Legal window tint in North Dakota requires at least 70 percent visible light transmission (VLT) on the windshield and at least 35 percent on the front side windows. Rear side windows and the back glass can be tinted to any darkness as long as the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides. A violation carries a flat $20 fine as a nonmoving offense under North Dakota Century Code 39-21-39.1North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Century Code Title 39, Chapter 39-21
VLT Limits by Window Position
VLT is the percentage of outside light that passes through the glass and any film applied to it. Higher number, lighter window. The statute sets a different floor for each part of the vehicle.1North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Century Code Title 39, Chapter 39-21
- Windshield: at least 70 percent VLT. A nonreflective strip is permitted above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line, or within the top five inches of the glass if no AS-1 line is marked.
- Front side windows: at least 35 percent VLT. Film can block up to 65 percent of incoming light.
- Rear side windows and back window: any darkness, including full blackout, provided the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides.
The 2025 Change to 35 Percent
If you’re checking your tint against something you read a year ago, the number has moved. Effective August 1, 2025, North Dakota lowered the threshold on non-windshield windows from 50 percent to 35 percent, meaning front side windows can now be significantly darker than they used to be.2North Dakota State Highway Patrol. What Percentage of Tint Is Allowed on Vehicle Windows? Film installed under the older 50 percent rule is still legal, but a new install can go darker than it could before.
Factory Glass Counts Toward the Limit
The 35 percent and 70 percent limits apply to the total light passing through the glass and any applied film combined, not the film rating on its own. The Highway Patrol has stated this directly: factory tinting counts when calculating total tint.2North Dakota State Highway Patrol. What Percentage of Tint Is Allowed on Vehicle Windows?
Multiply the VLT of the glass by the VLT of the film to get your net reading. Factory glass at 78 percent with a 50 percent film gives you 0.78 × 0.50 = 0.39, or 39 percent net. That clears the front side window limit. Same 50 percent film on glass that starts at 70 percent puts you right at 35 percent, and a tint meter reading even slightly below during a stop will earn a citation. Most factory front side glass falls between 70 and 80 percent, so ask a shop to measure your specific windows and quote you the net VLT, not the film rating alone.
Reflection and Color
Any tinting in the windshield’s AS-1 zone must be nonreflective.1North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Century Code Title 39, Chapter 39-21 Highly reflective or mirrored finishes on any window can create glare for oncoming drivers, and metallic films are a common reason for equipment stops even when the VLT is within limits.
The statute is silent on tint color. Unlike states that ban red, yellow, or amber film, North Dakota does not prohibit any specific color. A heavily metallic gold, silver, or copper finish can still draw attention based on its reflectivity.
No Medical Exemption in North Dakota
North Dakota’s tint statute contains no medical exemption. Drivers with lupus, severe photosensitivity, or other light-sensitive conditions cannot apply for a waiver to darken the windshield or front side windows below the statutory limits. The same VLT floors apply to every driver.1North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Century Code Title 39, Chapter 39-21 Rear windows can still be tinted to any darkness, which helps passengers. For the front, the practical option is a film that blocks UV and infrared while still transmitting enough visible light to meet the 35 percent or 70 percent threshold.
The Federal 70 Percent Standard
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205 requires at least 70 percent light transmittance on all windows considered necessary for driving visibility, which on a passenger car means every window.3National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Interpretation ID 10-000710 A. Killian, Jr., Standard No. 205 The federal rule prohibits manufacturers, dealers, and repair shops from “rendering inoperative” safety equipment that met federal standards when the vehicle was built. A shop that installs film taking a windshield or front side window below 70 percent VLT carries federal regulatory exposure even though North Dakota allows 35 percent on the sides.
The federal render-inoperative rule does not reach individual owners working on their own cars. In practice, some shops ask the customer to acknowledge the state-versus-federal gap before installing a 35 percent film on the front sides. The windshield’s 70 percent state limit already matches the federal number, so nothing conflicts there.
Penalties
A violation of section 39-21-39(4) is a nonmoving offense with a $20 statutory fee.4North Dakota State Highway Patrol. Classification of Offenses Officers use a portable tint meter that clips to the window edge and returns a VLT reading in seconds. A number below the threshold means a citation on the spot.
A nonmoving offense generally does not add points to your driving record or by itself trigger an insurance rate change. Court costs and administrative surcharges can raise the total you actually pay above the $20 base fine.5North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Century Code Title 39, Chapter 39-06.1 Ignoring the ticket or continuing to drive with illegal tint after a citation can escalate enforcement and additional fines.
Insurance Consequences
A single nonmoving tint ticket is unlikely to raise your premium on its own. The larger exposure is on claims. An insurer may refuse to pay for replacing illegally tinted windows damaged in a collision, and some policies treat undisclosed aftermarket modifications as a coverage issue, which can limit what the insurer owes on the claim. Keeping the install within North Dakota’s VLT limits removes that risk.