Arkansas window tint laws set a minimum Visible Light Transmission of 25% on front and back side windows for standard passenger vehicles. The rear window may go as dark as 10% VLT under state law. Trucks, vans, and SUVs follow the same front side window rule but allow 10% VLT on rear side windows. The law also covers windshield strips, reflectivity limits, penalties, and medical exemptions. These rules come from Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306.
What the Law Says
Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 governs aftermarket window tinting on motor vehicles operated on public roads. The statute applies to vehicles from the 1994 model year forward and sets specific light transmission thresholds for different windows. It measures tint darkness using net light transmission rather than film alone. This means the combined effect of factory glass and any applied film must meet the legal minimum.
Net light transmission differs from a simple film rating printed on a tint roll. A film labeled 25% VLT can test darker once applied over factory tinted glass, since the two layers combine. This is why a film that seems compliant on paper can still fail an on road light meter test in Arkansas. Understanding this distinction helps drivers avoid an unexpected violation despite buying tint marketed as legal.
The statute also addresses the front windshield separately from side and rear windows. A strip of tinting material, often called an eyebrow in the industry, is allowed across the top of the windshield. This strip may not extend more than 5 inches down from the top center of the glass. The rule applies uniformly across passenger cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs under Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306.
Who It Applies To
Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 applies to side windows and side wings positioned immediately to the right or left of the driver, and to the windows directly behind the driver. For standard passenger vehicles including sedans and coupes, these side windows must allow at least 25% net light transmission. The same 25% threshold applies to the equivalent front side windows on trucks, buses, trailers, motor homes, and multiple purpose passenger vehicles.
A separate allowance exists for the side windows located immediately behind the driver on trucks, buses, trailers, motor homes, and multiple purpose passenger vehicles. These rear side windows may be tinted down to 10% net light transmission rather than the 25% standard that applies to front side windows. This creates a meaningful difference between how dark a sedan’s rear doors can go compared to a larger vehicle’s equivalent windows. The rearmost window on any covered 1994 model year or later vehicle may also reach 10% net light transmission.
A distinct and separate rule applies to chauffeur-driven sedans operated for hire under Arkansas Code Section 27-37-307. This section defines a sedan as a vehicle licensed as an automobile for hire that accommodates at least three rear passengers and is chauffeur-driven. A sedan under this definition is not a taxicab or a van. Because this exception is narrow, it does not extend to privately owned passenger vehicles or standard rental cars.
Under Arkansas Code Section 27-37-307, a qualifying for-hire sedan may apply tinting to its rear passenger doors that results in at least 15% net light transmission, along with a rear windshield tinted to at least 10% net light transmission. This differs from the 25% front side window standard that applies to ordinary vehicles under Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306. A person operating a personal vehicle should not assume these for-hire sedan allowances apply to them.
Windshield and Reflectivity Rules
Beyond the 5 inch eyebrow strip, Arkansas law imposes a separate restriction on tint appearance rather than only darkness. Window tint on covered vehicles may not have a metallic or mirrored appearance under the statute. This restriction is distinct from the VLT percentage requirements. A film that meets the numeric VLT threshold can still violate the law if it produces a reflective or mirrored look.
Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 also allows windshields on law enforcement vehicles to be tinted to a level that permits at least 50% net light transmission. This exception is specific to vehicles used by law enforcement and does not extend to privately owned or commercial vehicles operated by members of the public. It reflects a distinct operational allowance rather than a general windshield tinting right.
Compliance Label Requirement
Any vehicle operated on Arkansas roads with aftermarket tinting material applied to its glass must carry a compliance label. The label must be attached to the front glass immediately to the operator’s left, typically the driver’s side window. It must include the name and phone number of the company that installed the tinting material. The label must also affirm that all tinting on the vehicle conforms to the requirements of Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306.
This labeling requirement gives law enforcement officers a way to identify who performed the tint installation during a stop. It applies to the aftermarket film itself rather than to factory tinted glass installed by the vehicle manufacturer. A vehicle owner who has aftermarket tint applied without an accompanying label may face separate scrutiny beyond the underlying darkness of the film itself.
Penalties or Consequences
A violation of Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 is classified as a Class B misdemeanor. This classification applies both to a person who installs window tinting in violation of the statute and to a person who operates a vehicle with glass tinting that does not conform to its requirements. A Class B misdemeanor is a criminal classification under Arkansas law rather than a purely civil infraction, and it can carry meaningful fines depending on how the matter is charged and prosecuted.
Because the statute applies the same misdemeanor classification to both installers and vehicle operators, a driver who buys and installs tint outside the legal VLT range faces the same underlying charge category as an installer working on the vehicle. This differs from jurisdictions that treat tint violations purely as a fix-it ticket with no criminal classification attached. A person facing this type of charge may want to consult a licensed attorney in their state about how it could apply to their circumstances.
Exceptions and Limitations
Arkansas Code Section 27-37-306 provides a medical exemption process for drivers who require additional light protection due to a diagnosed medical condition. A motorist seeking this exemption generally needs a physician’s certification confirming a qualifying disease or disorder that requires reduced light exposure. This certification must be carried in the vehicle while it is being operated, allowing the driver to present it if questioned during a traffic stop.
A physician certification obtained under this medical exemption remains valid for three years from its date of issue. When a vehicle carrying a medical waiver exemption changes ownership, the person transferring the vehicle has specific disclosure obligations. The transferor must disclose that the window tinting on the vehicle falls outside standard legal limits without the medical waiver in place, since the exemption applies to the original qualifying driver rather than to the vehicle itself indefinitely.
The statute also states that its provisions do not apply to motorists operating vehicles registered in other states that have enacted their own legislation regulating windshield or window shading. A driver passing through Arkansas in a vehicle registered and legally tinted under another state’s rules is not automatically held to the Arkansas VLT standards. This exception is specific to out of state registration and does not extend to Arkansas registered vehicles.
Common Misconceptions
Many drivers assume that a tint film’s printed VLT rating alone determines legal compliance in Arkansas. In practice, the law measures net light transmission through both the film and the factory glass together. A film that lists a compliant percentage on its packaging can still fail a roadside light meter test once installed over glass that already has some factory tint applied to it.
Another common misconception involves the chauffeur-driven sedan allowance under Arkansas Code Section 27-37-307. Some drivers mistakenly believe that any sedan style vehicle qualifies for the darker 15% net light transmission allowance on rear passenger doors. In reality, this allowance is limited to vehicles licensed as automobiles for hire that meet the statute’s specific passenger capacity and chauffeur-driven requirements, not to personally owned sedans.
A further point of confusion involves reflective tint. Some drivers assume that as long as their film meets the required VLT percentage, any appearance is legally acceptable. Arkansas law separately prohibits a metallic or mirrored appearance regardless of the film’s light transmission rating, which means a technically compliant VLT film can still violate the statute if it produces a mirrored look on the glass surface.
Laws and enforcement may change. Anyone relying on these figures for a specific vehicle or situation should check official state sources or consult a licensed attorney in their state, since window tint regulations can be updated and interpretations can vary by jurisdiction. For a general overview of how this content is intended to be used, see the Disclaimer page.
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.