Missouri window tint laws require front side windows to allow 35% VLT or more of light, with a tolerance of plus or minus 3%. Back side and rear windows may be any darkness. The windshield may only carry non reflective tint above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line. This guide covers reflectance limits, penalties, and exemptions under Missouri Revised Statutes Section 307.173.
Visible Light Transmission Explained
Visible Light Transmission, known as VLT, measures the percentage of light that passes through a vehicle’s glass and film combined. A higher VLT percentage means a lighter tint that lets in more light, while a lower VLT percentage means a darker tint. Missouri sets its VLT floor for front side windows at 35%, the number most drivers reference when checking whether an installed tint meets the legal standard.
Luminous Reflectance Explained
Luminous reflectance is a separate measurement from VLT under Missouri window tint laws. Reflectance describes how much light a tint film bounces back like a mirror rather than lets pass through the glass. Missouri Revised Statutes Section 307.173 sets a luminous reflectance limit of 35% or less, also with a tolerance of plus or minus 3%, on windows where a sun screening device is applied under the statute’s provisions.
The AS-1 Line on the Windshield
The AS-1 line is a factory etched mark located near the top of most vehicle windshields. Under Missouri law, only non reflective tint may be applied to the windshield, and only above this AS-1 line. The statute does not set a separate numeric VLT floor for this windshield strip the way it does for the front side windows, apart from the side and rear window darkness rules.
Front Side Window Rules
Front side windows sit immediately to the left and right of the driver and carry the strictest darkness limit in Missouri. A sun screening device applied to these windows, combined with the vehicle’s safety glazing material, must allow 35% VLT or more of light through. This threshold includes a plus or minus 3% tolerance. Anything darker than this range does not meet the standard set in the statute.
Back Side and Rear Window Rules
Missouri window tint laws treat back side windows and the rear window differently from the front side windows. Under the statute, a vehicle may operate with side and rear windows carrying a sun screening device of any darkness, so long as the light transmission and reflectance figures otherwise described in the law are met for those specific window categories as applied by the statute’s terms.
Reflectance Limits on Tinted Windows
Reflectance limits apply alongside the VLT rule rather than replacing it. Missouri Revised Statutes Section 307.173 caps luminous reflectance at 35% or less, with a plus or minus 3% allowance, for windows carrying a sun screening device. This means a tint film can technically meet a VLT threshold and still violate the law if it reflects too much light back toward oncoming traffic or pedestrians outside the vehicle.
Who the Law Applies To
Missouri Revised Statutes Section 307.173 applies to any person operating a motor vehicle registered in the state on a public highway or street with vision reducing material on the windshield, sidewings, or windows immediately left and right of the driver. This coverage is broad and applies across passenger vehicle types operating on Missouri roads, and it forms the basis for enforcement during traffic stops and safety inspections statewide.
Historic License Plate Exemption
Missouri Revised Statutes Section 307.173 includes a specific exemption for vehicles licensed with a historical license plate. Under subsection 6 of the statute, any vehicle carrying this type of plate is exempt from the requirements of the tint section entirely. This means the VLT and reflectance rules that apply to standard registered vehicles do not extend to vehicles registered under Missouri’s historic license plate category.
Factory Tint and Manufacturer Glazing
Missouri window tint laws do not prohibit factory installed tinted glass or its equivalent replacement. The statute also permits tinting material applied to the upper portion of a windshield that is normally tinted by the vehicle safety glass manufacturer. Labels, stickers, decalcomania, and informational signs on motor vehicles are not prohibited by this section either, provided they do not interfere with the driver’s normal view of the road.
Recreational Vehicle Treatment
The statute allows tinted or solar screening material to be applied to recreational vehicles under a separate provision. This exception exists as long as the material does not interfere with the driver’s normal view of the road while operating the vehicle. Recreational vehicles as referenced in the statute are treated differently from standard passenger cars, SUVs, and vans under the same window tint provisions found in Missouri law.
Misdemeanor Classification for Violations
Any person who violates Missouri Revised Statutes Section 307.173 is guilty of a class C misdemeanor under subsection 5 of the statute. This is the state’s own formal penalty classification for a tint violation, separate from any specific dollar fine that a local court may set. A class C misdemeanor generally represents the lowest tier of misdemeanor offense recognized under Missouri’s broader criminal classification system.
Safety Inspection Impact
A motor vehicle in violation of Missouri’s tint section cannot pass a required motor vehicle safety inspection. This inspection requirement is set out under a separate group of statute sections referenced within Section 307.173 itself. A vehicle with tint darker than the legal VLT floor, or with reflectance above the statutory cap, will not receive inspection approval until the tint is brought back within the limits described in the law.
Medical Exemption Permit Process
Missouri allows a medical exemption for drivers whose physician prescribes a sun screening device darker than the standard 35% VLT allowance. Under Missouri regulation on window tinting permits, 11 CSR 30-7.010, a driver must obtain a written prescription from a physician stating the medical condition and the specific tint percentage needed, then bring the prescription and vehicle to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol issues a permit known as SHP-524 once the prescription and vehicle are presented and reviewed at a local Highway Patrol headquarters. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol window tinting brochure, the prescription must be issued within one year of the application and must state the specific tint percentage needed above the standard 35% allowance for the front side windows.
What the Medical Exemption Permit Requires
Once the Missouri State Highway Patrol issues the medical exemption permit, the permit holder receives documentation to keep in the vehicle along with a copy of the prescription. A sticker is affixed to the vehicle to reflect the approved permit status. This process, governed by 11 CSR 30-7.010, is more involved than simply carrying a physician’s note, since it requires a visit and state issued documentation tied to the vehicle.
VLT Versus Reflectance Confusion
A common misconception about Missouri window tint laws is treating VLT and reflectance as the same measurement. VLT describes how much light passes through the combined glass and film, while reflectance describes how much light the film bounces back like a mirror. Missouri Revised Statutes Section 307.173 regulates both separately, each with its own 35% threshold, rather than treating darkness and reflectiveness as one rule.
Sticker and Label Requirements
Another common misconception involves whether Missouri requires a general compliance sticker on all legally tinted windows. The statute itself does not create such a blanket sticker requirement for tint that already falls within the standard 35% VLT and reflectance limits. The sticker and decal requirement described in state guidance applies specifically to vehicles operating under the medical exemption permit process, not to standard legally compliant tint installations.
Missouri window tint laws generally apply the same VLT and reflectance standards across passenger vehicles registered in the state, though enforcement practices and inspection procedures can vary by location and by the circumstances of a given traffic stop. Laws and enforcement may change, so drivers should check official state sources for the latest rules before assuming a specific tint percentage remains compliant. See the Disclaimer page for more information.
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.