Legal tint in Mississippi must allow at least 28% of visible light to pass through most windows, a measurement called Visible Light Transmission (VLT). The rule applies to aftermarket film on passenger cars across all tinted windows, with looser limits for the rear windows of SUVs, pickups, vans, and similar vehicles. Factory tint that already meets federal standards is a separate matter and does not need to hit the 28% figure.1Justia. Mississippi Code 63-7-59 – Windows and Window Glass Generally
How Dark Your Tint Can Be by Window
VLT is the percentage of outside light that passes through the glass and any film on it. A lower number means darker tint.
On a standard passenger car — sedans, coupes, hatchbacks — every tinted window must meet the 28% VLT minimum. Front side, back side, and rear glass all follow the same rule, with no split between front and back.1Justia. Mississippi Code 63-7-59 – Windows and Window Glass Generally
Multipurpose vehicles get more room on the back glass. That category covers pickups, vans, SUVs, motor homes, and recreational vehicles. The two front side windows still need 28% VLT or higher, but any window behind those front side windows, including the rear window, can be tinted down to whatever minimum federal regulations allow for factory tint on that vehicle type.1Justia. Mississippi Code 63-7-59 – Windows and Window Glass Generally Federal safety standards do not set a VLT minimum on rear windows of multipurpose vehicles, so in practice those windows can be very dark.
Windshield Rules
Mississippi does not allow aftermarket tint across the full windshield. The statute prohibits tint film or darkening material on the windshield except for a sun-shield strip in the uppermost area, and only to the extent federal law authorizes manufacturers to install one at the factory.1Justia. Mississippi Code 63-7-59 – Windows and Window Glass Generally
Under federal standards, that top area is bounded by the AS-1 line etched on the glass. If your windshield has no visible AS-1 line, the entire windshield must maintain at least 70% light transmittance.2National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Interpretation ID 11-000697 Trooper Kile 205
Reflectivity and Color
Any glazing material that creates a mirrored effect on the windshield, side wings, or side and rear windows is banned.1Justia. Mississippi Code 63-7-59 – Windows and Window Glass Generally The statute uses a general prohibition rather than a specific reflectivity percentage, so a mirror-like finish is illegal regardless of the exact reading.
Tint color is not restricted. You can pick any shade as long as the film meets the VLT and reflectivity rules.
The Certification Label You Have To Display
Every vehicle with aftermarket tint must carry a certification label on the windshield. The label goes in the lower-left corner, has to be readable from outside the vehicle, and confirms that the tinted windows meet the 28% VLT standard. It also carries a registration number and other information the Commissioner of Public Safety requires.1Justia. Mississippi Code 63-7-59 – Windows and Window Glass Generally
You can’t buy the label on your own. It’s issued through a licensed tint inspection station, which tests your windows with a light meter before affixing it. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety licenses these stations and supplies the labels.3DPS Driver Service Bureau. Window Tint Compliance Division
Driving with aftermarket tint and no label is itself a violation, even when the actual VLT reading would pass. The label is the proof.
Medical Waiver for Darker Tint
If a medical condition is seriously aggravated by sunlight, Mississippi allows a waiver that overrides the 28% VLT requirement.
You need an affidavit signed by you and attested by a physician licensed to practice medicine in Mississippi, describing the condition and why darker tint is medically necessary. Take the affidavit to your county tax collector’s office, where the waiver certificate is issued at no charge.4DPS Driver Service Bureau. Tint Waiver The certificate uses a form created by the Commissioner of Public Safety and must be prominently displayed on the dashboard, not stored in the glove box.1Justia. Mississippi Code 63-7-59 – Windows and Window Glass Generally
The statute requires a physician. Optometrists are not listed as qualifying to sign the affidavit.
Vehicles That Don’t Have To Follow the 28% Rule
Several categories of vehicle are exempt from the VLT requirement:
- School buses and buses used for public transportation
- Buses or vans owned or leased by Mississippi-incorporated nonprofit organizations
- Funeral home vehicles and limousines, privately or publicly owned
- Government-owned law enforcement vehicles, fire department vehicles, and volunteer fire department vehicles
- Vehicles with factory-installed tint that already meets federal regulations
Penalties
Drivers caught with illegal tint are cited under the state’s general traffic violation provisions in Section 63-7-7 of the Mississippi Code.1Justia. Mississippi Code 63-7-59 – Windows and Window Glass Generally The statute does not require you to remove the tint as part of the sentence, but if you keep driving with non-compliant film you can be cited again on every stop.
The penalty is heavier for anyone who installs illegal tint, alters a certification label, or fraudulently issues one. Those offenses carry a fine of up to $1,000, up to three months in county jail, or both.1Justia. Mississippi Code 63-7-59 – Windows and Window Glass Generally A tint shop can also lose its inspection station license.
Using a licensed Mississippi tint inspection station is the simplest way to stay on the right side of the rule. The shop tests your windows after installation, confirms the VLT reading, and issues the required label.