In Connecticut, legal tint is measured by VLT — the percentage of light the filmed glass lets through. The numbers below are the darkest tint the law allows at each window position, labeled VLT MAX: install film darker than the listed VLT and the vehicle is out of compliance. Figures are compiled from official Connecticut state sources; laws change, so confirm the current statute before you tint.
| Window | Darkest Legal (VLT MAX) | Reflectivity |
|---|---|---|
| Front side windows | 35% — front side wing vents and windows, not mirror-like in appearance, total light transmission of not less than 35%, plus or minus 3%, and luminous reflectance of 27%, plus or minus 3% (§14-99g(c)(1)) | |
| Rear side windows (cars) | 35% — the right and left side windows behind the driver carry the same 35% figure, plus or minus 3%, with luminous reflectance of 21%, plus or minus 3% (§14-99g(c)(5)) | |
| Rear windshield (cars) | 35% — the rearmost window is named in the same subdivision at the same 35% figure (§14-99g(c)(5)); a separate subdivision excepts the rearmost window altogether when the vehicle carries outside mirrors on both sides showing the highway at least 200 feet behind (§14-99g(c)(10)), and the DMV's measured-standard regulation restates that carve-out (§14-99g-2(c)(2) of the regulations) | |
| Windshield | Top strip only: transparent material on the topmost portion only, its bottom edge at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat (measured from a point five inches in front of the bottom of the backrest, seat in its rearmost and lowermost position, vehicle on a level surface), and the material not red or amber in color (§14-99g(c)(11)) | |
| Compliance sticker | Each window tinted after factory delivery carries a sticker in its lower left corner, legible from outside, showing the sticker registration number and a certification of compliance; pressure-sensitive, self-destructive upon removal, no more than one square inch. Manufacturers must win the Commissioner's approval and registration of their material and sticker before shipping material into the state, and each delivery of material includes an approved sticker with written placement instructions (§14-99g(e)) |
How to Read These Numbers
- Front side windows: Front side windows — driver and front passenger — are the most tightly regulated and the ones checked first at a traffic stop or inspection.
- Rear side windows (cars): Rear side windows are usually allowed darker than the fronts, and on SUVs, trucks and vans they are sometimes exempt from the passenger-car limit.
- Rear windshield (cars): The windshield rule controls the strip at the top of the glass and how far film or a visor band may extend down. Most states allow a non-reflective strip above the manufacturer's AS-1 line.
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Connecticut Tint Law Questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Connecticut?
For front side windows, Connecticut allows tint down to 35% — front side wing vents and windows, not mirror-like in appearance, total light transmission of not less than 35%, plus or minus 3%, and luminous reflectance of 27%, plus or minus 3% (§14-99g(c)(1)) — the VLT MAX. Rear windows may allow darker film; check the table above for each position.
What happens if my tint is darker than Connecticut allows?
Over-dark tint can draw a citation and, in many states, a fix-it order requiring the film to be removed and the vehicle re-inspected. Laws also change — verify the current statute before tinting.