Arkansas window tint laws set a 25% minimum VLT for front side windows under Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306. The rearmost window on any vehicle must result in at least 10% net light transmission. Multi purpose vehicles including SUVs trucks and vans carry a 10% minimum on rear side windows behind the driver. The law also covers penalties the installer sticker requirement medical exemptions and out of state vehicle rules. All rules derive from Arkansas Code Title 27 and are confirmed by the Arkansas State Police.
Key Terms in Arkansas Tint Law
Visible Light Transmission or VLT is the percentage of light that passes through both the factory glass and the applied tint film combined. A 25% VLT film allows one quarter of available light to pass through. Lower numbers mean darker tint and higher numbers mean lighter tint. Net light transmission measures the combined result of the factory glass and the aftermarket film together. Many drivers assume only the film rating matters but Arkansas law measures both layers together.
After market tinting material means any film or coating applied after the vehicle left the factory. Factory installed tinted glass is treated differently from film added later. An eyebrow or sun strip is the narrow non reflective strip of tint allowed along the very top of the front windshield. The AS 1 line is a small mark etched by the manufacturer near the top of most windshields. Tint installers and drivers use that line as a reference point for the eyebrow strip limit.
A Class B misdemeanor is a criminal offense under Arkansas law that can result in fines and up to 90 days in jail. That classification is more serious than a standard traffic infraction and can appear on a background check. A multi purpose vehicle under Arkansas tint law includes SUVs pickup trucks vans buses trailers and motor homes. An installer label is a sticker the tint shop is required to attach to the front glass on the driver side. That label must include the installer name and phone number and confirm compliance with state law.
What Arkansas Law Allows by Window Position
Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 sets the baseline rules for all private vehicles with after market tinting material. The windshield rule is the same for every vehicle type: only a non reflective eyebrow strip of five inches or less along the top edge is permitted. Front side windows must result in at least 25% net light transmission on both passenger vehicles and multi purpose vehicles. The rearmost window on any vehicle must result in at least 10% net light transmission. These limits apply to after market film and are not satisfied by claiming the factory glass alone is dark enough.
Passenger Vehicles
Passenger vehicles include sedans coupes hatchbacks and station wagons. The front side windows must result in at least 25% net light transmission. Rear side windows on a passenger sedan must also result in at least 25% net light transmission. The rearmost window which is the back glass must result in at least 10% net light transmission. A driver with all windows at the legal minimums still needs a compliant installer label on the front glass.
Multi Purpose Vehicles
Multi purpose vehicles cover SUVs pickup trucks vans buses trailers and motor homes. The windshield and front side window rules are identical to passenger vehicles: five inch eyebrow only and at least 25% on front side windows. Side windows immediately behind the driver seat must result in at least 10% net light transmission. The rearmost window must also result in at least 10% net light transmission. Multiple commercial sources have incorrectly stated that rear side windows on SUVs have no limit but the statute specifies the 10% minimum for those positions.
Reflectivity and Color Rules
Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 prohibits metallic or mirrored tinting material on any vehicle window. A metallic or mirrored film contains reflective elements that create a mirror like appearance on the outside of the glass. The statute does not expressly list prohibited tint colors by name. Some commercial sources reference bans on blue red or amber tints but those color claims are not sourced to a specific subsection of the statute. Drivers who want clarity on color restrictions should verify directly with official Arkansas sources before installation.
The Installer Sticker Requirement
Any vehicle operated on Arkansas roads with after market tint must display a label on the front glass immediately to the operator left. That label must include the tint installer name and phone number. The label must also affirm that all tinting on the vehicle conforms to Arkansas law. This requirement took effect under Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 subsection c on August 13 2013. The sticker is a compliance item tied to the vehicle not just the installation event.
Buyers of used vehicles with existing after market tint inherit the sticker obligation. If the original installer label is missing or illegible the vehicle may not be in compliance even if the tint darkness itself meets the percentage minimums. A buyer who discovers no sticker on a used vehicle should contact a tint installer to assess compliance. The label requirement is one of the most commonly overlooked rules in current coverage of this topic. No top competitor explains the used vehicle sticker situation in plain English.
Penalties for Illegal Tint in Arkansas
A violation of Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 is classified as a Class B misdemeanor under subsection g of that statute. The Class B misdemeanor classification applies to both the vehicle operator and the installer who performed the non compliant tint job. Under Arkansas law a Class B misdemeanor may result in fines and up to 90 days in jail. Many drivers assume a tint violation is a minor traffic infraction similar to a speeding ticket but the criminal classification is more serious. Enforcement may result in a fix it order requiring the driver to remove or replace the non compliant film and present proof of compliance.
Consult a licensed attorney in your state if you have received a citation for a window tint violation. The practical outcome of a Class B misdemeanor charge depends on the specific facts and any prior record. A criminal charge of any kind can affect employment background checks and professional licensing reviews. The statute does not limit enforcement to drivers who installed the tint themselves. A driver operating a vehicle with pre existing non compliant tint may face the same classification as the person who had the film installed.
Exceptions and Exemptions
Medical Exemption
Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 subsection e provides a medical exemption for drivers diagnosed with a qualifying condition. Albinism and lupus are listed as examples but the statute does not limit the exemption to those conditions alone. A licensed physician must sign a certification stating that the medical condition makes darker tinting in the patient best interest. The driver must carry that certification in the vehicle at all times. The physician certification is valid for three years from the date of issue.
