Colorado Window Tint Laws

Thinking about tinting your windows in Colorado, or wondering if your current tint is legal? This page explains the basic rules in simple language so you know what is allowed before you tint.

Quick Rules at a Glance

Windshield: Must let in about 70% of light; a non-reflective strip is allowed on the top 4 inches only (no red or amber).
Front side windows: A safe guideline is 27% VLT or lighter (must allow at least 27% of light through).
Rear side windows & rear window:
- If your windshield and front side windows are basically clear (around 70%+), the rear windows can be darker than 27%.
- If your front side windows are tinted down to about 27%, the rear windows should stay at 27% or lighter too.
Mirrors: If your rear window is tinted, you must have dual side mirrors.
Colors: Red and amber tint are not allowed.
Reflectivity: No metallic, mirrored, or very shiny tint on any window.
Medical exemptions: Colorado does not offer medical exemptions for darker tint.
Out-of-state vehicles: Must have at least 20% VLT on all non-windshield windows while driving in Colorado.

In short: keep the front doors at 27% or lighter, be careful how dark you go on the rear windows depending on your front tint,
and limit the windshield to a small, non-red, non-amber strip at the top.

What Is VLT?

Colorado, like most states, uses Visible Light Transmission (VLT) to measure tint.

VLT is the percentage of visible light that passes through the glass and film together.
High VLT % = lighter tint (glass looks light, easy to see through).
Low VLT % = darker tint (glass looks dark, harder to see through).

When people say “27% tint” in Colorado, they usually mean the combined glass + film lets about 27% of light in.

Windshield Tint Rules in Colorado

The windshield is treated the most strictly, because it is your primary field of vision.

The main part of the windshield must stay close to 70% VLT or lighter (basically clear glass or very light shading).
You may add a tint strip along the top of the windshield:
- The strip can only extend down about 4 inches from the top.
- It must be non-reflective and may not distort colors.
- It cannot be red or amber.
No full-windshield dark tint is allowed.

Front Side Windows (Driver & Passenger)

Colorado law is most often enforced on the front door windows.

A common rule of thumb is to keep front side windows at 27% VLT or lighter.
Darker films like 20% or 5% “limo” are usually too dark for the front doors.
If you choose to tint the front doors down to around 27%, the windows behind the driver should also stay at 27% or lighter.

Many people choose a film labeled around 30–35% for the front doors to be comfortably within the 27% limit.

Rear Side Windows & Rear Window

Colorado is more flexible on windows behind the driver, but the rules depend on how light your front glass is.

If your front side windows and windshield are nearly clear (about 70% VLT or more):
- You can usually go darker than 27% on the rear side windows and the rear window.
- This is where very dark films like 20% or 5% are commonly used.
If your front windows are tinted down to around 27–35%:
- Your rear windows should also stay at 27% VLT or lighter.
If the rear window is tinted, your vehicle must have side mirrors on both sides to provide a clear view behind you.

Colors and Reflectivity

Colorado limits the color and reflectivity of window tint.

Not allowed colors: red and amber tint.
No metallic or mirrored film: Highly reflective, mirror-like, or chrome-looking tint is not allowed on any window.
Most legal films are neutral gray, charcoal, or smoke tones that do not have a strong color or mirror shine.

Out-of-State Vehicles

Colorado also sets a standard for vehicles registered in other states but operated inside Colorado.

If your car is registered out of state, windows other than the windshield must have at least 20% VLT.
Very dark “limo” tint around 5% can still be a problem in Colorado even if it is legal in your home state.

No Medical Tint Exemption

Unlike some other states, Colorado does not offer a medical exemption for darker tint.

Even if you have a genuine light sensitivity or skin condition, the same tint limits apply.
A doctor’s note does not change the legal VLT requirements.

Penalties for Illegal Tint in Colorado

Illegal tint is usually treated as a traffic infraction, but repeated or serious violations can lead to more trouble.

You can receive a ticket and fine if your tint is too dark or otherwise illegal.
Many cases are handled as “fix-it” tickets, where you must remove or change the tint and show proof.
Ignoring illegal tint can lead to higher fines later, and it can hurt you in accident cases if tint is found to reduce visibility.

Is Your Tint Likely Legal?

Use this quick checklist to guess whether your setup is probably okay in Colorado:

Front side windows: If your film is around 30–35% VLT, you are usually safe. If it is 20% or 5%, it is likely too dark.
Rear windows:
- If your front windows are clear (70%+), you can go very dark in the back.
- If your front windows are tinted to around 27–35%, keep the rear glass at 27% or lighter.
Windshield: Only a non-reflective strip on the top 4 inches; no full-windshield film.
Colors & shine: No red or amber tint and no mirrored/metallic film.
Out-of-state: Make sure your non-windshield windows are at least 20% VLT.

If your tint is close to these limits, the only way to know for sure is to have it tested with a tint meter at a shop or by law enforcement.

Important Legal Note

This page is a plain-language summary of Colorado window tint rules.
It is not formal legal advice and may not cover every special case or recent change.
For serious questions, tickets you want to fight, or custom setups right on the edge of legal,
you should check the current text of Colorado law on window tint or speak with a Colorado traffic attorney.

Summary

To stay comfortable and legal on Colorado roads:

Keep front side windows at about 27% VLT or lighter.
Know that darker rear windows are okay only if your front windows and windshield are basically clear.
Limit windshield tint to a 4-inch non-red, non-amber strip at the top.
Avoid red/amber colors and mirrored or metallic films.
Make sure out-of-state vehicles still meet the 20% VLT minimum on all non-windshield glass.

Follow these guidelines and you can enjoy the benefits of tinted windows without constantly worrying about getting pulled over in Colorado.