Colorado window tint laws require at least 27% light through windows beyond the windshield. The windshield itself must allow at least 70% light transmittance. Rear windows can be any darkness if front glass allows 70% light. Penalties windshield rules and the medical exemption also appear below. These rules come from Colorado Revised Statutes Section 42-4-227.
What Colorado Window Tint Laws Require
Colorado sets one tint standard for every passenger vehicle on the road. Front side windows must allow more than 27% visible light through. The windshield must allow at least 70% light at all times. Sedans SUVs trucks and vans all share this same front limit. You can read the law at Colorado Revised Statutes Section 42-4-227.
The law measures tint by visible light transmission or VLT. VLT is the share of outside light that passes through glass. A lower VLT number always means a darker window. Colorado writes each limit as a minimum light level. Falling below that level on a regulated window breaks the law.
Understanding Visible Light Transmission
Visible light transmission tells you how dark a window really is. A 70% film looks nearly invisible to people outside the car. A 35% film gives mild privacy during daylight hours. A 5% film reads as very dark limo tint. Police confirm the exact reading with a handheld tint meter.
Colorado caps front side darkness at the 27% light level. So 27% marks the darkest legal front tint statewide. Any front film below 27% light fails the legal test. The windshield carries a higher 70% light requirement. These two numbers drive almost every tint decision here.
Tint Levels Drivers Often Choose
Drivers often compare common tint levels before buying film. A 50% film cuts glare while staying fairly light. A 35% film adds mild privacy and a darker look. A 20% film gives the common factory privacy glass look. A 5% film delivers strong privacy as limo tint.
Only some of these levels work on front side glass. Front windows must stay at 27% light or higher. So a 20% or 5% film fails on front windows. Those darker films fit only the rear under the exception. The rear exception still needs light front glass and windshield.
Windshield Tint Rules In Colorado
The windshield must allow at least 70% light transmittance everywhere. Tinting the entire windshield stays illegal at any darkness. Only the top four inches may carry tint film. That top strip film must stay non reflective. The strip must also meter at least 70% light after install.
The windshield strip cannot be red or amber in color. It cannot distort vision or reflect harsh glare at others. It cannot carry lettering that blocks the driver view. Factory glass approved under federal standards stays exempt from these caps. All windshield rules sit inside Section 42-4-227 of state law.
Front Side Window Tint Limits
Front side windows must allow more than 27% light through. This rule covers the driver and front passenger glass. A film around 28% keeps a safe legal margin. The same front limit applies to every vehicle body style. A lifted truck follows the same front rule as a small sedan.
Police usually measure the front windows first during a stop. Front glass is where most tint tickets begin in Colorado. Dark front tint blocks an officer view into the cabin. The state treats front visibility as a road safety issue. Drivers who tint front glass too dark risk a quick citation.
Rear Window Darkness Exception
Rear windows can reach any darkness under one condition. Both front side windows must allow at least 70% light. The windshield must also allow at least 70% light. When both stay that light the rear tint has no limit. That freedom includes very dark 5% limo film on the back.
Many drivers misread this rear window exception completely. The dark rear option demands nearly untinted front glass. Front tint below 70% removes that rear freedom at once. Then rear side and rear glass also need 27% light. This condition sits inside Section 42-4-227 of state law.
Prohibited Tint Colors And Finishes
No window may show a metallic or mirrored appearance. This ban applies to every window on the vehicle. Red and amber tint stay banned on the windshield strip. Reflective film that bounces strong glare is also illegal. These limits shield other drivers from blinding reflections.
Mirrored tint draws fast attention during any traffic stop. An officer can cite a metallic finish on sight. Color choice matters as much as darkness in Colorado. Standard non reflective film keeps a vehicle within the law. These material rules also live in Section 42-4-227.
Vehicle Types And Mirror Rules
Colorado applies the same tint rule to all vehicle types. There is no separate standard for SUVs or trucks. A cargo van and a sedan meet the same 27% front limit. Vehicle size never changes the front window requirement. This uniform rule keeps enforcement simple across the state.
