Guide to Tennessee Tint Laws
In the state of Tennessee, like many other states across the U.S., window tint laws are in place to ensure the safe operation of motor vehicles. These laws are designed to strike a balance between the aesthetic appeal of tinted windows and the practical benefits of UV protection and temperature regulation, and with maintaining visibility for both the driver of the vehicle and law enforcement officers.
Tennessee’s window tint laws are administered by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Tennessee Department of Revenue. For non-commercial motor vehicles (passenger cars, vans, SUVs, and trucks under 10,000 lbs.), the front windshield is required to have a non-reflective tint across the top 5 inches of the windshield, which must allow more than 35% of light in. For the front side windows, the tint must allow more than 35% of light in, while the factory tint on the back side windows can have no restrictions, allowing either any percent of light, as long as the other windows are tinted to comply with the law, or no tint at all, meaning the maximum of 35% or more of light can enter. The back window can also have no restrictions on light entering the vehicle. All reflective tints are prohibited on the front windows, but rear windows may have reflective tint as long as it doesn’t exceed more than 6%.
For vans, SUVs, and trucks that do not require a Commercial Vehicle Inspection program , a third-party safety center can inspect the vehicle and submit a report to the county clerk’s office, which will then issue a tint certificate that can be printed at home or issued in person. For any commercial vehicle that does require a Commercial Vehicle Inspection program, all tint jobs must be performed by a DOT-approved location, after which a sticker will be issued.
Any manufacturer tint on a vehicle is allowed, but if an after-market tint job is down, it must adhere to the above regulations at all times. If violations are observed at any time, the owner may be issued a citation and forced to remove the tint job.
Various law enforcement agencies across the state have the authority to issue citations for windows that are tinted too dark, which can be problematic in a state where a significant number of windows are tinted. Any officer has the right to request that the tint be measured for darkness, so that they can determine whether or not it complies with the law. Additionally, some law enforcement agencies incorporate infrared light into their measurement process, which measures how much heat is blocked by the tint—not just visible light.
Flashing blue or red lights on the dashboard of a vehicle, or on the mirror, are not legal, as they can cause confusion and distraction to other drivers. Transparent blue or red lights on the interior rearview mirror are also illegal, as they can be mistaken for emergency or police lights.
Types of Tint Banned in Tennessee
Tennessee is a state that has several laws in place that control the darkness of tint allowed on certain windows of a vehicle. For vehicles, the shade of window tint is measured in terms of how much light can pass through the tint film. This is called Visible Light Transmission (VLT). It is important to keep in mind, however, that there is a big difference between the VLT that is allowed on a windshield and the VLT that is allowed on car windows.
With regard to automotive windshields, the law requires that the front windshield must be tinted according to the following regulations:
Cars and Vans:
Procedures and Limitations
The above percentages are measured against the window film VLT, not the manufacturer’s tint. It is also important to note that no red or amber tint can be added to the windshield. The tint may only have a light reflecting mirror finish that is limited to the top five inches of the windshield. Vehicles operated in the United States that are manufactured without tinted glass as part of the original manufacturer’s glass or window systems are also exempt from the shade restriction. However, tinted film may be added as long as it complies with the same shade restrictions.
Because Tennessee requires all automotive glass to be tempered, it is illegal to add substances such as adhesives, waxes or oils that alter or prevent the tint from being removed.
The tint restrictions for cars, vans, or SUVs are:
Procedures and Limitations
It is also illegal to use any red automotive window tint on the back windows which includes the rear. Factory tinted windows will not be darker than 35% VLT. It is also illegal to use any coating that reflects more than 20% of light leaving the vehicle with all of the vehicle’s windows except the windshield.
The lamp requirements for trailers, limousines and buses are the same as those for regular passenger vehicles. In addition, the law also requires that trailer, limousine and bus operators must use a tinted film of 25% VLT or more.
The tint restrictions for pickups, utility vehicles and recreational vehicles are as follows:
Procedures and Limitations
Again, these restrictions do not apply to passenger vans, buses, limousines, or trucks that are registered in a state other than Tennessee unless the out-of-state window tint is exempt in that state.
The law that requires administration of the tint percentage readings is found in T.C.A. §55-9-110 1 which directs that the testing location is to be measured "from the surface of the tinting material on the side adjacent to the glass." This means from the film to the glass.
