Legal window tint in Utah is set by window position: the front side windows must let through at least 35% of visible light, the windshield at least 70% (with a tint strip allowed along the top), and the rear side windows and rear windshield can be tinted to any darkness as long as the vehicle has side mirrors on both sides. The rules sit in Utah Code 41-6a-1635, and a violation is a $60 infraction that can be dismissed if you bring the windows into compliance within 14 days.1Utah Legislature. Utah Code 41-6a-1635 – Windshields and Windows — Tinting
Front Side Windows: 35% VLT
The two windows next to the driver and front passenger must allow at least 35% Visible Light Transmission. That’s one of the more permissive front-window standards in the country, dark enough to notice but still clear enough for an officer to see into the cabin.1Utah Legislature. Utah Code 41-6a-1635 – Windshields and Windows — Tinting
The statute builds in a 5% measurement tolerance. When an officer meters your front windows, a reading only triggers a violation if it falls below 35% VLT after accounting for that variance. Don’t plan around the cushion when picking film, though. Factory glass already absorbs some light, so a 43% VLT film on glass that transmits 80% lands at a combined transmittance of roughly 34%, which is technically illegal.1Utah Legislature. Utah Code 41-6a-1635 – Windshields and Windows — Tinting
Windshield: 70% VLT and a Top Strip
The windshield has the strictest standard at 70% VLT across the main viewing area. Factory windshield glass already sits at roughly 70–80% VLT, so there is very little room to add aftermarket film to the primary surface.1Utah Legislature. Utah Code 41-6a-1635 – Windshields and Windows — Tinting
A non-transparent strip is allowed along the top of the windshield, but it cannot extend more than four inches down from the top edge or below the manufacturer’s AS-1 line, whichever is lower. The statute also permits a small marked area in the lower left corner, limited to three inches from the left edge and four inches up from the bottom. That corner is typically reserved for inspection and registration stickers.2Utah Highway Patrol. Utah Window Tint Requirements
Rear Side Windows and Rear Windshield
Behind the front row, Utah sets no darkness limit. Rear side windows and the rear windshield can carry any level of tint, up to full blackout. This is where most drivers go dark for privacy, heat rejection, or UV protection.1Utah Legislature. Utah Code 41-6a-1635 – Windshields and Windows — Tinting
There is one condition. Any vehicle with tinting or non-transparent material on any window (other than the permitted windshield strip) must have side-view mirrors on both the left and right sides giving the driver a view of the highway to the rear. Most modern cars already come with dual mirrors from the factory, so this mainly affects older vehicles, custom builds, or trucks missing a mirror. Without both mirrors, you cannot legally tint any window beyond the factory glass.1Utah Legislature. Utah Code 41-6a-1635 – Windshields and Windows — Tinting
No Metallic or Mirrored Finishes
Utah bans any window that presents a metallic or mirrored appearance. The statute doesn’t quantify reflectivity; it prohibits the look outright. Chrome-effect and mirror-finish films are illegal regardless of how much light they transmit.1Utah Legislature. Utah Code 41-6a-1635 – Windshields and Windows — Tinting
This matters even on the rear glass, where darkness is otherwise unrestricted. The Utah Highway Patrol confirms metallic or mirrored material is “strictly prohibited” on any window. Ceramic and carbon films generally reject significant heat without a metallic finish, so those remain legal; the shimmery metalized films are the ones that get flagged.2Utah Highway Patrol. Utah Window Tint Requirements
The Fine and the 14-Day Fix-It Dismissal
A tint violation is an infraction. The 2026 Uniform Fine Schedule sets the base fine at $60, which can grow with court surcharges. The more useful number is the deadline: the citation can be dismissed entirely if you bring the windows into compliance and prove it within 14 days.3Utah Courts. 2026 Uniform Fine Schedule
The usual process is to remove or replace the illegal film, have a law enforcement officer verify the windows now meet the standard and sign off on the citation, then submit the signed citation to the issuing court before the 14-day deadline. Courts generally accept submissions in person, by mail, or by fax. If you need more time, contact the court clerk before the deadline to ask about an extension.
Ignoring the ticket is the expensive route. Unpaid infractions can trigger added fees, a failure-to-appear notice, and license holds.
Shops Can Be Cited Too
The statute makes it illegal to sell, offer for sale, or install window treatment that violates the standards. If a tint shop puts 20% VLT film on your front windows, both you and the installer are breaking the law. The shop faces the same infraction, which is worth remembering when someone at the counter waves off the legal risk.1Utah Legislature. Utah Code 41-6a-1635 – Windshields and Windows — Tinting
Commercial Vehicles Follow a Stricter Federal Rule
If you drive a commercial motor vehicle, federal rules override Utah’s more lenient front-window standard. Under 49 CFR 393.60, the windshield and the windows directly beside the driver must maintain at least 70% VLT, double the light Utah requires on a personal vehicle’s front side windows.4eCFR. 49 CFR 393.60 – Glazing in Specified Openings
The federal rule measures combined transmittance of the glass plus any film. Factory commercial glass typically runs 80–90% VLT, so an 85% film over 85% glass combines to about 72%, just clearing the threshold. Going darker on the windshield or front side windows of a CMV risks an out-of-service violation at a roadside inspection. The federal transmittance restriction doesn’t apply to rear windows.5FMCSA. May Windshields and Side Windows Be Tinted?
Medical Exemptions Aren’t Written Into the Statute
Utah’s tint law is silent on medical exemptions. Section 41-6a-1635 contains no application form, approval process, or exemption procedure for drivers who need darker front windows for health reasons. Some drivers with conditions like lupus or severe photosensitivity obtain letters from their physicians stating the medical need and carry those letters in the vehicle, but whether such a letter prevents a citation depends on the officer’s discretion and ultimately on the court.
If you have a genuine medical need, the practical approach is to get a written statement from your doctor identifying the condition and the recommended VLT level, keep it in the vehicle, and understand you may still receive a citation that has to be contested in court. A Utah attorney who handles traffic matters can tell you how local courts have treated medical necessity arguments.
Quick Reference by Window Position
- Windshield: 70% VLT minimum across the main glass; non-transparent strip allowed in the top four inches or above the AS-1 line, whichever is lower.
- Front side windows: 35% VLT minimum, with a 5% measurement tolerance at the meter.
- Rear side windows: any darkness permitted, including full blackout.
- Rear windshield: any darkness permitted, including full blackout.
- All windows: no metallic or mirrored appearance; dual side mirrors required if any window is tinted.