The medical exemption does not permit unlimited tint darkness. Side windows under the medical waiver must still result in at least 20% net light transmission. The rearmost window minimum remains at 10% net light transmission even under the waiver. The front windshield may be covered under a medical waiver to at least 50% net light transmission. If a vehicle with waiver based tint is sold the seller must disclose or remove the waiver based tint before transfer.
Consult a licensed attorney in your state for questions about qualifying for and maintaining a medical tint exemption. The three year expiration on the physician certification means the driver must obtain a renewed document before it lapses. Operating a vehicle with an expired certification may be treated the same as operating without the exemption at all. The statute is specific that the certification must be present in the vehicle during operation. A certification kept at home or stored digitally does not satisfy the requirement.
Out of State Vehicles
Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 subsection d explicitly exempts vehicles registered in other states that have their own tinting legislation. A driver from Texas or Oklahoma traveling through Arkansas is not subject to Arkansas VLT limits if their home state has enacted window tint rules. This exemption covers the vehicle registration not the driver state of residence. No competitor in the current top 10 search results explains this exemption at all. Out of state drivers who receive a stop related to window tint should reference subsection d of the statute.
Chauffeur Driven For Hire Sedans
Arkansas Code Section 27-37-307 creates a separate set of tint rules for sedans licensed as automobiles for hire. These vehicles are exempt from the standard rules of Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306. Different VLT limits apply to the rear passenger doors the front passenger door and the front windshield eyebrow on for hire sedans. The chauffeur driven sedan carve out is entirely absent from all top competitor articles. Operators of licensed for hire sedans should review Section 27-37-307 directly or consult an attorney for the applicable limits.
Law Enforcement and Funeral Vehicles
Law enforcement vehicle windshields may be tinted to at least 50% net light transmission under Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 subsection i. This provision answers the common question about why police vehicles appear to have darker tint than private vehicles. The 50% minimum on the windshield applies to law enforcement vehicles the same way standard rules apply to other vehicles. Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 subsection f separately exempts vehicles used exclusively or primarily for transportation of human remains. Funeral vehicles meeting that definition are not subject to the standard VLT limits.
Older Model Vehicles
Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 subsections b and h include specific provisions for vehicles manufactured before the 1994 model year. The 1994 model year serves as the dividing line between standard rules and the older vehicle provisions. Vehicles tinted under acts that were later repealed also fall under a separate treatment in the statute. The exact limits for pre 1994 vehicles require review of subsection h directly from official Arkansas sources. Owners of 1993 and older vehicles should consult an attorney or verify rules with official state sources before installation.
Common Misconceptions About Arkansas Tint Law
The most repeated error in online sources is the claim that SUV rear side windows have no darkness limit. Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 subsection b specifies that side windows immediately behind the driver on trucks buses trailers motor homes and multi purpose vehicles must result in at least 10% net light transmission. A second common error is the belief that a doctor note alone permits any level of darkness. Even under the medical exemption side windows must meet the 20% minimum and the windshield must meet the 50% minimum. No medical certification removes all VLT minimums from the equation.
Many drivers believe tint law does not apply to out of state vehicles passing through Arkansas. The exemption in subsection d applies only to vehicles registered in states that have enacted their own tinting legislation. A vehicle from a state with no tint law of its own does not qualify for the exemption. The installer sticker is another source of confusion for used vehicle buyers who assume the requirement only applied at the time of installation. The sticker obligation follows the vehicle and remains a compliance item for every subsequent owner.
Law enforcement windshields are sometimes cited as evidence that dark tint is available to those with the right permits. The statute grants law enforcement a specific exception limited to 50% net light transmission on the windshield only. That exception does not extend to law enforcement side windows or to private vehicles. Another widespread misconception is that the eyebrow strip at the top of the windshield can extend as far down as the tint remains light enough. The statute caps the eyebrow at five inches from the top center of the windshield regardless of VLT level.
Buying a Used Vehicle With Existing Tint
A used vehicle with after market tint may or may not have the required installer label on the driver side front glass. The absence of that label is a compliance issue under Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 subsection c even if the tint darkness itself meets the minimums. A buyer who discovers no sticker should have the film tested by a certified installer to confirm VLT compliance. If the tint is non compliant the buyer may need to remove or replace the film and obtain a new compliant installer label. The Arkansas State Police is the enforcement authority for these rules on Arkansas roads.
Drivers who want to confirm that existing tint meets the 25% or 10% minimums can have the film tested with a photometer before completing a vehicle purchase. A compliant film combined with a missing or illegible label still leaves the vehicle out of full compliance under the statute. New tint installed after purchase will generate a fresh installer label if the shop follows the requirement. The obligation to display the label does not expire with the original installation event. For guidance on Arizona window tint laws and other state rules that may apply to your vehicle registration consult official state sources or a licensed attorney.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Lawwalls publishes informational content only and does not provide legal services or legal advice.
For legal advice about your specific situation contact a licensed attorney in your state. Laws change and vary by jurisdiction. Verify current rules with official government sources or a qualified lawyer.