
VLT stands for visible light transmission. It is the share of visible light that passes through the glass and film together. A 70% VLT window lets 70% of light through, while a 5% VLT window blocks 95%.
Film sits on glass that already blocks some light, so a finished window can meter darker than the film rating. Checking a meter reading on the finished glass is general installation practice, not a Pennsylvania rule. At its Plum shop, Mr. Tint installs XPEL PRIME window film in three tiers with a lifetime warranty.
Drivers comparing shops can review automotive window tinting in Pittsburgh to see the film options offered locally.
What Are the Windshield Tint Rules in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania lists 70% as the light transmittance level for windshields on every vehicle type. PennDOT rules also allow a transparent product near the top of the windshield. It can extend up to 3 inches from the top edge. It must stay out of the AS-1 portion of the glass under FMVSS No. 205. The AS-1 line is the small marking near the upper corner of the windshield.
Dark film across the windshield conflicts with the rule that the inside of the vehicle must stay visible. Stickers and decals also have separate placement rules under 67 Pa. Code § 175.67.
Can Front Side Windows Be Tinted in Pennsylvania?
Front side windows and wings need 70% light transmittance on every vehicle type, including SUVs, vans, and pickups. This rule surprises many new truck and SUV owners, since rear glass follows different limits.
Only light films fit this limit. Many clear ceramic films sit near or above 70% VLT, but specifications differ by brand and tier. Drivers in Pittsburgh, Plum, Monroeville, Murrysville, Penn Hills, and New Kensington can ask Mr. Tint for a front two-window tint that stays within the 70% limit.
What Are the Rear Side Window and Rear Windshield Tint Rules in Pennsylvania?
Passenger Cars Built in 1998 or Later
Rear side windows and the rear window both need 70% light transmittance. This applies to vehicles PennDOT classifies as passenger cars.
Passenger Cars Built Before 1998
Rear side windows need 70%, and the rear window follows the VESC-20 standard. The film must carry a permanent label between the film and the glass. The label lists the manufacturer name or a registration number. It must also state “Complies with VESC-20.”
Trucks and Multi-Purpose Passenger Vehicles
PennDOT lists no requirement for rear side windows or the rear window on trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. PennDOT defines these as vehicles built on a truck chassis or specifically designed for occasional off-road use. Not every SUV or crossover fits that definition, so confirm the classification before tinting rear glass.
Is 70%, 50%, 35%, 20%, or 5% Tint Legal in Pennsylvania?
Only 70% film meets the Pennsylvania minimum on every regulated window. Darker options can apply only where PennDOT lists no requirement, which means rear glass on trucks and multi-purpose vehicles.
Is 70% Tint Legal in Pennsylvania?
Yes. A 70% VLT reading meets Table X on the windshield, front side windows, and rear glass for every vehicle type.
Are 50% and 35% Tint Legal in Pennsylvania?
No, not on the windshield or front side windows of any vehicle. They also fall below the 70% limit on rear glass of passenger cars built in 1998 or later.
Is 20% Tint Legal in Pennsylvania?
No on front windows, and no on rear glass of newer passenger cars. It is a popular request, but 20% sits far below the 70% minimum.
Is 5% Tint Legal in Pennsylvania?
No on front windows or newer passenger cars. On trucks and multi-purpose vehicles, PennDOT lists no rear limit, yet the general visibility rule still applies to side windows.
Are Reflective Tint, Tint Colors, and Side Mirrors Regulated in Pennsylvania?
PennDOT’s fact sheet and the regulations reviewed here set no separate reflectivity percentage. They also list no banned tint colors. Some online guides claim a mirrored-film ban or a ban on red, amber, and blue tint. No official Pennsylvania source reviewed here states either rule. The visibility rule still applies, and heavily mirrored film often blocks the view inside.
Mirrors matter for rear glass. PennDOT requires right and left outside rearview mirrors when you use a sun screening device. Under 67 Pa. Code § 175.264, each mirror needs a minimum reflective surface of 19.5 square inches.
How Is Factory Privacy Glass Different From Aftermarket Tint?
Section 4524 exempts vehicles equipped with tinted windows of the type and specification installed by the manufacturer. Factory privacy glass is tinted during manufacturing, while aftermarket tint is film applied to existing glass afterward.
That difference matters on SUV and truck rear windows. Film added over privacy glass makes the window darker than the manufacturer’s specification, so it counts as added sun screening. Buyers of used vehicles should ask if dark rear glass is factory glass or added film.
How Do Medical Exemptions for Window Tint Work in Pennsylvania?
PennDOT issues medical exemption certificates. The applicant needs a certification of medical need from a licensed physician or optometrist. PennDOT then approves the certificate.