Exceptions to the Tint Laws
Tennessee imposes specific requirements on the tinting of car windows, particularly if you are considering keeping your tint intact. In certain situations, however, an exemption could be available and spare you the hassle of removing the tint off of your windows. The state of Tennessee may offer two such exemptions: medical exemptions and exemptions based on your employment.
Tennessee may offer exemptions and exceptions to the above-listed rules under certain circumstances. You could receive permission to use window tinting that is darker than otherwise permitted if you provide evidence that the tint is needed for medical reasons and interconnected to a medical condition from which you yourself suffer. In such case, you would need statements from a qualified physician or optometrist and a certificate from the Commissioner of Safety in order to tint your windows.
You may qualify for an exemption if you must wear dark glasses or goggles due to the impact of bright light on your medical condition. You might also qualify for a different exemption if you wear a prosthetic or other instrument that blocks your vision in some way. In order to qualify for an exemption, you may not drive, operate, or have in your possession in your motor vehicle any other individual except for the driver. In addition, an exemption will expire 30 days after the certificate is issued.
There is another type of exemption available for certain individuals whose jobs require them to drive as part of their work. Individuals who work as security officers, law enforcement officers, emergency management officers, emergency medical services personnel, and public utility repair personnel under extremely adverse weather conditions may qualify for tinted windows beyond the normal permissible level. Emergency personal must display visible credentials that document their license.
Tint Penalties
Penalties for violating Tennessee’s legal tint laws can apply to both you and the company that applied the tint. In the case of further fines for those using cars for work purposes, the owner of a company vehicle is responsible for seeing that the vehicle is brought into compliance – not the person operating it.
If you are pulled over by law enforcement and found to be in violation, you may be issued a ticket. The maximum fine for tinted glass is $250, but if you take steps to remove or replace the tinted window, you can face a fine as low as $10. An officer will typically provide you with a warning before issuing a citation, unless the violation is particularly egregious, such as operating a vehicle with completely blacked-out windows and no side view mirrors.
As a practical matter , the officer is more likely to issue a warning and direct you to take steps to replace any illegal tint with legal tint before using the vehicle on the road again. However, repeat offenders may be charged more harshly. For repeat offenders, the owner of the vehicle is liable for any tickets issued until the tint is addressed, at which point they will be given warnings instead of citations.
The Tennessee Department of Revenue provides a procedure for individuals cited for illegal tinting to prove compliance by submitting a replacement statement to the officer who issued the ticket. In most cases, however, a court appearance is required unless the issues are addressed before the scheduled hearing.
Tips and Tricks for Complying with the Tint Law
In Tennessee, as in many other states, it is the responsibility of the vehicle owner to ensure that the vehicle is in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations concerning auto window tint. Meaning, before proceeding with any window tinting, vehicle owners should know the law and take definite steps to ensure that their vehicle will not be pulled over simply to determine whether over-tint has been applied to a window.
The most obvious step in preventing over-tint issues is to check your tint percentage prior to proceeding to your window tinting appointment. There are small tint meters available for purchase that allow you to measure the tint percentage of auto windows. The cheaper meters have a concordance rate within plus or minus 5% and are less expensive than a hand-held spectrophotometer. While this option is the most affordable, the meters may be difficult for the average person to read. These simple hand-held meters come with a laser pointer so that the user can easily mark the area of the window to be tested, and they can quickly be read by a person unfamiliar with the meter itself. It is also important for the consumer to be aware that the window tint must be tested when the tint is dry, not immediately after installation. Some installers will make the mistake of telling you that your tint is dry in an hour or two, when it actually takes a few days, sometimes up to 30 days, for auto window tint to dry and cure properly. It is important to always verify that the tint is dry before testing it to be sure that the window tint complies with the law. With the proper tools and resources, you can save yourself time and a trip to a law enforcement agency or office of vehicle registration by verifying in advance that your vehicle window tint complies with Tennessee law.
Tint Laws in Different States: Tennessee vs. Other States
When compared to the neighboring states of Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina and Georgia, Tennessee has relatively moderate window tint laws. The laws are closer to those in Arkansas and Missouri. Kentucky has greater restrictions on front passenger windows than Tennessee. While Kentucky and Virginia are fairly strict about front tint, North Carolina allows for a maximum of 32 percent VLT on passenger window tint and no tint for the front windshield. In Georgia and Arkansas , any vehicle can have 32 percent VLT on all passenger windows and a clear strip on the front windshield.
With that said, Tennessee residents or anyone traveling through the state should be aware of the differences. If you are in a different state, you should also be familiar with those laws, which may be enforced in Tennessee as you travel.