Dual side mirrors matter once the rear glass goes dark. A tinted rear window requires one mirror on each side. The mirrors restore the view that dark glass removes. Most vehicles already ship with dual mirrors from the factory. Driving without them after tinting can draw a separate citation.
Special Vehicle Tint Exceptions
A few vehicles fall outside the standard tint caps. Law enforcement vehicles may use darker non windshield windows. That darker tint serves valid law enforcement duties only. Such vehicles cannot run routine traffic enforcement operations. Their windshields still follow the standard top strip limits.
Factory tinted glass installed at manufacture stays exempt. That glass already meets approved federal safety standards. Replacement glass must match those same federal guidelines. Added aftermarket film must still meet the state limits. These narrow exceptions sit inside Section 42-4-227.
Out Of State Vehicle Tint
Out of state drivers often hear about a 20% tint rule. That 20% figure came from House Bill 19-1067. Lawmakers introduced that bill during the 2019 session. The House then postponed the bill indefinitely. So the 20% out of state standard never became law.
Some news reports still repeat that 20% rule as fact. The figure remains a failed proposal and not law. Out of state vehicles still face Colorado equipment rules. Anyone can confirm the result at House Bill 19-1067. The official record marks that bill as lost.
No Medical Exemption In Colorado
Colorado does not offer a medical exemption for window tint. A doctor note does not raise your legal darkness limit. Conditions like lupus or photosensitivity change nothing under this law. Drivers must still meet the 27% and 70% light limits. No tint waiver form exists through the state.
Some states allow medical tint waivers but Colorado does not. At least one tint website claims Colorado grants exemptions. That claim is false under current Colorado law. UV blocking film must still meet the same light limits. You can review official forms at the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles.
How Officers Enforce Tint Rules
Officers enforce tint limits with a calibrated tint meter. The meter clips onto a window and reads the VLT. A reading below 27% on front glass supports a ticket. Tint suspicion alone can justify a traffic stop. Officers may also flag mirrored or colored film visually.
A 2024 enforcement reminder in Commerce City drew wide attention. Police there explained why dark front tint draws stops. They confirmed rear glass may be dark with light front glass. Enforcement focus stays on front side windows and windshields. Many drivers keep tint receipts to show compliance.
Penalties For Illegal Window Tint
Most tint violations count as a class B traffic infraction. A class B infraction brings a fine plus a small surcharge. These fines generally run from $15 to $100 in Colorado. A class B infraction adds no points to a license. One common penalty is a $50 fine and $16 surcharge.
Installing non compliant tint can become a class A infraction. A class A infraction can carry points on a license. Officers may issue a fix it ticket instead of a fine. That ticket asks the driver to remove the illegal tint. The driver then shows proof of compliance within a set time.
Penalty classification flows from Section 42-4-1701 of state law. Repeat or extreme tint cases can raise the consequences. Severe violations may move past a simple infraction. A licensed attorney can explain any escalation risk. Most drivers face only a modest fine and surcharge.
Common Misconceptions About Tint Laws
Many drivers think large SUVs may legally go darker upfront. The 27% front limit covers every vehicle type equally. Others believe a medical note unlocks darker legal tint. Colorado grants no such medical exemption at all. Both beliefs push drivers straight into easy violations.
Some assume the whole windshield can take light tint. Only the top four inches may legally carry film. Others think rear glass darkness is always unlimited. Dark rear glass needs 70% front and windshield light. Clearing these myths keeps drivers compliant and ticket free.
Staying Current On Tint Rules
Colorado tint rules sit in Section 42-4-227 today. The published statute reads current through fall 2025. The core 27% and 70% limits remain unchanged. Laws and enforcement may change over time. Drivers can check official state sources for the latest rules.
Colorado window tint laws balance driver privacy and road safety. Knowing the 27% and 70% limits helps drivers stay legal. Tint rules differ sharply from one state to the next. Readers comparing states can review our Connecticut window tint laws guide. Verifying current limits before tinting helps avoid costly tickets.
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.