Delaware window tint laws require front side windows to allow at least 70% light. Rear side windows and the rear window have no darkness limit. Illegal tint may bring fines from $28.75 to $100 per offense. Penalties medical exemptions windshield rules and a pending bill follow below. These rules come from Delaware Code Title 21 Section 4313.
Tint Terms Defined
Window tint law uses a measure called visible light transmission. Visible light transmission shows the percent of light passing through glass. A lower number means darker tint and less light inside. A higher number means lighter tint and more visible light. Delaware sets its front window limit at 70% light transmission.
Factory glass is tint built into the glass by the maker. Aftermarket tint is film added after the car is built. Delaware treats these two types of tint differently. The AS 1 line sits near the top of the windshield. Tint strips are allowed only above that AS 1 line.
Side wings are the small windows next to the driver. These count as front windows under Delaware tint rules. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205 sets the glass standard. Delaware ties its front window rule to that federal standard. A state regulation then fixes the 70% light figure.
Reflectance describes how much light a tint mirrors away. Delaware bans reflective and mirrored film on every window. A 5% film blocks most light and looks very dark. A 70% film looks nearly clear to most eyes. These figures help drivers judge legal and illegal tint.
What Delaware Window Tint Laws Say
Delaware Code Title 21 Section 4313 controls vehicle window tint. Front windshield and front side windows must meet Standard 205. Dark aftermarket film on front windows is effectively barred. Those windows must allow at least 70% of outside light. You can read the rule in the Delaware Code Title 21 Section 4313.
Windshield tint is allowed only above the AS 1 line. That material must stay transparent and non reflective. On older windshields the strip may not exceed 5 inches. The rear window and rear side windows have no limit. Drivers may install very dark film on those rear windows.
Reflective and mirrored film is not allowed on any window. Aftermarket film must display a manufacturer compliance certificate. A state regulation sets the front limit at 70% light. That regulation allows a tolerance of plus or minus 3%. You can review it in the Delaware Administrative Code Rule 2277.
Drivers must not block the windshield with nontransparent material. Section 4309 bars signs and posters on the windshield. Only required certificates or papers may sit on the glass. This rule supports the tint limits in Section 4313. Together these sections keep front glass mostly clear.
Who The Tint Law Covers
Delaware window tint laws apply to passenger cars and multi purpose vehicles. Multi purpose vehicles include minivans pickups and sport utility vehicles. Both vehicle classes follow the same Delaware tint limits. Front windows need 70% light on cars and these vehicles. Rear glass has no darkness limit for either class.
Commercial installers also fall under Delaware tint rules. Delaware Code Title 21 Section 4313A covers commercial installation. An installer may not apply tint that breaks Section 4313. This rule targets shops not just individual drivers. Penalties for installers differ from driver penalties below.
Tinted vehicles may be checked during state inspection. Inspection can confirm whether tint meets Standard 205. A passed inspection can serve as a defense later. The driver shows a validated inspection notice in court. This option appears in Section 4313 subsection c.
Penalties For Illegal Tint
Illegal tint falls under the equipment penalty in Section 4315. A driver may face a fine from $28.75 to $100. This range covers violations of Sections 4312 through 4316. The fine applies to the vehicle operator or owner. The charge may be dismissed before trial in some cases.
Dismissal is possible when no collision has occurred. The driver must show the vehicle now meets the law. This fix it option lets owners correct illegal tint. Commercial installers face a separate and higher penalty. Section 4313A sets that installer fine and restitution.
An installer fine runs from $100 to $500 per violation. The installer must also repay any fee charged for the work. Restitution goes to the owner of the tinted vehicle. These amounts come from Delaware Code Title 21 Section 4313A. Driver fines and installer fines are counted separately.
Exceptions And Medical Exemptions
Delaware law allows a medical exemption for darker tint. A licensed physician or optometrist must certify the need. The certification must state that tinted windows are medically necessary. It can cover the owner or the usual vehicle operator. This exemption appears in Section 4313 subsection d.
The medical exemption blocks a conviction under Section 4313. A driver carries the signed statement as proof. The signer must be a medicine or optometry practitioner. Osteopathic medicine practitioners may also sign the statement. The statement ties the tint to a medical need.
Antique vehicles receive a separate Delaware tint exception. Anodized glass on an antique vehicle or street rod qualifies. The glass must be correctly installed to meet that exception. Certain police vehicles also fall outside the tint rule. Police K 9 unit vehicles and some surveillance cars qualify.
The police exception does not cover most marked cars. It applies to unmarked vehicles used outside regular patrols. These exceptions are narrow and tied to specific vehicles. Most drivers will not qualify for any tint exception. The medical exemption remains the main path to darker front tint.
Recent And Pending Changes
Delaware may soon allow darker front side window tint. Senate Bill 255 would lower the front limit to 35%. That figure would replace the current 70% light rule. The bill passed the Delaware Senate in May 2026. It is not law yet as of June 2026.
The bill would keep rear windows free of any limit. It would also exempt law enforcement vehicles from tint rules. A driver could then use 35% front tint without a waiver. Until enactment the 70% front rule still applies. You can track it through Delaware Senate Bill 255.
Laws and enforcement on tint may change over time. Check official state sources for the latest tint rules. News reports covered the 35% proposal in spring 2026. Pages claiming no 2026 change may soon be outdated. The current 70% standard stays in force for now.
Common Tint Law Misconceptions
Many drivers think front windows can take light film. Delaware bars aftermarket film on front side windows today. Only factory glass at 70% or higher is allowed there. Some confuse factory privacy glass with legal aftermarket film. Privacy glass on rear windows is built by the maker.
Another myth says all windows share one tint limit. Front and rear windows follow very different Delaware rules. Rear side windows and the rear window have no limit. Drivers also assume the 35% change already passed. That change remains a pending bill not active law.
People also think reflective tint is fine if light. Delaware bans mirrored film at any darkness level. Others believe a tint ticket cannot be dropped. A charge may be dismissed after proven compliance. No collision must have occurred for that dismissal.
Tint Rules In Other States
Tint limits change sharply from one state to another. Some states allow 35% or 20% on front windows. Delaware allows less front tint than many nearby states. Comparing states helps drivers see how rules differ. Each state sets its own VLT figures and penalties.
Delaware window tint laws limit front tint more than most states. Drivers comparing rules can review Georgia window tint laws next. That comparison shows how front limits vary by state. Delaware front windows still require 70% light for now. Rear windows in Delaware remain free of any limit.
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.