West Virginia Window Tint Laws 2026
West Virginia's rules are in W. Va. Code 17C-15-36a. Sun-screening on the side windows beside the driver, the side windows behind the driver and the rearmost window must be nonreflective, with a light transmission of at least 35% and a reflectivity of no more than 20%. The windshield allows only a nonreflective strip along the top. Film must carry a manufacturer's label, and a violation is a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $200.
Bills to lower the front limit to 18% did not become law: Senator Tarr introduced bills in 2023 and 2024 (SB 431 and SB 215) that would have cut the side-window requirement from 35% to 18%. The current code still reads 35%, with its last amendment in 2012.
Quick Reference
| Window | Legal Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Top strip: ASI line or 5" | Nonreflective, no red, yellow or amber |
| Front side windows | 35% VLT, 20% reflectivity | Nonreflective |
| Side windows behind the driver and rear window | 35% VLT, 20% reflectivity | Needs left and right outside mirrors |
| Behind the driver on trucks, buses, trailers, mobile homes, MPVs | No VLT minimum | Reflectivity cap still applies |
| Medical exemption | Physician or optometrist affidavit | Carry at all times |
How the Limits Work
Under W. Va. Code 17C-15-36a, a person may not operate a registered vehicle on a public road with a sun-screening device on the windshield, the front side wings and side windows beside the driver, or the windows behind the driver that does not meet the section. For the side wings and side windows at the driver's immediate right and left, a sun-screening device used in conjunction with the safety glazing must be nonreflective with a reflectivity of not more than 20% and a light transmission of not less than 35%. The side windows behind the driver and the rearmost windows may carry a device that has the same 35% and 20% figures.
The statute defines nonreflective as designed to absorb light rather than reflect it. Because the front-window standard is applied in conjunction with the glazing, the glass counts toward the 35% reading.
The Windshield
A sun-screening device used with the windshield must be nonreflective and may not be red, yellow or amber. It may be used only along the top of the windshield, not extending downward beyond the ASI line or more than five inches from the top, whichever is closer to the top.
Rear Windows and Exempt Vehicles
If a sun-screening device is used on glazing behind the driver, one right and one left outside rear view mirror is required. The light transmittance requirement doesn't apply to windows behind the driver on trucks, buses, trailers, mobile homes and multipurpose passenger vehicles. That exemption is for the transmittance number only, and the section doesn't excuse the nonreflective and 20% reflectivity requirements. Automobiles with sun-screening installed at the factory by the manufacturer are exempt, as are K-9 and other animal-hauling emergency vehicles and unmarked law-enforcement vehicles used for covert work.
Legal vs Illegal
Legal
- ✓Nonreflective film at 35% or lighter on the front side windows
- ✓Nonreflective film at 35% or lighter behind the driver, with left and right outside mirrors
- ✓A nonreflective strip along the top of the windshield, within the ASI line or five inches
- ✓Darker tint backed by a physician or optometrist affidavit in your possession
Illegal
- ✗Film darker than 35% on the front side windows
- ✗Mirrored film or film with more than 20% reflectivity
- ✗Windshield film that extends past the ASI line or five inches from the top, or is red, yellow or amber
- ✗Installing film without the permanently affixed label
Labels and Installers
Each manufacturer must certify to the West Virginia State Police and the Division of Motor Vehicles that its sun-screening device meets the reflectivity and transmittance requirements, and must provide a label of no more than one and one-half square inches with the manufacturer's name and its percentage of light transmission. The label has to be placed permanently and legibly between the film and each glazing surface it is applied to, in the lower left corner of each glazing surface when facing the vehicle from outside. No person may offer for sale any noncompliant sun-screening product or install sun-screening on a road vehicle without permanently affixing the label.
Fines and Penalties
A person who violates the section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, can be fined not more than $200.
Medical Exemptions
The section doesn't apply to a vehicle registered in West Virginia in the name of a person, or the person's legal guardian, who has an affidavit signed by a physician or optometrist licensed in the state saying the person has a physical condition that makes it necessary to equip the vehicle with sun-screening that would violate the section. The affidavit must be in the possession of the person, or the guardian, at all times while being transported in the vehicle. The statute sets no darkness limit for exempt tint.
What Legal Tint Actually Costs in West Virginia
With a 35% floor and a 20% reflectivity cap, mirrored films are out, and a good nonreflective ceramic or carbon film is the usual fit. Because the front standard is applied together with the glass, ask the shop for the finished reading, and make sure the film comes with the manufacturer's label that the statute requires the installer to affix.
| Film Type | Sedan | SUV / Truck |
|---|---|---|
| Dyed film | $130 to $250 | $190 to $360 |
| Carbon film | $190 to $310 | $250 to $400 |
| Ceramic film | $220 to $420 | $310 to $570 |
Use the calculator to get an estimate specific to your vehicle before contacting any shop.
Free Tint Cost CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
Tint Enforcement by City
Charleston
The state capital and largest city. Statewide rules apply.
Huntington
Cabell County, where the same statewide rules apply.
Morgantown
Monongalia County, standard statewide rules apply.
Parkersburg
Wood County, standard statewide rules apply.
Wheeling
Ohio County, standard statewide rules apply.
Related Reading
Window Tint Laws by State
West Virginia tint law is one piece of a bigger picture. Every state sets its own VLT limits, and they vary more than most drivers expect. Browse the full directory below.
West Virginia tint law reference: W. Va. Code § 17C-15-36a, Sun-screening devices; penalty. Laws can change. Always verify current requirements with the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles or State Police before getting your windows tinted.