California window tint law, window by window
California's tint rules live in the Vehicle Code, mainly sections 26708, 26708.2 and 26708.5, and they are stricter on the front of the car than most people expect. This is a plain-English walk through what the law allows on each window, based on the text in force from 1 January 2026. It is not legal advice, and the code itself is the final word: read section 26708 on the California Legislative Information site.
The short version
| Window | Allowed |
|---|---|
| Windshield, top strip | A tinted strip at the top, 26708(c) |
| Rest of the windshield | Clear UV film, medical only, 26708(e) |
| Front side windows | Clear film, 88% or more, 26708(d) |
| Rear side windows | Any shade, 26708(b)(4) |
| Back window | Any shade, with two side mirrors, 26708(b)(8) |
The windshield
The starting rule in section 26708(a) is that nothing may be applied to the windshield, side or rear windows at all. Everything else is an exception to that.
For the windshield, section 26708(c) allows transparent material on the topmost portion only. Its bottom edge has to sit at least 29 inches above the driver's seat, measured with the seat in its rearmost and lowest position from a point five inches in front of the bottom of the backrest. The strip cannot be red or amber, cannot carry opaque lettering, and cannot reflect sunlight or headlight glare into other drivers' eyes any more than the bare windshield does.
Below that strip, the only film the code allows is the medical exception in section 26708(e): clear, colorless, transparent film with at least 88% light transmission, for someone holding a certificate from a licensed dermatologist saying they should not be exposed to ultraviolet rays because of a medical condition.
Front side windows: the 88% rule
This is the part most often misquoted. You will hear "70% on the fronts" a lot, but section 26708(d) actually sets two tests, and a film has to pass both:
- The film itself must be clear, colorless and transparent, with a visible light transmittance of at least 88%.
- The window with the film on it must still meet federal standard FMVSS 205, which includes a minimum of 70% light transmittance.
The 70% figure is the floor for glass and film together. The film on its own has to be nearly clear, which is why the law describes it as material designed to block the sun's ultraviolet A rays rather than to darken the window. The driver also has to keep a certificate in the car, signed by the installing shop, that names the shop and the film's manufacturer and confirms the window meets the rules. If the film tears or bubbles so that it blocks a clear view, it has to be removed or replaced.
Rear side windows and the back window
Behind the driver, the rules relax. Section 26708(b)(4) exempts side windows to the rear of the driver, so the rear side windows can be any shade. Section 26708(b)(8) exempts the back window too, as long as the car has outside mirrors on both the left and right that give the driver a view at least 200 feet behind. Most cars do.
Color and reflection
Section 26708.5 bars any film that changes the color or cuts the light of the windshield, side or back windows except where section 26708 allows it. On the windshield strip, red and amber are specifically out. Mirror-style reflective film on the strip is out too, because it cannot reflect glare any more than the plain glass.
Medical exemptions
There are two, and they work differently:
- Removable sun screens on the front side windows, under section 26708(b)(10), for a driver or front passenger with a letter from a licensed physician and surgeon, or a licensed optometrist, saying they must be shaded from the sun for a medical or visual condition. Section 26708.2 sets the rules for the screen: it must be removable (a frame, rigid panel or roller shade, not stuck-on film), green, gray or neutral smoke in color, let through at least 35% of light, and reflect no more than 35%. It cannot be used after dark.
- Clear UV film on any window, windshield included, under section 26708(e), for a person with a dermatologist's certificate, as described above.
What this means when you tint a car in California
For most drivers the practical setup is simple: the shade you like on the rear side windows and the back glass, a strip across the top of the windshield if you want one, and the front side windows left alone or given clear UV film only. Before we cut any film we go through each window with you, so you know what the code says about the combination you have in mind. See our window tint prices or window tint in Oakdale.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percent tint is legal in California?
On the front side windows, only clear film that lets through at least 88% of light, with the window passing 70% overall (Vehicle Code 26708(d)). On the rear side windows and the back window, any percentage, as long as the car has outside mirrors on both sides (26708(b)(4) and (b)(8)).
Can I tint my windshield in California?
Only the topmost strip, above a line set in section 26708(c), in a color other than red or amber and no more reflective than the glass. Below it, only clear UV film for someone with a dermatologist's certificate (26708(e)).
Is 70% tint legal on the front windows in California?
Not by itself. The 70% in the law is the minimum for the window and film together. The film on the front side windows has to be clear, colorless and at least 88% light transmitting (26708(d)).
Can I get a medical exemption for window tint in California?
Yes. A letter from a licensed physician and surgeon or optometrist allows removable sun screens on the front side windows (26708(b)(10) and 26708.2), and a dermatologist's certificate allows clear UV film on any window (26708(e)).
How dark can rear windows be in California?
Any darkness on the rear side windows. The back window can be any darkness too, provided the car has outside mirrors on both the left and right sides.
Where does California window tint law come from?
California Vehicle Code sections 26708, 26708.2 and 26708.5. Section 26708 was last amended by Senate Bill 506, effective 1 January 2026.