The exemption covers colorless products that filter ultraviolet light, not dark tint. The certificate must stay in the vehicle and be shown to a police officer on request. It becomes void when you sell or transfer the vehicle.
The PennDOT vehicle window tint fact sheet lists the Medical Unit at (717) 787-9662 for exemption questions.
What Happens at Inspection, and What Is the Fine for Illegal Tint?
Pennsylvania vehicles need an annual safety inspection, and inspectors review glazing. PennDOT’s inspection rules also address sun screening that blocks the view inside, so illegal tint can cause inspection problems.
Section 4524 does not list a fine in the text reviewed. Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 6502(a), a summary offense with no other listed penalty carries a $25 fine. Court costs and fees can raise the total, and amounts vary by case.
Do Pittsburgh Drivers Follow Different Tint Rules Than the Rest of Pennsylvania?
No city or county sets its own tint percentage in the sources reviewed. PennDOT’s rules apply to vehicles operated on Pennsylvania highways. A car in Pittsburgh follows the same Table X as one in Philadelphia or Erie.
Local driving still shapes film choice. Pittsburgh has hot summer sun, glare on hilly roads, and long winters with road salt. A legal 70% ceramic film can cut heat and UV without going darker than the law allows.
How Can Drivers Check That Tint Is Legal Before Installation?
A short checklist prevents most legal problems:
- Confirm the model year and how PennDOT classifies the vehicle, as a passenger car or a multi-purpose vehicle.
- Choose film based on the measured VLT of the finished window, not only the number on the box.
- Keep the film specification and installer paperwork with the vehicle records.
- Add right and left outside mirrors that meet PennDOT size rules when rear glass is tinted.
- Carry the PennDOT medical exemption certificate in the vehicle when one has been issued.
Which Tint Percentages Are Legal on Each Window? Quick Chart
| Tint Percentage | Windshield | Front Side Windows | Rear Side Windows and Rear Window, Passenger Car 1998+ | Rear Side Windows and Rear Window, Truck or Multi-Purpose Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70% | Legal | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| 50% | Not legal | Not legal | Not legal | No listed limit |
| 35% | Not legal | Not legal | Not legal | No listed limit |
| 20% | Not legal | Not legal | Not legal | No listed limit |
| 5% | Not legal | Not legal | Not legal | No listed limit |
The chart follows PennDOT’s Table X. “No listed limit” means PennDOT shows no requirement for that window, not that any film is approved. A transparent strip within the top 3 inches of the windshield is the only windshield exception.
How to Keep Tint Legal in Pittsburgh and Across Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania requires 70% light transmittance on the windshield and front side windows for every vehicle type. Passenger cars from 1998 forward carry the same 70% limit on rear glass. Trucks and multi-purpose vehicles have no listed rear limit. Medical exemptions cover clear, UV-filtering products only.
Drivers in Plum, Monroeville, and across Pittsburgh can ask Mr. Tint to match film to the vehicle type and each window position. Those who also want paint care after tinting can review ceramic coating in Pittsburgh.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 20% tint legal on a car in Pennsylvania?
No. Pennsylvania requires 70% light transmittance on the windshield and front side windows, and on rear side windows and the rear window of 1998 or newer passenger cars. A 20% film blocks 80% of light, so it fails on every window of a sedan. Call a local tint shop for legal options.
Is 5% limo tint legal on the back windows of an SUV in Pennsylvania?
PennDOT lists no requirement for rear glass on trucks and multi-purpose vehicles, but front windows still need 70%. The general rule that the inside must stay visible also covers side windows, so 5% limo tint carries risk. Confirm the vehicle class and call PennDOT for a clear answer.
Can I tint my windshield in Pennsylvania?
Only a transparent strip is allowed. Pennsylvania sets 70% light transmittance for windshields, and PennDOT rules permit a transparent product up to 3 inches from the top edge, clear of the AS-1 portion of the glass. Dark film across the full windshield does not meet these rules.
What is the fine for illegal window tint in Pennsylvania?
Section 4524 does not list its own fine. Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 6502(a), a summary offense without a listed penalty carries a $25 fine, and court costs can raise the total. Amounts vary by case, so check the citation or contact the court that issued it for the exact total owed to the state.
Does Pennsylvania allow a medical exemption for dark window tint?
The exemption covers colorless sun screening that filters ultraviolet light, not dark tint. A licensed physician or optometrist must certify medical need, and PennDOT approves the certificate. It must stay in the vehicle, and it becomes void when the vehicle is sold or transferred to a new owner.
Will my tint pass a Pennsylvania safety inspection?
Inspectors review glazing during the annual safety inspection, and PennDOT rules address tint that blocks the view inside. Film that meets 70% on the windshield, front windows, and required rear glass should not raise a problem. Ask the installer to meter the finished windows before inspection.
