North Dakota tint laws require at least 70% light transmittance on the windshield and at least 35% on the front side windows. Windows behind the driver can be as dark as you want, including fully blacked out, as long as the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides. These rules apply the same way to sedans, SUVs, and pickup trucks.1North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Century Code Chapter 39-21 – Equipment of Vehicles
Limits by Window Position
North Dakota Century Code 39-21-39 sets three tiers based on where the glass sits on the vehicle.
- Windshield: at least 70% visible light transmittance. A narrow exception allows nonreflective tint above the AS-1 line or within the top five inches of the windshield.
- Front side windows: the glass-and-film combination must allow at least 35% of light through.
- Windows behind the driver: no minimum, provided the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides.
The statute does not create separate categories for passenger cars versus SUVs or trucks. The only meaningful dividing line is whether the glass is in front of or behind the driver’s seat.1North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Century Code Chapter 39-21 – Equipment of Vehicles
The 2025 Change From 50% to 35%
Before August 1, 2025, North Dakota required all windows other than the windshield to allow at least 50% of light through. House Bill 1340, signed by Governor Armstrong, lowered the front side window minimum to 35%. The windshield requirement stayed at 70%, and rear windows behind the driver remain unrestricted when the vehicle has dual mirrors.2North Dakota State Highway Patrol. What Percentage of Tint Is Allowed on Vehicle Windows
If your tint was installed under the old rule, you have more room now. A film that was borderline illegal at 45% before August 2025 is comfortably legal today. Older guides still showing 50% for front side windows are out of date.
Factory Tint Counts Toward the Limit
Most vehicles leave the factory with some tinting already built into the glass, especially on rear windows. North Dakota counts that factory shade when measuring compliance. If your rear side window already blocks 30% of light on its own, adding a 50% aftermarket film doesn’t give you 50% total transmittance. The combined result is roughly 35%, which barely meets the front side window limit and may not survive a measurement with tolerances. The Highway Patrol specifically warns that factory tinting must be included in the calculation.2North Dakota State Highway Patrol. What Percentage of Tint Is Allowed on Vehicle Windows
Ask your installer to measure the factory glass with a tint meter before selecting a film. Reputable shops do this automatically. Confirm it anyway.
The Dual-Mirror Condition on Rear Windows
The freedom to darken windows behind the driver depends on the vehicle having outside mirrors on both sides that meet the standards in NDCC 39-21-38. Most modern vehicles come equipped with dual side mirrors, so this rarely comes up. If you drive an older truck or specialty vehicle with only a driver-side mirror, you cannot legally darken the rear windows until you add a passenger-side mirror.1North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Century Code Chapter 39-21 – Equipment of Vehicles
Windshield Strip Details
The top-of-windshield exception is more specific than most drivers realize. Only nonreflective material qualifies, and it must sit either above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line (a marking etched into the glass near the top) or within the top five inches of the windshield. If your windshield has no visible AS-1 marking, the five-inch measurement controls. Mirrored or metallic strips that reflect light back at other drivers are not allowed in this zone.1North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Century Code Chapter 39-21 – Equipment of Vehicles
No Medical Exemption
North Dakota does not offer a medical exemption to its window tint limits. The statute contains no provision for physician-documented exceptions, and the state does not issue waivers. If you have a sun-sensitive condition, you’ll need to work within the legal limits or consider alternatives such as UV-blocking clear films, which can reject most ultraviolet radiation while still meeting the 35% or 70% transmittance thresholds.
What the Statute Does Not Regulate
Some online guides claim North Dakota bans specific tint colors like red, yellow, or amber, or that the state sets a maximum reflectance percentage. The actual text of NDCC 39-21-39 does not contain color restrictions or reflectance caps beyond requiring that windshield strips be nonreflective. The law focuses on light transmittance percentages.3North Dakota Legislative Branch. North Dakota Century Code 39-21-39 – Windshield – Must Be Unobstructed and Equipped With Wipers – Tinted Windows
Subsection 1 of the same statute broadly prohibits placing any “nontransparent material” on the windshield, side wings, or windows that obstructs the driver’s view. An extremely reflective or opaque colored film could still draw a citation under this general obstruction language even without a specific color ban.
Penalties and Enforcement
A window tint violation in North Dakota is treated as an equipment infraction rather than a moving violation, so it typically does not add points to your driving record. Officers who measure your tint and find it below the legal threshold will issue a citation and generally expect you to bring the vehicle into compliance. Failing to remove or replace non-compliant film can lead to additional citations at future traffic stops.
Aftermarket tint that doesn’t meet state standards can also complicate insurance claims after a collision. Some insurers will not cover damage to illegally tinted windows, and a tint-related citation on your record may affect your premium at renewal. Notify your insurer about aftermarket modifications before a claim arises.