Kentucky Window Tint Laws 2026
Kentucky requires 35% VLT on front side windows for every vehicle. Behind the driver, the state doesn't just switch to "unlimited" for bigger vehicles the way most states do, it sets two distinct, specific numbers: 18% VLT for a passenger car, and 8% VLT for a multipurpose vehicle like an SUV, van, or truck. Both are genuine, regulated limits with a matching reflectance cap, not open darkness.
Check the date on any Kentucky tint guide you read: Senate Bill 46 (2024) legalized full windshield tint at 70%+ VLT, non-red, non-yellow. Before that law, only the top strip was allowed at all. A guide still describing "AS-1 line only" on the windshield predates the change.
Quick Reference
| Window | Passenger Car | Multipurpose Vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | 70%+ VLT, non-reflective, not red or yellow | |
| Front side windows | 35%, 25% reflectance max | 35%, 25% reflectance max |
| Windows behind the driver | 18% | 8% |
| Reflectance, behind driver | 35% max, both vehicle types | |
| Perforated film option | 30% transmittance, 35% avg. reflectance | |
Front Side Windows Have Their Own Reflectance Cap
KRS 189.110's front-window provision sets 35% VLT as the light transmittance floor, confirmed the same way for every vehicle type, alongside a 25% reflectance cap on that nonfilm side, a tighter limit than the 35% reflectance allowed on the windows behind the driver. This is a real, distinct number worth knowing rather than assuming the same reflectance figure applies everywhere on the car.
The statute also permits an alternative to standard tint film on the windows behind the driver: perforated sunscreening material, tested with the existing glazing, needs at least 30% light transmittance and an average reflectance no higher than 35%, measured across 16 equal sections with no single section exceeding 50%. This covers products like micro-perforated privacy film that don't behave like a uniform tint sheet.
Not "Unlimited," a Real Second Number
KRS 189.110(4)(a) sets the standard for windows behind the driver: a passenger car needs sunscreen material with a light transmittance of at least 18%. The same subsection then adds a specific carve-out, sunscreen material may instead have a light transmittance of at least 8% when used on multipurpose passenger vehicles. Both tiers carry the identical reflectance ceiling of 35%.
This is worth spelling out because most competitor guides shorthand it as "any darkness for SUVs," which overstates it. 8% is genuinely very dark, close to limo tint, but it's still a defined statutory floor a shop and driver are expected to meet, not an unregulated category.
The Windshield Rule Changed in 2024
Before Senate Bill 46, Kentucky's windshield rule allowed only a narrow strip of sunscreening material at the top, the AS-1 line allowance most states still use, roughly 5 inches down from the top edge, and nothing below it. SB 46 replaced that with a new standard: sunscreening material may be applied to the windshield, used in conjunction with the safety glazing, if it has a light transmittance of not less than 70% and is not red or yellow in color. That's a real expansion, not a minor tweak, full-windshield tint is now legal in Kentucky as long as it stays light and isn't one of the two banned colors.
Legal vs Illegal
Legal
- ✓35%+ VLT film on front side windows, any vehicle
- ✓18%+ VLT behind the driver on a passenger car
- ✓8%+ VLT behind the driver on a multipurpose vehicle
- ✓Full windshield tint at 70%+ VLT, non-red, non-yellow
Illegal
- ✕Front side film below 35% VLT without exemption
- ✕Rear film below 18% on a sedan, or below 8% on an MPV
- ✕Reflectance above 35% on rear windows
- ✕Windshield tint below 70% VLT, or in red or yellow
The Dual Mirror Requirement
If the rear window is tinted, dual side mirrors are required, regardless of whether the vehicle is a passenger car or a multipurpose vehicle. This is worth confirming before an install if your rear glass is going dark, most factory setups already comply.
Fines and Penalties
A tint violation is a Class B misdemeanor, with fines commonly reported in the $20 to $100 range.
Medical Exemptions
Kentucky offers a medical exemption administered through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, requiring a signed physician's statement carried in the vehicle. Specific percentage allowances under the exemption weren't confirmed against the exact statutory text in this research; if darker-than-standard tint for a documented medical condition is something you're pursuing, confirm current requirements directly with the Transportation Cabinet.
The Installer Label Requirement
Every installer or seller of sunscreening material must provide the buyer a pressure-sensitive, self-destructive, nonremovable vinyl-type film label stating that the material complies with KRS 189.010(20)-(23) and the relevant subsections of 189.110. This is a real, specific compliance document, not just good business practice, keep it if your shop gives you one.
The statute also requires that tint failing to meet these standards be removed immediately once identified, it's not a fine-and-move-on situation from the law's own text, non-compliant material is expected to come off.
Enforcement
Tint is a primary offense in Kentucky. Every percentage measurement under the relevant subsections carries a tolerance of plus or minus 3%, confirmed directly in the statute itself, so a rear window measuring 15% on a passenger car would still read as non-compliant against the 18% floor even with that tolerance applied, while one at 35% on the front would pass comfortably.
What Legal Tint Actually Costs in Kentucky
Since the rear standard now depends specifically on vehicle classification rather than a flat "any darkness" allowance, passenger car owners commonly aim for film noticeably darker than the front at 18% to 20%, while SUV and truck owners can go much darker, close to the 8% floor. Ceramic film is a common upgrade for UV and infrared rejection at any given VLT.
| 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
Louisville
LMPD and Kentucky State Police both enforce, I-64, I-65, and I-71 see regular patrol presence.
Lexington
I-64 and I-75 corridor, standard statewide rules apply.
Bowling Green
I-65 corridor, consistent statewide enforcement pattern.
Owensboro
US-60 corridor near the Indiana border, standard statewide procedure applies.
Frankfort
State capital, home to the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, which administers medical exemptions.
Related Reading
Window Tint Laws by State
Kentucky 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.
Kentucky tint law reference: KRS 189.110, as amended by 2024 Senate Bill 46 (windshield provision). Laws can change. Always verify current requirements with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet before getting your windows tinted.