West Virginia Window Tint Laws (2026): Legal VLT Limits

West Virginia requires front side windows to allow at least 35% VLT (visible light transmission). Passenger car back side and rear windows also require 35%, but trucks, buses, trailers, mobile homes, and multipurpose vehicles are exempt from that VLT floor behind the driver (the 20% reflectivity cap still applies to those windows). Red, yellow, and amber films are banned on the windshield.

What is the legal tint limit in West Virginia?

West Virginia's window tint law centers on a 35% VLT minimum. Visible Light Transmission measures the percentage of light that passes through the glass and film together; a higher number means lighter tint, and a lower number means darker tint. 35% is a medium-dark shade that allows roughly one-third of available light through.

The 35% floor applies to front side windows on every vehicle class. For passenger cars, the same 35% minimum governs the back side windows and the rear window as well. West Virginia draws a clear vehicle-type line behind the driver's seat: trucks, buses, trailers, mobile homes, and multipurpose vehicles (SUVs, vans, and similar) are exempt from the 35% VLT floor on their back side windows and rear window under W. Va. Code 17C-15-36a(g). That exemption covers only the light-transmittance requirement; the 20% reflectivity cap in 17C-15-36a(c) still applies to those windows, so a mirrored or metallic film is not legal there even though darkness is unrestricted.

One equipment condition rides along with any tint behind the driver. Under 17C-15-36a(c), if a sun-screening device is used on glazing behind the driver, the vehicle is required to have one right and one left outside rear view mirror. That requirement is not limited to a vehicle class, so it applies to a passenger car tinted to 35% just as it does to an SUV using the (g) exemption. If your vehicle has lost a side mirror, tinting the rear glass puts you out of compliance on the mirror rule even if every VLT reading is legal.

The statute does not mention a measurement tolerance, so installers typically recommend choosing a film rated at 35% or slightly lighter (for example, 38% or 40%) to keep the combined glass-and-film reading safely above the 35% threshold during a police meter test.

Section (a) also places several vehicles outside the section entirely. Its proviso exempts automobiles that have sun-screening devices installed at the factory by the manufacturer, law-enforcement K-9 and other emergency vehicles designed to haul animals, and unmarked law-enforcement vehicles used primarily for covert or undercover enforcement (those unmarked vehicles may not engage in routine traffic stops). The factory carve-out is the one that matters to ordinary drivers: the deeply tinted rear glass that comes standard on many SUVs, vans, and pickups often reads well below 35%, and the statute exempts factory-installed sun-screening rather than treating it as a violation. The carve-out turns on what the manufacturer installed, so aftermarket film you add later is judged on its own terms.

Windshield tint rules in West Virginia

West Virginia allows non-reflective tint on the windshield along the top only. Under W. Va. Code 17C-15-36a(b), the film may not extend downward beyond the AS-1 line (the statute spells it ASI) or more than five inches from the top of the windshield, whichever of those two is closer to the top of the windshield.

That tiebreak is fixed by the statute, not a choice between two acceptable methods. Whichever line sits higher on the glass is the one that controls. If your vehicle's AS-1 marking falls more than five inches down from the top, five inches is your limit and the AS-1 line does not extend it. If the AS-1 line sits less than five inches down, the AS-1 line is your limit. No tint of any kind is permitted below whichever line controls.

Colors matter on the windshield. West Virginia specifically bans red, yellow, and amber tint on the windshield strip. These restrictions target films that could distort traffic signal colors or reduce contrast for oncoming drivers.

Reflectivity is capped at 20% on both front and rear windows. Metallic and mirror-finish films that reflect more than 20% of light are prohibited. Combined with the color bans, this means any film you choose must be a neutral, non-metallic shade with low reflectance.

Medical exemptions

West Virginia provides a medical exemption, and it carries conditions that are easy to miss. Under W. Va. Code 17C-15-36a(f), the provisions of the section do not apply to a motor vehicle registered in this state in the name of a person, or the person's legal guardian, who has an affidavit signed by a physician or an optometrist licensed to practice in this state stating that the person has a physical condition making it necessary to equip the vehicle with sun-screening material whose light transmittance or luminous reflectance would otherwise violate the section.

