Minnesota Window Tint Laws (2026): Legal VLT Limits

In Minnesota, front side windows, back side windows, and the rear window all require at least 50% VLT (visible light transmission) for passenger cars. Vans are exempt on the back side windows and the rear window. Limousines, funeral vehicles, and police vehicles are exempt on their side and rear windows, which reaches their front side windows too. Pickup trucks are exempt only on the rear window, not the side windows behind the driver's seat.

What is the legal tint limit in Minnesota?

Minnesota's window tint rules appear in Minn. Stat. 169.71. The key concept is Visible Light Transmission: a higher VLT percentage means a lighter, less restrictive film that lets more light through, while a lower VLT percentage means a darker film that blocks more light. Minnesota uses a 50% VLT floor, which is one of the lighter (less permissive) standards in the country.

For passenger cars, all three window groups must meet 50% VLT: the front side windows, the back side windows (behind the driver), and the rear window. Unlike many states that allow SUVs and vans to run any darkness on rear windows, Minnesota's standard rule applies equally to sedans. The statute does exempt several vehicle types, and it does not exempt them all to the same extent. Vans may use any darkness on the rear window and on the side windows behind the driver's seat. Limousines, vehicles used by a funeral establishment to transport human remains, and police vehicles are exempt on their side and rear windows, and that difference is deliberate: the van clause is expressly limited to "the side windows on either side behind the driver's seat," while the limousine, funeral-vehicle, and police clauses are not, so their exemption reaches the front side windows as well. Pickup trucks are exempt only on the rear window; their side windows behind the driver's seat must still meet the 50% VLT minimum.

Minn. Stat. 169.71 subd. 4(3) writes a measurement tolerance of plus or minus three percent into the standard itself. A front side window reading of 47% on a tintometer falls within compliance under that tolerance.

Windshield tint rules in Minnesota

Minnesota prohibits any additional aftermarket tint on the front windshield. Unlike many states that allow a clear strip at the top above the AS-1 line, Minnesota's statute does not permit any applied tint film on the windshield at all. Factory-installed tinted glass embedded during manufacturing is treated differently from aftermarket film and is generally permissible, but no aftermarket film may be added.

The reflectivity limit of 20% luminous reflectance, plus or minus 3% tolerance (so up to 23% is compliant), is set by Minn. Stat. 169.71 subd. 4(3) and applies to side windows and rear windows, which is stricter than the 35% cap many other states use. The windshield is governed separately by subd. 4(1), which bars any material that makes the windshield more reflective at all. Films with a mirrored appearance are specifically prohibited. There are no named banned tint colors in the statute, but any highly reflective metallic or mirror-finish film would almost certainly exceed the reflectance cap and would not be lawful.

Medical exemptions

Minnesota allows a medical exemption under Minn. Stat. 169.71. A licensed physician must provide a written statement documenting the medical need for additional tint. The exemption statement is valid for up to two years, or indefinitely if the physician certifies the condition is permanent. The driver must keep the physician's statement in the vehicle and present it during any traffic stop where the tint is questioned.

Qualifying conditions typically involve sensitivity to ultraviolet or visible light, such as lupus, xeroderma pigmentosum, photosensitive eye conditions, or certain skin disorders. The exemption allows darker tint than the 50% standard on the affected windows, but the exemption document is the operative authorization and must accompany the vehicle at all times.

There is no pre-registration process with the DMV required to claim the exemption. The physician's written statement, current and signed, is sufficient documentation.

How tint is measured and certified in Minnesota

Minnesota requires a permanent marking on any window that has had film applied after August 1, 1985, showing the film's measured transmittance (VLT) and reflectance values. Minn. Stat. 169.71 subd. 4(4) does not limit this to the driver-side window or specify that the marking sit between the film and the glass; it only requires the marking be readable when installed and not obscure the driver's vision. This requirement places the responsibility on the installer to mark the film at the time of installation, giving officers a fast reference point during traffic stops without the need to use a tintometer every time.

Enforcement otherwise relies on a VLT meter (tintometer) at roadside. The plus-or-minus 3% tolerance is applied in enforcement, meaning a reading of 47% on a front side window or 47% on a rear window would still be compliant. Installers who apply film that does not meet the 50% standard can face a misdemeanor charge, which is a stronger deterrent than in states that only penalize the vehicle owner.

Penalties for illegal tint in Minnesota

Minnesota splits tint liability between the driver and the installer, and the two carry very different exposure.

If you simply drive a vehicle whose tint violates Minn. Stat. 169.71 subd. 4, you commit a petty misdemeanor. Minn. Stat. 169.89 subd. 1 makes it a petty misdemeanor to do any act forbidden by chapter 169 unless the chapter declares otherwise, and subd. 2 provides that a person convicted of a petty misdemeanor "is not subject to imprisonment but shall be punished by a fine of not more than $300." There is no jail exposure for the driver.

Selling or applying non-compliant window film is the heavier offense. Under Minn. Stat. 169.71 subd. 5 that conduct is a misdemeanor, which Minn. Stat. 609.02 subd. 3 defines as carrying up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. That classification is aimed at commercial installers and dealers rather than at the driver.

The compliance marking requirement means that during a stop, an officer can quickly check whether the film was installed to spec. If a tinted window lacks its marking, the vehicle is immediately suspect and may be subject to a meter reading. A vehicle with clearly non-compliant tint and no marking gives officers grounds to cite both the installation and the operation of the vehicle in that state.

If you want to tint your windows in Minnesota

Minnesota's 50% VLT rule means you should choose a film rated at 50% VLT or lighter for all windows on a passenger car to stay comfortably above the compliance floor. With the 3% tolerance, a film rated at exactly 50% may read as low as 47% on a meter and still pass, but going with 50% or above on paper gives you a clear margin.

For vans, the back side windows and the rear window are exempt, meaning you may use any darkness you prefer behind the driver, but the front side windows still need 50% VLT. For limousines, funeral vehicles, and police vehicles, the statute exempts the side and rear windows without limiting the exemption to windows behind the driver. For pickup trucks, only the rear window is exempt; the side windows behind the driver's seat must still meet the 50% VLT minimum. On a passenger car or SUV, every window needs 50% VLT.

Use a reputable installer who works with the compliance marking requirement. Minnesota law requires a permanent marking, readable once installed, on every window that receives film, not just the driver's side window. Ask for the installer's documentation showing the film's rated VLT so you have a second record on file. If you have a qualifying medical condition, obtain the physician's statement before installation so the film you choose is covered by the exemption from day one.

This article is general legal information, not legal advice. Window tint limits vary by state and change, and enforcement depends on local practice and your specific vehicle. For a definitive answer, check your state DMV or consult a local attorney.

Related reading

For rules about what may be attached to or mounted on your windshield, see Minnesota Windshield Mounting Restrictions.

More Minnesota Laws

• Minnesota Car Accident Laws