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, and multipurpose vehicles may use any darkness behind the driver. 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, and multipurpose vehicles (SUVs, vans, and similar) may legally use any level of darkness on their back side windows and rear window without a VLT floor.

Window	Passenger Cars	Trucks, Buses, Multipurpose Vehicles
Front side	35% VLT minimum	35% VLT minimum
Back side	35% VLT minimum	Any darkness
Rear window	35% VLT minimum	Any darkness

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.

Windshield tint rules in West Virginia

West Virginia allows non-reflective tint on the windshield only in the strip above the AS-1 line or the top 5 inches, whichever measurement is used by the vehicle's glass manufacturer to identify the safety zone. No tint of any kind is permitted below that upper strip.

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 from the 35% VLT minimum. The process is straightforward: a licensed physician or optometrist signs an affidavit stating that the person being transported has a medical condition requiring reduced light exposure. That affidavit must be carried in the vehicle at all times.

The exemption allows the windows covered by the physician's statement to be darker than 35%. There is no state permit number or DMV registration required; the signed affidavit itself is the authorization. If you are stopped, present the affidavit along with your license and registration.

If you are purchasing a vehicle that already has darker-than-legal tint installed, verify whether the previous owner had a medical exemption that transferred. Exemptions are tied to the person being transported, not to the vehicle, so a prior owner's affidavit does not protect a new owner who does not have their own qualifying condition.

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.

West Virginia requires a compliance sticker from the installer. The label must be no larger than 1.5 square inches and must be affixed in the lower-left corner of each tinted window. The sticker must state the actual light-transmission percentage of the installed film. This label serves as documentation that the film was applied by a shop that confirmed compliance with W. Va. Code 17C-15-36a.

If your tint was installed by a professional shop and the sticker is in place showing a legal percentage, 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 vehicle operator and the installer can potentially face liability. If you had tint installed professionally and the shop certified compliance but the tint is later found illegal, the installer bears responsibility under the statute. If you personally installed or knowingly operated the vehicle with non-compliant tint, you bear the liability as the operator.

Correcting the violation typically requires removing the non-compliant film and replacing it with a legal alternative, then obtaining a reinspection or 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.

Select an installer familiar with West Virginia's requirements. A reputable shop will verify the final combined VLT reading, apply the required compliance sticker in the lower-left corner of each tinted window (no larger than 1.5 square inches, with the VLT percentage shown), and provide a receipt. Keep the receipt in the vehicle along with the sticker in place.

Avoid films in red, yellow, or amber anywhere on the vehicle. On the windshield, limit tint to the strip above the AS-1 line or top 5 inches. If you have a qualifying medical condition, get the physician or optometrist affidavit before installation so the installer knows which windows need a darker film and can note that in the paperwork.

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 and obtain your own affidavit.

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.

More Virginia Laws

• Virginia AI Meeting Recording Laws
• Virginia Alimony Laws
• Virginia At-Will Employment Laws
• Virginia Car Accident Laws
• Virginia Car Seat Laws
• Virginia Child Custody Laws
• Virginia Child Support Laws
• Virginia Common Law Marriage Laws
• Virginia Data Privacy Laws
• Virginia Dog Bite Laws
• Virginia Emancipation Laws
• Virginia Expungement Laws
• Virginia Hit and Run Laws
• Virginia Lemon Laws
• Virginia Power of Attorney Laws
• Virginia Recording Laws

Sources

• W. Va. Code 17C-15-36a - Tinted windows, West Virginia Legislature

Related pages

For a full comparison of tint rules nationwide, visit the Window Tint Laws by State hub.

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