Legal Tint in Illinois: 2026 Window Tint Laws, Percentages and Fines

Last verified: October 26, 2026 against 625 ILCS 5/12-503 (Illinois Vehicle Code) and Michigan Compiled Laws, MCL 257.709

Illinois tint limits depend on which window you mean. Illinois law sets a hard number for the windows next to the driver, bans tint on the front windshield, and says very little about the rear glass.

This page explains the Illinois window tint law by window, answers the common 5%, 15% and 20% questions, shows the fines, and covers the medical exemption.

What is the legal tint in Illinois?

For the windows beside the driver, the state’s tint rules allow only a nonreflective film that lets in at least 35% of light, or at least 50% in the cases tied to the rear glass. The rule is in subsection (a-5) of 625 ILCS 5/12-503.

Light transmittance, often called VLT, is the share of visible light that passes through the glass and film together. A higher number means a lighter tint. A 35% tint lets in 35% of light.

Window	What Illinois law allows	Section
Front windshield	No tint, except a nonreflective strip along the top, no more than 6 inches down	625 ILCS 5/12-503(a)
Front side windows (beside the driver)	Nonreflective film allowing at least 35% light, or at least 50% in the cases explained below	625 ILCS 5/12-503(a-5)
Rear side windows and rear window	No percentage in the statute. Perforated screens and decorative applications are allowed. A vehicle with treated rear glass needs side mirrors that meet Section 12-502	625 ILCS 5/12-503(b) and (b-5)

Front side window tint: 35% or 50%

The front side windows may not be tinted at all unless one of the listed cases applies. The cases tie the front film to the rear glass.

• If none of the rear windows allows less than 30% light, front film must allow at least 50%.
• If none of the rear windows allows less than 35% light, front film must allow at least 35%.
• If the maker installed smoked or tinted rear glass, front film must allow at least 50%. The statute allows a 5% variance in each of these three cases, as observed by a law enforcement official who meters the light.

In plain terms, the darkest film the statute lists for the front doors is 35%, and only when none of your rear windows is darker than 35%. If your rear windows are darker than 35% and were not tinted by the maker, none of the listed cases applies, so the general ban on front side window tint applies. Factory-tinted rear glass falls under the separate 50% case.

Is 20, 15 or 5 percent tint legal in Illinois?

No. A 20% tint is darker than the 35% minimum, so it is not legal on the front side windows. The same is true of a 15% tint and a 5% tint, also called limo tint.

Tint on front side windows	Legal?	Why
5% (limo tint)	No	Lets in only 5% of light. The minimum is 35%.
15%	No	Below the 35% minimum.
20%	No	Below the 35% minimum.
35%	Yes, if the rear glass is 35% or lighter	Meets 625 ILCS 5/12-503(a-5)(2).
50%	Yes	Meets the 50% cases in subsection (a-5).

Dark tint on the rear side windows and the back glass is not given a percentage by the statute. That is why a 5% or 20% film is sometimes seen on the back of a legally tinted car. The catch is the link described above: darker rear glass limits what you can put on the front doors.

Windshield tint rules

Illinois bans tint, film, signs and reflective material on the front windshield, with one exception. A nonreflective tinted film is allowed along the top edge if it extends no more than 6 inches down.

Official stickers or certificates that state or local authorities require you to display are exempt under subsection (h). A separate part of the same section bars hanging objects that materially block your view through the windshield. See 625 ILCS 5/12-503(c) and (c-5).

Medical exemption for window tint

Illinois allows darker tint for people with certain light-sensitivity conditions. The exemption is in subsection (g) of 625 ILCS 5/12-503 and covers both the windshield and side windows rules.

The vehicle must carry distinctive plates or plate stickers issued under Section 3-412(k) of the Vehicle Code. It must be owned and driven by a person with the condition, or used to transport a person with the condition who lives at the owner address.

• Listed conditions include systemic or discoid lupus erythematosus, disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis, light sensitivity from a traumatic brain injury, and albinism.
• The owner needs a certified statement from a physician licensed to practice medicine in Illinois.
• The statement must be kept in the vehicle, and the owner must also send a copy to the Illinois Secretary of State.
• The physician must renew the certification every 4 years.
• No exemption is granted for a condition that sunglasses or other eye protection can adequately address.

