15% Window Tint: What It Looks Like and Where It's Legal
15% tint lets 15% of light through - very dark, but not quite limo. See how it looks from inside and out, where drivers use it, and which states allow it on which window.
What 15% tint looks like
From outside in daylight you can tell someone is in the car if they are close to the glass, but not who. At night the cabin is invisible. From inside, daytime vision is fine and night vision is noticeably darker than 20% - enough that many drivers who try 15% on the front sides go back a step. Side by side with 5% the difference is that 15% still shows a hint of the interior when the sun is on it.
What it is used for
Rear and back side glass on vehicles where the owner wants strong privacy without the full blackout of limo tint, and the front sides in the small group of states that set no floor there. It is a common choice for the back of trucks and SUVs that came with light factory privacy glass, and for sedans whose owners keep the rear dark and the front legal.
Legal on front side windows in 0 states
Sedan rules. A state is listed when its minimum VLT for that window is 15% or lower, or it sets no limit there.
No state allows 15% on front side windows without a medical exemption.
Legal on back side windows in 16 states
Sedan rules. A state is listed when its minimum VLT for that window is 15% or lower, or it sets no limit there.
Arizona California Delaware Florida Iowa Maine Michigan Missouri Montana Nevada New Jersey North Dakota Ohio Texas Utah Vermont
Legal on the rear window in 20 states
Sedan rules. A state is listed when its minimum VLT for that window is 15% or lower, or it sets no limit there.
Arizona Arkansas California Connecticut Delaware Florida Iowa Louisiana Maine Michigan Missouri Montana Nevada New Jersey New York North Dakota Ohio Texas Utah Vermont
Questions
Is 15% tint dark?
Yes. It blocks 85% of visible light. In most light you cannot see faces through it from outside, and at night the cabin disappears.
Is 15% tint legal on front windows?
Only where the state sets no minimum VLT on front side windows or a minimum of 15% or lower, which is a very short list. Check your state before you book.