Legal tint in Delaware means at least 70% visible light transmission (VLT) on the windshield, front side windows, and side wings, with no darkness limit on the rear side windows or back glass. The rule comes from 21 Del. C. § 4313, which ties Delaware to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 205 as it applied when your vehicle was built.1Justia. Delaware Code 21-4313 – Safety Glass Federal Safety Standards Applicable to Windshield, Front Side Windows and Side Wings; Window Tinting Get the front windows wrong and the car fails its state inspection and can draw a citation at any traffic stop.
Front Windows and Windshield
Film on the front side wing vents and the driver’s and passenger’s windows must transmit at least 70% of visible light, with a manufacturer tolerance of plus or minus 3%.2Cornell Law Institute. 2 Delaware Admin Code 2277-3.0 – Glass Coating Material on Motor Vehicles A tint meter reading of 67% or higher on those windows is within the legal range.
The windshield is tighter. Any film or product on the windshield has to be transparent and cannot extend below the AS-1 line marked by the manufacturer.1Justia. Delaware Code 21-4313 – Safety Glass Federal Safety Standards Applicable to Windshield, Front Side Windows and Side Wings; Window Tinting The DMV describes this as the narrow band at the top few inches of the glass.3Division of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Services Inspections That strip is the only place on the windshield where tinting is allowed.
Rear Windows
Delaware’s statute addresses only the front windshield, front side windows, and side wings, so the rear side windows and back glass have no darkness limit.1Justia. Delaware Code 21-4313 – Safety Glass Federal Safety Standards Applicable to Windshield, Front Side Windows and Side Wings; Window Tinting You can legally install very dark film on every window behind the driver.
One condition applies. If the back window tint blocks the driver’s view through the interior rearview mirror, the vehicle must have outside mirrors on both the left and right sides.3Division of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Services Inspections Most vehicles already have dual side mirrors, so this is rarely an issue, but an older car without a passenger-side mirror would need one added first.
Reflective and Colored Films
Metallic or mirrored tint is prohibited on any window in Delaware, in both passenger cars and larger vehicles. Reflective films can bounce sunlight into oncoming drivers’ eyes, and the state treats that as a safety problem independent of VLT. A film with a chrome or mirror finish will not pass inspection even if the light transmission reading is fine.
Red and amber tints are also widely discouraged because those colors can be mistaken for emergency vehicle lighting. The specific color restriction does not appear in § 4313, but neutral shades like charcoal, gray, and black are the safest choice.
The Manufacturer’s Certificate
Aftermarket tint has to come with a certificate from the film manufacturer stating that the material meets FMVSS 205 for your vehicle’s build date, and that certificate must be conspicuously displayed on the car.1Justia. Delaware Code 21-4313 – Safety Glass Federal Safety Standards Applicable to Windshield, Front Side Windows and Side Wings; Window Tinting Reputable installers affix a sticker to one of the tinted windows. Driving without it is a separate violation under § 4313(c), though you have a defense if you can produce a DMV inspection notice showing the vehicle passed after the date of the offense.
If you bought the car used and the sticker is missing, a passing DMV inspection is your backup documentation.
Medical Waivers for Darker Front Tint
If a medical condition requires extra protection from light, Delaware allows a waiver permitting darker-than-normal tint on the front windows. The application needs a signed statement from a licensed physician, osteopathic doctor, or optometrist confirming the medical need for the vehicle’s owner or usual operator.1Justia. Delaware Code 21-4313 – Safety Glass Federal Safety Standards Applicable to Windshield, Front Side Windows and Side Wings; Window Tinting
Since October 31, 2022, the process is online only; the DMV no longer accepts paper applications in person or by mail.4Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles. Medical Tint Waiver You start the application at dmv.de.gov using your Delaware driver’s license or ID (the name must match your title and registration), print the packet for your doctor to sign, then upload the signed version through the link in the DMV’s email. If approved, DMV stamps the application with the State Security Seal, adds the waiver to the vehicle record, and mails you a new registration card noting the waiver. One application can cover up to four vehicles.5Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles. Medical Tint Waiver FAQs
Waivers can be denied for reasons unrelated to your medical condition: an outstanding warrant, a suspended registration, a returned check on file, an invalid address, or a driver’s license showing an out-of-state move.5Delaware Division of Motor Vehicles. Medical Tint Waiver FAQs Clear up any DMV account issues before you apply.
Fines and Inspection Consequences
Enforcement happens two ways. Officers carry portable tint meters that give an instant VLT reading at a traffic stop, and the state’s mandatory vehicle inspection checks compliance on every renewal cycle.
A first-time driver fine for illegal tint typically runs between about $28 and $115 with court costs. The bigger consequence is the inspection: your vehicle will fail until the non-compliant film is removed or you obtain a medical waiver.3Division of Motor Vehicles. Vehicle Services Inspections
Commercial installers face a stiffer penalty. A shop that applies tint in violation of § 4313 can be fined $100 to $500 per offense and must pay restitution to the vehicle owner for the installation fee.6Justia. Delaware Code 21-4313A – Commercial Window Tinting If a shop installs illegal tint, you have a statutory right to get your money back.
Ask your installer to confirm in writing that the film meets FMVSS 205 on the front windows, and keep the manufacturer’s certificate visible on the glass. That is the whole compliance checklist.