North Dakota Window Tint Laws (2026): Legal VLT Limits
North Dakota Window Tint Laws (2026): Legal VLT Limits
North Dakota requires side and rear windows to allow at least 35% visible light transmission (VLT) following the 2025 HB 1340 amendment, which lowered the limit from 50% and took effect August 1, 2025. The windshield must allow at least 70% VLT below the AS-1 line, with a non-reflective strip permitted above it.
What is the legal tint limit in North Dakota?
North Dakota's tint law changed significantly in 2025. Under 2025 HB 1340, which amended N.D. Cent. Code 39-21-39 and took effect August 1, 2025, the minimum VLT for side and rear windows dropped from 50% to 35%. That means drivers may now run moderately darker tint than was previously allowed under the prior law.
Higher VLT percentages mean a lighter (less dark) tint; lower percentages mean darker tint. At 35% VLT, a window allows just over one-third of visible light through, which is common for aftermarket tint across most of the country.
| Window | Legal VLT Minimum (from Aug 1, 2025) | Prior Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Front side windows | 35% | 50% |
| Back side windows | 35% (any darkness with dual outside mirrors) | 50% (any darkness with dual mirrors) |
| Rear window | 35% (any darkness with dual outside mirrors) | 50% (any darkness with dual mirrors) |
| Windshield | 70% below AS-1 line | 70% below AS-1 line |
The dual-mirror exception is significant: if your vehicle already has outside mirrors on both sides providing adequate rearward visibility, there is no VLT minimum for the windows behind the driver. This mirrors the approach many other states take for SUVs, vans, and trucks. The 35% minimum applies firmly to front side windows regardless of mirrors.
Windshield tint rules in North Dakota
The windshield carries the strictest restriction in the state's tint law. At least 70% of visible light must pass through the windshield below the manufacturer's AS-1 line or the top 5 inches, whichever is lower. This effectively prohibits any aftermarket tinting film that noticeably darkens the glass in the main viewing area.
A non-reflective tint strip is permitted above the AS-1 line. This is the classic "eyebrow" strip found on many vehicles, and it does not need to meet the 70% requirement because it sits outside the primary driving line of sight.
The 2025 HB 1340 amendment did not change the windshield rules, which remain at the 70% threshold. Drivers who want some heat or UV protection on the windshield should look for clear or nearly clear UV-blocking film that does not reduce visible light transmission to comply with the 70% floor.
Medical exemptions
Medical exemption availability in North Dakota is unclear following the 2025 amendment to N.D. Cent. Code 39-21-39. The prior version of the law included language that courts or the Highway Patrol sometimes applied to accommodate documented photosensitive conditions, but the 2025 HB 1340 rewrite did not explicitly retain a medical-exemption process.
If you have a condition such as lupus, severe photosensitivity, or another documented sun-sensitivity disorder, contact the North Dakota Highway Patrol directly before installing darker-than-35% tint. An officer who pulls you over for dark tint may not have authority to accept a physician letter without a codified exemption. Until the state clarifies this point, the safe approach is to comply with the 35% standard or seek written confirmation from the Highway Patrol.
How tint is measured and certified
VLT is measured as the combined transmittance of both the aftermarket film and the factory glass together. This is an important distinction: the factory glass in your vehicle already blocks some light, so a film sold as "35% VLT" may yield a combined reading below 35% when the factory glass is considered. Always ask your installer to test the combined reading after installation.
North Dakota does not require a compliance sticker on the tinted windows by statute. However, keeping the installer's documentation in the vehicle is a reasonable precaution. If an officer questions your tint, having a certificate showing the measured VLT values for each window can help resolve the encounter without a citation.
The statute specifies that factory tint counts toward the cumulative VLT measurement. If your vehicle came from the manufacturer with rear glass that already transmits only 70% or 80% of light, adding any aftermarket film will push the combined reading lower, potentially below 35%. This is especially relevant for back side windows on newer vehicles that often have some factory shading built in.
Penalties for illegal tint in North Dakota
Penalties for tint violations in North Dakota are relatively modest. Based on guidance from the North Dakota Highway Patrol, a citation for illegal window tint carries a fine of approximately $20. This is one of the lower penalty amounts in the country for a first-offense tint violation.
Because the penalty is low, the practical risk for a driver who unknowingly installs tint slightly darker than 35% is limited to a small fine and the inconvenience of the stop. That said, the underlying violation is still on the books, and repeated violations or tint that is dramatically darker than the limit could attract more attention from law enforcement.
Installers should note that the 2025 amendment changed the permissible threshold, which means any vehicle tinted to the old 50% minimum between, say, 2023 and July 31, 2025 now technically complies with the new, more permissive 35% rule. Tint installed at the pre-2025 minimum is lighter than 35%, so it remains legal. The change only matters for drivers who had tint darker than 35% but lighter than 50% under the old law: those vehicles went from being illegal to legal on August 1, 2025.
If you want to tint your windows in North Dakota
Begin by choosing a tint film with a final combined VLT (film plus factory glass) of at least 35% for your front side windows. If your vehicle has factory glass that already transmits less than 100% of light, you may need a lighter film to stay above the 35% floor. A good installer will measure this before and after application.
For windows behind the driver, confirm whether your vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides. If it does, there is no VLT floor for those windows, and you can go as dark as you prefer. If it does not, those windows must also meet the 35% minimum.
For the windshield, only a non-reflective strip above the AS-1 line is permitted. The rest of the windshield must stay at 70% or higher. Clear UV-blocking films that do not reduce visible light are a good option if you want protection without risking a citation.
Because North Dakota does not require a compliance sticker, ask your installer for a written record of the measured combined VLT for each window. If you have questions about your specific situation, particularly regarding medical exemptions, contact the North Dakota Highway Patrol for current guidance since the post-2025 exemption landscape is not settled.
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.
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Sources
- North Dakota Century Code 39-21-39 (amended by 2025 HB 1340): https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t39c21.html
For tint rules in every other state, visit the Window Tint Laws hub. For related information on what you can place on your windshield, see the North Dakota windshield mounting restrictions page.