Two of those conditions do real work. The affidavit must come from a physician or optometrist licensed in West Virginia, so a letter from an out-of-state doctor does not satisfy the statute on its face. And the exemption attaches to a vehicle registered in this state in the name of the person with the condition, or in the name of that person's legal guardian. It is not a permission slip that follows the person into whatever car they ride in.

The affidavit must be in the possession of the affected person, or their legal guardian, at all times while that person is being transported in the vehicle. There is no state permit number or DMV registration to obtain; the signed affidavit itself is the authorization. If you are stopped, present the affidavit along with your license and registration.

The statute does not ask the physician to designate particular windows. Section (f) disapplies the provisions of this section as to a qualifying vehicle, and the affidavit speaks only to the person's condition and the need for sun-screening material that would otherwise be out of compliance. There is no per-window schedule to draw up.

If you are purchasing a vehicle that already has darker-than-legal tint installed, do not assume a prior owner's exemption travels with the car. Because the exemption depends on both a qualifying person and a registration in that person's or their guardian's name, it stops covering the vehicle once you register it in your own name, unless you independently qualify and hold your own affidavit.

How tint is measured and certified

West Virginia law enforcement uses photometric meters to measure VLT at a traffic stop. The meter reads the combined light transmission of the vehicle's factory glass and the tint film together. A film's labeled percentage can differ from the final meter reading because factory glass already absorbs some light on its own.

The label West Virginia requires is a manufacturer's label, not a compliance certificate the shop writes. Under 17C-15-36a(d)(2), each manufacturer must provide a label no larger than one and one-half square inches, with a means for permanent and legible installation between the sun-screening material and each glazing surface it is applied to, containing the manufacturer's name and its percentage of light transmission. Under (d)(3), that label goes in the left lower corner of each glazing surface when facing the vehicle from the outside. The installer's separate duty under (e)(2) is to permanently affix that label; installing film on a vehicle intended for use on public roads without it is itself a violation.

Note what the label does and does not tell an officer. It carries the manufacturer's rated figure for the film material along with the manufacturer's name. It is not a measured reading of your particular glass. Because the meter reads glass and film together, a vehicle can carry a correct label and still fail a meter test.

If your tint was installed by a professional shop and the manufacturer's label is in place, that is your first-line defense at a traffic stop. Keep the installer's receipt as a backup record.

Penalties for illegal tint in West Virginia

Violating West Virginia's window tint law is a misdemeanor. The fine can reach $200. Unlike many states that classify tint violations as simple equipment infractions, West Virginia's criminal misdemeanor classification means a conviction appears on your criminal record, not just your driving record.

Both the operator and the installer can be liable, and one does not excuse the other. Section (a) makes it an offense for a person to operate a vehicle carrying sun-screening that does not meet the section's requirements, and it provides no good-faith or professional-installation defense. Section (e) creates a separate prohibition aimed at sellers and installers, who may not offer non-compliant material for sale or use and may not install film without permanently affixing the manufacturer's label. So a shop that sold you illegal film has its own exposure under (e), but that is a matter between you and the shop; it is not an answer to the charge against you as the driver.

Correcting the violation typically requires removing the non-compliant film and replacing it with a legal alternative, then presenting proof of correction to the court. The fine and misdemeanor designation make West Virginia's penalty structure among the stricter ones in the region.

If you want to tint your windows in West Virginia

Choose a film rated at 35% VLT or lighter for the front side windows. If your vehicle is a passenger car, that same 35% applies to the back side and rear windows as well. If you drive an SUV, truck, van, or bus, you have more flexibility behind the driver's seat and may choose any legal film for those windows. Either way, once a sun-screening device goes on any glazing behind the driver, the vehicle needs both a right and a left outside rear view mirror.

Select an installer familiar with West Virginia's requirements. A reputable shop will verify the final combined VLT reading, permanently affix the manufacturer's label (no larger than one and one-half square inches, carrying the manufacturer's name and its percentage of light transmission) in the left lower corner of each tinted glazing surface as seen from outside the vehicle, and provide a receipt. Keep the receipt in the vehicle along with the label in place.

Avoid films in red, yellow, or amber anywhere on the vehicle. On the windshield, keep tint above the AS-1 line or within five inches of the top, whichever of those two lines is closer to the top. If you have a qualifying medical condition, get the affidavit from a physician or optometrist licensed in West Virginia and make sure the vehicle is registered in this state in the name of the person with the condition or their legal guardian. The statute does not require the affidavit to name particular windows, so there is no window-by-window designation for the installer to work from.

