Vermont Window Tint Laws 2026
Vermont's rule is in 23 V.S.A. 1125. It sets no percentage. Instead, it bars material adhered on the windshield, vent windows and the side windows beside the driver, except for a medical permit on the side and vent windows. The rear side windows and back window can be obstructed at any darkness if the vehicle has a securely attached mirror on each side.
A planned 2026 rule was deleted: a 2024 law (Act 165) would have taken effect July 1, 2026, tied front-window tint to the federal light transmission level and made illegal tint an inspection failure. Act 66, signed in June 2025, deleted those sections before they took effect, so the older wording of 1125 still governs. Some articles still describe the July 2026 change as coming.
Quick Reference
| Window | Legal Limit | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | No adhered tint | Small corner spaces only |
| Front side and vent windows | No adhered tint | Medical permit only |
| Rear side windows | No stated limit | Needs a mirror on each side |
| Back window | No stated limit | Needs a mirror on each side |
| Medical permit | 4 years or indefinite | Physician or optometrist |
How the Law Works
Under 23 V.S.A. 1125(a), an individual may not operate a motor vehicle on which material or items have been painted or adhered on or over, or hung in back of, any transparent part of the windshield, vent windows, or side windows located immediately to the left and right of the operator. The prohibition on hanging items applies only when the item materially obstructs the driver's view. Because the statute covers material adhered to the glass, it reaches aftermarket film, and the DMV's inspection manual describes the same thing as aftermarket tint. The statute states no percentage of light transmission.
Windshield Exceptions
Section 1125(b) allows material or items on the windshield, vent windows or side windows in a few places: a space not over four inches high and 12 inches long in the lower right-hand corner of the windshield, a space not over two inches high and two and one-half inches long in the upper left-hand corner, any space the Commissioner specifies for a required sticker, and equipment placed by government employees or volunteer emergency responders in authorized emergency vehicles. Licensed dealers can use somewhat larger corner spaces on vehicles for sale, and a rearview mirror or electronic toll transponder is allowed near the roof line or behind the mirror.
Rear Windows
The rear side windows and back window may be obstructed only if the vehicle is equipped on each side with a securely attached mirror that provides a clear view of the roadway to the rear and on both sides. With that in place, the statute sets no darkness limit, and the DMV inspection manual lists no tint criterion for the rear side windows or back window.
Legal vs Illegal
Legal
- ✓Any darkness on the rear side windows and back window, with a mirror on each side
- ✓Factory glass that came tinted from the manufacturer
- ✓Front side or vent window tint covered by a DMV medical permit
- ✓Small stickers in the allowed windshield corners
Illegal
- ✗Aftermarket film on the windshield
- ✗Aftermarket film on the vent windows or the side windows beside the driver, without a permit
- ✗Tint that tears, bubbles or wears enough to block clear vision under a medical permit
Medical Exemptions
The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may grant an exemption to a person required for medical reasons to be shielded from the sun, who attaches a document signed by a licensed physician or optometrist certifying that shielding is a medical necessity. The certification is renewed every four years, but when the condition is permanent and stable the exemption may be renewed without a new signed form. The exempt tint is limited to the vent windows or side windows immediately to the left and right of the operator. The exemption ends when the vehicle is transferred, and the seller must remove the tint. Material that tears, bubbles or wears enough to block clear vision must be removed or replaced.
On the DMV's medical form (VN-022), the permit is for 4 years or indefinite, must be kept in the vehicle, and allows tint up to the transmission level recommended by the physician or optometrist. The form states tint cannot be applied to the front windshield.
Inspection
The DMV's 2026 periodic inspection manual, effective September 1, 2026, rejects a vehicle with aftermarket tint on the windshield. For aftermarket tint on the side and vent windows beside the driver, the inspector gives an advisory that the windows may violate 23 V.S.A. 1125, but doesn't fail the car. It lists no tint criterion for the rear side windows or back window.
Fines and Penalties
Section 1125 states no penalty of its own. A violation is handled as an ordinary traffic ticket. A Vermont newspaper reported a $105 waiver penalty for the obstructed-window violation with no license points, but I couldn't confirm it on a court schedule, so check the amount on your ticket.
What Legal Tint Actually Costs in Vermont
In Vermont, aftermarket film is a rear-window decision. A film on the rear side windows and back window can go as dark as you like, subject to the mirror condition, while the windshield and front side windows stay film-free. Ceramic film on the rear glass cuts heat and glare for passengers.
| 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
Burlington
Vermont's largest city. Statewide rules apply.
South Burlington
Chittenden County, where the same statewide rules apply.
Rutland
Central Vermont, standard statewide rules apply.
Essex
Chittenden County, standard statewide rules apply.
Montpelier
The state capital. Statewide rules apply.
Related Reading
Window Tint Laws by State
Vermont 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.
Vermont tint law reference: 23 V.S.A. § 1125, Obstructing windshields and windows, and the Vermont DMV Periodic Inspection Manual. Laws can change. Always verify current requirements with the Vermont DMV before getting your windows tinted.