Illinois Window Tint Laws – Simple Guide

Thinking about tinting your car in Illinois, or worried that your current tint might be too dark? This page walks through the main Illinois window tint laws in plain language so you can choose a setup that stays legal.

Quick Rules at a Glance

• Windshield: Only non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 6 inches of the windshield. The rest of the windshield must stay clear.
• Front side windows (next to the driver): You cannot just pick any shade.
  The legal shade depends on how light the windows behind the driver are:
  • If all rear windows let in at least 35% light, you may use 35% VLT tint on the front side windows (with a small meter margin).
  • If all rear windows let in at least 30% light (but some are between 30% and 35%), front side windows are limited to about 50% VLT.
  • If rear glass came factory-tinted (non-reflective smoked) from the manufacturer, you may also use around 50% VLT on the front side windows.
  • If any rear window is darker than roughly 30% VLT and you do not have medical plates, the front side windows must stay untinted.
• Rear side windows & rear window (behind the driver):
  Illinois law does not set one simple VLT number for these.
  In practice:
  • You may tint rear windows very dark, especially if the front windows have no film.
  • If you want legal tint on the front windows as well, the rear windows must stay within the 30–35% VLT ranges described above.
• Side mirrors: If the rear window is heavily tinted or otherwise blocks your rear view, your vehicle must have outside mirrors on both sides that show at least about 200 feet behind the car.
• Reflective or mirror film: Front glass may not have reflective metallic film.
  All automotive tint in Illinois is expected to be non-reflective (no mirror look).
• Out-of-state plates: The specific Illinois tint rules for the windshield and front side windows do not apply to vehicles that are properly registered in another state,
  though you can still be cited if your view is clearly blocked.
• Medical plates & doctor letter:
  People with conditions like lupus, certain severe sun-sensitivity disorders, or similar issues can get tinted-windows license plates and a physician letter that allow darker tint than normal.
• Penalties:
  A first violation is a petty offense with a fine between about $50 and $500.
  Later violations can be treated as a Class C misdemeanor with fines between about $100 and $500, plus a court order to bring the car back into compliance.

In short: top 6 inches on the windshield only, and front side window darkness is tied to how light you keep the windows behind the driver.

What “VLT” Means

Illinois uses Visible Light Transmission (VLT) to describe tint darkness.

• VLT is the percent of visible light that passes through the glass and film together.
• Higher VLT (for example 70%) = lighter tint.
• Lower VLT (for example 20%) = darker tint.

When you see “35% tint,” it means the glass and tint combined allow about 35% of the light to pass through.
Illinois law also gives police a small measuring margin (about 5% variance) when they use a tint meter.

Windshield Tint Rules in Illinois

The windshield is the most restricted piece of glass on the car.

• You may not place tinted film across the main viewing area of the windshield.
• You may use non-reflective film along the top 6 inches of the windshield.
• Any stickers or permits must not block your clear view of the road.

A safe way to think of it: a small, non-shiny strip right at the top is fine; the rest of the windshield should look clear.

Front Side Windows Next to the Driver

Illinois handles the windows right next to the driver in a slightly unusual way.
Instead of one simple number, the legal shade depends on the glass behind the driver.

Common Legal Setups

• Choice 1 – 35% all around:
  • All windows, including rear windows, allow at least 35% VLT.
  • You may use about 35% tint on the front side windows.
• Choice 2 – 50% front / mid-dark rear:
  • All rear windows let in at least 30% VLT, but some are between 30% and 35%.
  • Front side windows are then limited to about 50% VLT.
• Choice 3 – Factory dark rear glass:
  • The vehicle came from the factory with non-reflective smoked/tinted glass behind the driver.
  • You may add 50% VLT film to the front side windows.
• Very dark rear tint with no medical plates:
  • If rear windows are darker than about 30% VLT and you do not have a medical plate and letter,
  • the front side windows must remain clear (no applied film).

All film used on the front side windows must be non-reflective.
Mirror-style metallic films on the front side glass can cause trouble even if the VLT number looks legal.

Windows Behind the Driver

The law treats windows behind the driver differently from the windshield and front side glass.

• There is no single VLT number written into the statute just for rear windows.
• You may tint these windows quite dark, especially if you leave the front side windows untinted.
• However, if you want legal tint on the front windows as well, the rear windows must stay within the 30–35% VLT ranges explained above.
• If the rear window is tinted so that you cannot see clearly straight back, the vehicle must have side mirrors on both sides that show a good view of the road behind you.

