Utah Window Tint Laws 2026
Utah requires 35% VLT on front side windows, down from 43% as of May 7, 2025. Back side windows and the rear window have no VLT restriction for any vehicle type, as long as the vehicle has mirrors on both sides. The same 2025 law also changed how tint gets enforced on the road, a real, underreported shift most guides don't mention.
The bigger change most guides miss: HB 112 didn't just lower the VLT number. It made tint a secondary offense, an officer can only stop you for tint if you're already being stopped for something else, and it banned license suspension or revocation as a consequence for a tint violation.
Quick Reference
| Window | Legal Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | 70%, except top 4" strip and lower-left 3x4" corner | Restricted |
| Front side windows | 35% (5% variance) | Changed May 2025 |
| Back side windows | Any darkness | Mirrors required |
| Rear window | Any darkness | Mirrors required |
The 2025 Change: What Actually Happened
House Bill 112, effective May 7, 2025, amended Utah Code 41-6a-1635 and lowered the front side window minimum from 43% VLT to 35% VLT, with a 5% variance allowed when a peace officer measures it with a meter. Utah Highway Patrol's own current guidance confirms this effective date directly. Several tint guides published before mid-2025 still list the older 43% figure, worth double-checking the date on anything you read about Utah's tint law.
The same bill did something else that gets far less attention: it changed how tint violations can be enforced. A peace officer may now only stop a vehicle for improper side window tinting if the vehicle has already been stopped for a violation of another offense, tint alone is no longer sufficient grounds for a stop. The bill also specifically prohibits an officer from requesting the revocation or suspension of a person's vehicle registration or driver license because of a tint violation. Between the lower VLT floor and these enforcement changes, this was a genuinely significant update to Utah's tint law, not just a percentage tweak.
Two Places Windshield Tint Is Allowed, Not Just One
Most guides describe Utah's windshield rule as just the standard top-strip allowance, non-transparent material above the AS-1 line or within the top 4 inches. That's correct, but incomplete. The statute also permits non-transparent material in the lower left-hand corner of the windshield, within a 3-by-4-inch limit, a second allowed zone most competitor pages don't mention. Below 70% light transmittance anywhere else on the windshield isn't permitted.
Legal vs Illegal
Legal
- ✓35%+ VLT film on front side windows, any vehicle
- ✓Any darkness on back side and rear windows, with mirrors on both sides
- ✓Windshield material at top 4" strip or lower-left 3x4" corner
- ✓70%+ VLT elsewhere on the windshield
Illegal
- ✕Front side film reading below 30% VLT, accounting for the 5% variance
- ✕Any metallic or mirrored appearance on any window
- ✕Tinted rear windows without mirrors on both sides
- ✕Nontransparent material on the windshield outside the two permitted zones
Reflectivity Rules
Utah bans any metallic or mirrored appearance outright on every window, no percentage threshold, a flat prohibition rather than a reflectivity cap. If it looks like a mirror from outside the vehicle, it's non-compliant regardless of the underlying VLT reading.
Fines and Penalties
A tint violation in Utah is classified as an infraction, confirmed directly in the statute at subsection (9), a lower classification than a misdemeanor. The specific dollar amount isn't set in the tint statute itself, so it follows Utah's general infraction fine schedule rather than a fixed figure written into 41-6a-1635. Some sites quote a specific dollar range for this, but that figure doesn't appear in the statute, treat any dollar amount you see quoted as a general estimate rather than a set fine. Since HB 112 removed license suspension or revocation as a possible consequence specifically for tint violations, the practical exposure for most drivers is the citation itself.
Medical Exemptions
Utah's process for darker front-window tint generally involves a physician's recommendation supported by a Utah Highway Patrol exemption letter. Sources describing this process are inconsistent about the exact application steps, so if a documented medical need is driving your decision to tint darker than 35% up front, confirm the current process directly with Utah Highway Patrol rather than relying on a specific percentage or procedure from a secondary source.
Enforcement
Because of HB 112, tint is now a secondary offense in Utah, an officer needs another reason to stop the vehicle first before tint can factor into the stop. Once stopped, a handheld meter is used to check the front-window reading against the 35% floor, with the 5% variance built in.
What Legal Tint Actually Costs in Utah
Since back side and rear windows have no VLT floor at all, many Utah drivers pair a compliant front at 35% with much darker film behind the driver. Ceramic film is a common upgrade for UV and infrared rejection given Utah's high-elevation sun exposure.
| 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
Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City PD and Utah Highway Patrol both enforce, I-15 and I-80 see regular patrol presence. Given the 2025 secondary-offense change, tint checks now typically happen during stops initiated for other reasons.
West Valley City
Part of the greater Salt Lake metro enforcement pattern, standard statewide procedure applies.
Provo
I-15 corridor, university-area traffic density adds to routine stops for other violations.
St. George
I-15 corridor near the Arizona border, high desert sun exposure drives strong demand for compliant heat-rejecting film.
Ogden
I-15 and I-84 corridor, standard statewide 35% rule applies.
Related Reading
Window Tint Laws by State
Utah 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.
Utah tint law reference: Utah Code § 41-6a-1635, as amended by 2025 House Bill 112, effective May 7, 2025. Laws can change. Always verify current requirements with Utah Highway Patrol before getting your windows tinted.