Thinking about tinting your car in Arkansas or wondering if your current tint is legal? This page breaks the rules down in plain English so you know what you can safely put on your windows.
Quick Rules at a Glance
- Windshield: Non-reflective tint strip allowed on the top 5 inches only.
- Front side windows (all vehicles): Must let in more than 25% of light (25% VLT or lighter film).
- Rear side windows (sedans): Must let in more than 25% of light.
- Rear side windows (SUVs, pickups, vans): Can go darker, but must let in at least 10% of light.
- Rear window (all vehicles): Must let in at least 10% of light.
- Reflectivity: No metallic or mirrored look on side windows.
- Medical waiver: Some drivers with certain medical conditions can legally use darker tint with a doctor’s certification.
- Sticker: A small label from the installer must be on the front glass by the driver’s side, showing the tint is legal.
In short: keep the front doors at 25% or lighter, keep the rear glass above 10%,
and only tint the top 5 inches of the windshield.
VLT Explained (Visible Light Transmission)
Arkansas uses something called net light transmission, which is basically the same idea as
Visible Light Transmission (VLT).
- VLT % is how much light passes through the glass and tint film together.
- Higher VLT = lighter tint (glass looks lighter).
- Lower VLT = darker tint (glass looks darker).
When the law says “at least 25% net light transmission,” that means the combined glass and film must let in
more than 25% of visible light.
Rules for Most Passenger Cars (Sedan, Coupe, Hatchback)
Windshield
- You may add an “eyebrow” strip of tint at the very top of the windshield.
- This strip cannot extend more than 5 inches down from the top center of the glass.
- The rest of the windshield must stay clear (unless you have an approved medical waiver).
Front Side Windows
- Front side windows (driver and front passenger) must allow more than 25% of light in.
- Dark films like 5% or 15% are too dark for the front windows.
Rear Side Windows
- On sedans, rear side windows also must allow more than 25% of light in.
- You can still get a reasonably dark look, but not full “limo” darkness.
Rear Window
- The rearmost window (back glass) can be darker.
- It must allow at least 10% of light to pass through.
A common legal setup for sedans is around 35% film on the front doors,
25% on the rear doors, and around 10–20% on the rear glass
(as long as the combined glass and film stay above the legal minimums).
Rules for SUVs, Pickups, Vans & Other Multi-Purpose Vehicles
Larger vehicles such as SUVs, pickups, vans, motor homes, and other “multi-purpose passenger vehicles”
get slightly more flexibility on the windows behind the driver.
Windshield
- Same rule as cars: a non-reflective 5-inch eyebrow strip at the top.
- The rest of the windshield must remain clear, unless covered by a valid medical waiver.
Front Side Windows
- Must allow more than 25% of light in, just like sedans.
- Anything darker than 25% on the front doors can get you a ticket.
Rear Side Windows & Rear Window
- Rear side windows on these vehicles can be darker and still be legal.
- They must allow at least 10% of light in.
- The rear window must also allow at least 10% light in.
This is why many SUVs and pickups in Arkansas have darker glass in the back than a typical sedan.
Reflectivity and Tint Colors
Arkansas focuses on how dark your tint is and whether it looks mirrored.
- No metallic or mirrored look is allowed on the front or back side windows.
- Standard charcoal, gray, and smoke films without a mirror shine are usually fine.
- Shiny or chrome-look films can cause problems because they count as a metallic or mirrored appearance.
While the law does not spell out many specific banned colors, it is smart to avoid
odd or emergency-style colors (for example, bright red or blue) that might attract extra attention.
Medical Exemptions
Arkansas lets some drivers go darker than the normal limits if they have certain medical conditions
and a doctor says they need extra protection from sunlight.
- You must be diagnosed by a physician with a condition (for example, albinism or lupus) that makes extra tint medically helpful.
- Your doctor gives you a written certification stating it is in your best interest to have darker tint.
- With a current certification:
- Side windows around the driver can go down to about 20% net light transmission.
- The rearmost window can go down to about 10%.
- The front windshield (not just the 5-inch strip) may be tinted to about 50% net light transmission.
- The certification is generally valid for a set period (for example, three years) and must be kept in the vehicle.
- The vehicle must still carry the installer’s label showing the tint was installed under the medical rules.
If you are using a medical waiver and do not have the paperwork in the vehicle during a stop,
officers can treat the tint as illegal.
Installer Label Requirement
Every vehicle in Arkansas that has after-market tint must have a small label on the glass.
- The label must be attached to the front glass near the driver’s side.
- It must show the name and phone number of the company that installed the tint.
- It must also state that all tinting on the vehicle meets Arkansas law.
If your car is tinted and there is no label, that alone can raise questions if you are stopped.
Out-of-State Vehicles
If your vehicle is registered in another state that has its own tinting law, and your tint
is legal in that state, Arkansas generally does not apply its own tint levels to you while you are just
driving through. Permanent Arkansas residents, though, must follow Arkansas rules.
Penalties for Illegal Tint in Arkansas
Arkansas law makes illegal window tint a Class B misdemeanor for both the installer
who puts it on and the driver who uses it.
- A Class B misdemeanor can carry fines and possible jail time, depending on the situation.
- Courts can also require you to remove or change the tint so the car meets the law.
- Shops that knowingly install illegal tint can also face penalties.
In practice, many cases end with a ticket and an order to correct the tint, but the law does allow stronger punishment.
Is Your Tint Likely Legal?
Here is a quick checklist you can use:
- Front side windows: If your film is darker than 25% (like 20% or 15%), it is probably illegal.
- Rear side windows (sedan): Should be 25% or lighter.
- Rear side windows (SUV/pickup/van): Can be darker, but should still be 10% or lighter in darkness (not 5% “limo” film).
- Rear window: Should allow at least 10% light in.
- Windshield: Only the top 5 inches should be tinted.
- Shiny mirror look? If the film looks mirrored or chrome, it is likely not allowed.
If your tint is close to these limits, the only sure way to know is to have it checked with a tint meter
by a reputable shop or a law enforcement officer.
Important Legal Note
This page is a friendly summary of Arkansas window tint rules.
It is not formal legal advice and it may not cover every special case.
Laws can change, and different courts or officers may handle situations differently.
If you receive a tint ticket or plan very dark tint, it is wise to check the current Arkansas Code
or talk with a licensed Arkansas attorney.
Summary
To stay comfortable and legal on Arkansas roads:
- Keep front side windows at 25% VLT or lighter.
- Keep rear glass above 10% VLT, even on SUVs and pickups.
- Limit windshield tint to a non-reflective 5-inch strip at the top.
- Avoid mirrored or metallic films.
- Make sure your installer adds the required compliance label.
- If you need darker tint for health reasons, follow the medical waiver process and keep the paperwork in your vehicle.
Follow these rules and you can enjoy cooler, more private windows without constant worry about getting pulled over.