Installers may apply the exempt tint only to vehicles that already display the required plates or stickers. See 625 ILCS 5/12-503(g-7).

Penalties for illegal window tint in Illinois

A first violation is a petty offense with a fine of $50 to $500. A second or later violation is a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of $100 to $500. The court must also order you to fix the windows.

Offense	Classification	Fine under the tint law
First violation of the tint rules	Petty offense	$50 to $500
Second or later violation	Class C misdemeanor	$100 to $500
Any conviction	Court order	Alter the nonconforming windows to comply

The penalty rule is in subsection (j) of 625 ILCS 5/12-503. It covers subsections (a), (a-3), (a-5), (a-10), (b), (b-5) and (g-7). The order to fix the windows applies to convictions under (a), (a-5), (b) and (b-5). Court costs and other charges can be added on top of the fine.

Common tint situations in Illinois

You buy a used car with dark front windows

You become the driver who gets the ticket. Have the front side windows metered at a tint shop before you drive it, and ask the seller what film was applied.

You want a dark tint on the back and a legal tint on the front

That works only if the front film meets the rule tied to your rear glass. If the rear glass allows under 35% of light and the maker did not install it, none of the listed cases covers front film, so front side tint is not allowed. Factory-tinted rear glass falls under a separate 50% case.

You are stopped with 20% tint on your front doors

The officer can cite you under 625 ILCS 5/12-503(a-5). If you are convicted, the court orders you to bring the windows into compliance.

Your car is registered in another state

Illinois exempts vehicles properly registered in another jurisdiction from the tint subsections (a), (a-5), (b) and (b-5). If you move here and register your car in Illinois, the Illinois rules apply.

Myths vs. facts about Illinois window tint

Myth	Fact
Any tint is fine if it came from a shop.	Illinois law sets the limit. The shop does not change what the statute allows.
5% limo tint is legal if you only use it on the back.	The statute gives no rear percentage, but dark rear glass limits what the front doors can have.
Tint on the windshield is always banned.	A nonreflective strip along the top is allowed, no more than 6 inches down.
A medical need lets you tint any car.	You need an Illinois physician statement and the special plates or stickers.
A ticket is just a fix-it letter.	A first offense is a petty offense with a $50 to $500 fine, and a second is a Class C misdemeanor.

What to do if you get a window tint ticket

• Read the citation to see which subsection of 625 ILCS 5/12-503 is listed and the court date.
• Have a shop meter each window, so you know your actual light transmittance.
• Bring the windows into compliance. A court that convicts you must order that anyway.
• If you have a medical condition, ask your physician about the certification and ask the Secretary of State about the plates or stickers.
• Appear in court or follow the instructions on the ticket. Ignoring it can make things worse.

Frequently asked questions

What tint percentage does Illinois allow?

For the front side windows, the film must allow at least 35% light transmittance, or 50% in the cases tied to rear glass. The windshield may carry only a nonreflective strip no more than 6 inches from the top. The rear glass has no percentage in the statute.

Is 20 tint legal in Illinois?

No, not on the front side windows. A 20% tint allows less light than the 35% minimum in 625 ILCS 5/12-503(a-5). Dark film on the rear glass is not given a percentage, but it can limit what front film you may use.

Is 5 percent tint legal in Illinois?

Not on the front side windows or the windshield. A 5% tint is far darker than the 35% minimum for the windows beside the driver. The statute sets no rear percentage, so rear glass is handled differently, with side mirror rules.

Is 15 tint legal in Illinois?

No. A 15% tint is darker than the 35% minimum for the front side windows. If you want a legal front tint, choose 35% or lighter, and make sure your rear glass meets the matching condition.

What is the darkest tint allowed in Illinois?

On the front side windows, the darkest film the statute lists is 35% light transmittance, when no rear window is darker than 35%. In the 50% cases, the film must be lighter. On the windshield, only a top strip is allowed.

Are tinted windows legal in Illinois?

Yes, within limits. Illinois allows tinted windows on the sides and rear if they meet the statute, but it bans windshield tint apart from a top strip. Medical tint needs a physician certification and special plates or stickers.

What is the fine for illegal tint in Illinois?

A first violation is a petty offense with a fine of $50 to $500. A second or later violation is a Class C misdemeanor with a fine of $100 to $500. Convicted drivers must also fix the nonconforming windows.

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