In practice, many Illinois cars use either:
35% film on every window, or
50% on the front doors and somewhat darker, non-reflective tint on the rear windows that still stays above about 30% VLT.

Medical Tint Exemptions

Illinois allows darker tint for people who must avoid direct sun due to certain medical conditions.

• Qualifying conditions include issues such as systemic or discoid lupus, albinism,
  some severe sun-sensitivity disorders, and similar illnesses that require shielding from direct sunlight.
• The person’s doctor must write a certified statement or letter explaining the condition and need for darker glass.
• The vehicle then receives distinctive tinted-window license plates or a plate sticker from the Illinois Secretary of State.
• The original doctor letter must be kept in the vehicle and updated every few years.
• With these plates and paperwork, the normal limits in the law (subsections (a) and (a-5)) no longer apply to that vehicle while it is being used for the protected person.
• No exemption is allowed for conditions where regular sunglasses or eye protection are considered enough.

If you run darker tint because of health reasons but do not carry valid medical paperwork and plates,
your glass will be judged under the regular rules like everyone else’s.

Other Rules: Mirrors, Reflectivity, Stickers

• Mirrors: Every vehicle must have at least one mirror that gives a view about 200 feet behind.
  If the rear window is blocked by tint, you must have two outside mirrors that meet that standard.
• Reflective tint: The statute specifically bars reflective material on the front windshield and nearby side windows.
  Guidance from Illinois-focused tint sites and attorneys treats all vehicle tint as needing to be non-reflective, so mirror-like finishes are best avoided everywhere.
• Color: The law does not name specific banned tint colors, but strongly colored film that looks like emergency lighting can still cause problems.
• Film maker certification: Film manufacturers are not required to certify their products with Illinois.
• Glass stickers: Illinois does not require a special sticker on the window to show the tint is legal, although many installers may add their own small label.

Penalties and Enforcement

Illinois can fine both drivers and installers when tint breaks the law.

• Breaking the main tint rules (front windshield and front side windows) is a petty offense at first.
• The usual fine range for a first violation is about $50–$500.
• A second or later violation can be treated as a Class C misdemeanor with fines roughly $100–$500.
• The court can order you to remove or change the illegal tint so the car passes future checks.

Police use a handheld meter to measure VLT and may look at how much your windows shine back light.

Is Your Tint Probably Legal in Illinois?

Here is a quick checklist to use as a rough guide:

• Windshield:
  • Only a thin, non-reflective strip on the top 6 inches?
  • No dark film across the main viewing area?
• Front side windows:
  • Film around 35% with rear windows also at least 35%? → Usually safe.
  • Film around 50% with rear windows at least 30% or factory smoked? → Often used and commonly treated as legal.
  • Film 20% or 5% on the front doors? → Almost certainly too dark without a medical plate.
• Rear side windows & rear window:
  • Darker tint is usually allowed, especially if you leave the front windows clear.
  • If rear windows are very dark and you also tinted the front, check that the rear glass still fits the 30–35% ranges tied to your front tint shade.
• Mirrors:
  • Do you have two outside mirrors if the rear window is heavily tinted?
• Medical needs:
  • If you rely on darker tint for a medical condition, do you have tinted-window plates and a current doctor letter inside the vehicle?

If your tint is close to the limit, the safest move is to have it checked with a meter by a reputable tint shop,
inspection station, or law enforcement.

Important Legal Note

This page is a plain-language summary of Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/12-503 and related mirror rules.
It is not formal legal advice and might not cover every special case, local policy, or change in the law.

For a serious ticket, court case, or very custom tint setup, you should read the current statute text
and talk with an Illinois traffic attorney or your local police or inspection station.

Summary

To keep your windows cool and legal in Illinois:

• Restrict windshield tint to a non-reflective strip on the top 6 inches.
• Match your front side window tint to how light you keep the windows behind the driver:
  common legal setups are 35% all around or 50% front with rear glass at least 30% VLT.
• Use non-reflective films, and steer clear of mirror-style tints.
• Install dual side mirrors if your rear window is very dark.
• Use the medical plate route if you genuinely need darker glass for health reasons and keep the paperwork in the car.

Follow these guidelines and you can enjoy the benefits of tint without constantly worrying about Illinois tint tickets.