You can tint the front windshield in Florida only in the strip above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line, and the film used there must be non-reflective. Below that line, the windshield has to stay clear. The one exception is a state-issued medical exemption, which lets you apply darker film to the full windshield.
Where the AS-1 Line Sits and What You Can Put Above It
The AS-1 line is etched or printed into the glass by the manufacturer. It marks the boundary between the area the driver needs for visibility and the upper band where a tint strip is allowed. On most vehicles it sits roughly five to six inches below the top edge of the windshield, though the exact position varies by make and model.
Any film you apply in that upper strip must be non-reflective. Florida sets no specific darkness limit for the strip itself, but reflectivity is the hard rule. If your windshield has no AS-1 line printed on it at all, the entire windshield is treated as the driver’s visibility zone, and the stricter clarity requirement below applies to the whole thing.
Why the Rest of the Windshield Has to Stay Clear
Federal safety standards drive this one. Under ANSI Z26.1, incorporated into the federal motor vehicle safety standards, windshield glass in the area needed for driving visibility must allow at least 70 percent light transmittance.1National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA Interpretation Letter 11-000697 Trooper Kile 205 Aftermarket film, even a light shade, almost always drops the combined transmittance below that threshold.
In practice, this means no aftermarket tint on the main body of your windshield. Factory tinting that already meets the 70 percent standard is a different matter because it was engineered to comply, but anything added on top of the glass below the AS-1 line puts you out of compliance unless you hold a medical exemption.
Medical Exemption for a Darker Windshield
Florida law allows a certificate that overrides the standard restrictions on every window, including the windshield, if you have a light-sensitive medical condition. The statute covers Lupus, any autoimmune disease, and other conditions requiring limited exposure to light.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 316.29545 – Window Sunscreening Exclusions; Medical Exemption The application form from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles specifically lists:
- Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)
- Dermatomyositis
- Albinism
- Total or facial vitiligo
- Xeroderma Pigmentosum
The list is not exhaustive. The statute directs the department to consult with its Medical Advisory Board on which autoimmune diseases and other conditions qualify, so other diagnoses that require limited light exposure may also be approved.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 316.29545 – Window Sunscreening Exclusions; Medical Exemption
How to Apply
You need Form HSMV 83390, the Application for Sunscreening Medical Exemption. It asks for your name and address as they appear on your Florida driver license, vehicle information including title number and VIN for each vehicle you want covered, and a physician’s statement with the doctor’s name, license number, and business address. The physician must be licensed under Florida Chapters 458, 459, or 460.3Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Application for Sunscreening Medical Exemption If the person with the condition is not the registered vehicle owner, there is a separate field for that information, and you can list multiple vehicles on one application.
Mail the completed form to the Bureau of Motorist Compliance at 2900 Apalachee Parkway, Mail Stop 97, Tallahassee, FL 32399. All sunscreening exemption requests are processed centrally.4Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Procedure RS-48 – Sunscreening Medical Exemption Certificate The department may charge a processing fee.2Florida Senate. Florida Code 316.29545 – Window Sunscreening Exclusions; Medical Exemption
Once approved, you receive a certificate and a decal number for each vehicle. The certificate does not expire, but it is tied to the specific vehicle on it. Selling or transferring that vehicle voids the certificate, and you have to apply again for a replacement vehicle.3Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Application for Sunscreening Medical Exemption Keep the certificate in the glove compartment so you can show it to law enforcement if asked.4Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Procedure RS-48 – Sunscreening Medical Exemption Certificate
What You Pay If You Tint Anyway
Illegal window tint is a noncriminal traffic infraction classified as a nonmoving violation under Florida Statute 316.2956.5Florida Senate. Florida Code 316.2956 – Violation of Provisions Relating to Windshields, Windows, and Sunscreening Material; Penalties Fines for nonmoving violations in Florida generally run around $100 to $150 depending on the county, with the exact amount set by local fee schedules under Chapter 318. You may also be ordered to remove the film, and repeated stops without fixing it will add up.
The person who installs or sells the illegal tint faces more. Anyone who sells or installs sunscreening that violates the statutes commits a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail or a fine of up to $500.5Florida Senate. Florida Code 316.2956 – Violation of Provisions Relating to Windshields, Windows, and Sunscreening Material; Penalties A reputable shop knows the limits and will measure light transmittance on your specific glass before choosing a film.
What About Side and Rear Windows?
Side and rear window rules are entirely separate from the windshield rule and are more permissive. Front side windows must allow at least 28 percent visible light transmission.6Florida Senate. Florida Code 316.2953 – Side Windows; Restrictions on Sunscreening Material Windows behind the driver can go darker, and SUVs, vans, and trucks are allowed darker rear glass than sedans.7Florida Senate. Florida Code 316.2954 – Windows Behind the Driver; Restrictions on Sunscreening Material None of that changes what you can do on the windshield itself.
Tint and the Camera Behind Your Windshield
Most newer vehicles have a forward-facing camera mounted behind the rearview mirror that powers lane-keeping assist, forward collision warnings, and automatic high beams. That camera sits in the exact area where a windshield tint strip would go. Film in this zone can reduce optical clarity enough to trigger warning lights or lower the system’s confidence, especially in low light.
Metallic films carry a separate risk: they can interfere with cell reception, GPS accuracy, and key fob range. If your vehicle relies on driver assistance technology, a high-clarity, non-metallic ceramic film kept above the AS-1 line is the safer choice.