When buying a used vehicle with existing tint, have the windows measured before you complete the purchase. Tint that was legal under a prior owner's medical exemption is not legal for you unless you independently qualify, hold your own affidavit, and the vehicle is registered in your name or your legal guardian's.

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 pages

West Virginia drivers should also review West Virginia Windshield Mounting Restrictions for rules on items attached to or near the windshield.

More West Virginia Laws

• West Virginia Car Accident Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the legal tint in West Virginia?

West Virginia requires at least 35% VLT on front side windows for all vehicles. Passenger cars must also maintain 35% on back side and rear windows. Trucks, buses, trailers, mobile homes, and multipurpose vehicles are exempt from that VLT floor behind the driver, though the 20% reflectivity cap still applies to those windows. On the windshield, non-reflective tint may not extend below the AS-1 line or more than five inches from the top, whichever of those two is closer to the top.

How dark can my front windows be in West Virginia?

The darkest legal front side window tint in West Virginia is 35% VLT. 35% is the legal floor for all vehicle types on the front side windows. Installers often recommend a film rated at 35% to 40% to ensure the combined glass-and-film meter reading stays at or above 35%.

Is 20% tint legal in West Virginia?

No. 20% VLT tint is darker than West Virginia's 35% minimum and is illegal on the front side windows. It is also illegal on the back side and rear windows of passenger cars. Only trucks, buses, trailers, mobile homes, and multipurpose vehicles may use 20% tint behind the driver (the 20% reflectivity cap in W. Va. Code 17C-15-36a(c) still applies to those windows), and other vehicle types may do so only under a valid medical exemption.

Is factory tint legal in West Virginia?

Yes. The proviso in W. Va. Code 17C-15-36a(a) exempts automobiles that have sun-screening devices installed at the factory by the manufacturer, so factory-installed tint is not measured against the 35% floor. The same proviso exempts law-enforcement K-9 and other emergency vehicles designed to haul animals, and unmarked law-enforcement vehicles used primarily for covert or undercover work. The carve-out covers what the manufacturer installed, so aftermarket film added later is judged on its own.

Do I need two outside mirrors if I tint my rear windows in West Virginia?

Yes. Under W. Va. Code 17C-15-36a(c), if a sun-screening device is used on glazing behind the driver, one right and one left outside rear view mirror is required. That applies to any vehicle with tint behind the driver, including one relying on the exemption for trucks, buses, trailers, mobile homes, and multipurpose vehicles.

Can I get a medical exemption for window tint in West Virginia?

Yes, on conditions. Under W. Va. Code 17C-15-36a(f) the section does not apply to a motor vehicle registered in this state in the name of the affected person or their legal guardian, where that person holds an affidavit signed by a physician or an optometrist licensed to practice in West Virginia stating that a physical condition makes the otherwise-noncompliant sun-screening necessary. The affidavit must be in that person's or their guardian's possession at all times while being transported. There is no state permit number to obtain, and the statute does not ask the physician to designate particular windows.

What is the penalty for illegal tint in West Virginia?

Operating a vehicle with non-compliant window tint is a misdemeanor in West Virginia, with a fine of up to $200. This is stricter than many states that treat tint violations as simple equipment infractions. A misdemeanor conviction appears on a criminal record. Sellers and installers face a separate prohibition under subsection (e), which does not excuse the driver.

Is windshield tint legal in West Virginia?

Only non-reflective tint along the top of the windshield is legal, and it may not extend downward beyond the AS-1 line or more than five inches from the top of the windshield, whichever of those two is closer to the top. Whichever line sits higher on the glass controls, so a vehicle whose AS-1 marking falls more than five inches down is limited to five inches. No tint is permitted below that line. Red, yellow, and amber tint are specifically banned on the windshield even within the legal strip area.

Do SUVs have different tint rules in West Virginia?

Yes. While all vehicles must meet the 35% VLT minimum on front side windows, trucks, buses, trailers, mobile homes, and multipurpose vehicles such as SUVs and vans are exempt from the VLT floor on windows behind the driver's seat, though the 20% reflectivity cap under 17C-15-36a(c) still applies to those windows. Passenger cars must maintain 35% on back side and rear windows as well. Any vehicle with tint behind the driver must also have both a right and a left outside rear view mirror.