West Virginia window tint laws require front side windows and rear side windows to allow at least 35% VLT and limit reflectivity to 20%. A violation is a misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $200. Trucks and vans get an exemption from the 35% rule on windows behind the driver. This guide covers penalties, exemptions, and medical waivers. The source is West Virginia Code Section 17C-15-36a.
Key Terms Defined
Two measurements decide whether a tint film is legal in West Virginia. VLT stands for visible light transmission and measures the percentage of light that passes through the glass and film combined. A higher VLT percentage means a lighter tint. Reflectivity measures how mirror like the film looks from outside. West Virginia regulates both separately, and a film can fail by breaking either limit alone.
VLT and Reflectivity Explained
West Virginia Code Section 17C-15-36a calls window tint film a sun screening device and sets the legal range for both measurements. Light transmission must not be less than 35% on front side windows and the side windows behind the driver. Reflectivity on those same windows must not be more than 20%. The statute treats these as two separate legal tests, so understanding the difference matters to most drivers.
What the Law Says
West Virginia Code Section 17C-15-36a bans yellow, red, and amber colored tint film on any window or windshield. It prohibits operating a vehicle with tint that fails the reflectivity or light transmission limits set for each part of the vehicle. These rules apply to vehicles registered or required to be registered for use on public highways in the state. Some vehicles and situations are excluded from these rules.
Windshield Tint Rules
A sun screening device on the windshield must be nonreflective and cannot be red, yellow, or amber in color. It may only be applied along the top of the windshield and cannot extend more than 5 inches down or past the AS-1 line, whichever comes first. The AS-1 line is a manufacturer marked line on the glass, so drivers do not need to measure this distance themselves.
Front Side Window Rules
Front side windows, along with the side wings next to the driver, must use a nonreflective film under West Virginia Code Section 17C-15-36a. Reflectivity on these windows cannot exceed 20%, and light transmission cannot be less than 35%. The film must let more than a third of visible light through while avoiding a mirror like shine. Both conditions must be met for the tint to remain legal.
Rear Side and Back Window Rules
Side windows behind the driver and the rearmost window follow the same 35% light transmission and 20% reflectivity limits as front side windows for most passenger cars. West Virginia Code Section 17C-15-36a requires one right and one left outside rear view mirror whenever tint is applied behind the driver. This mirror rule exists because tinted rear windows reduce visibility, so the law adds a safety measure in exchange.
Who It Applies To
The tint darkness limits above are written for passenger cars, which the statute defines as vehicles carrying ten persons or less that are not multipurpose vehicles, motorcycles, or trailers. A separate category covers trucks, buses, vans, and multipurpose passenger vehicles, and this category gets a different rule for windows behind the driver. Knowing which category a vehicle falls into matters before assuming a darkness level is legal.
Passenger Cars vs. Multipurpose Vehicles, Trucks, and Vans
West Virginia Code Section 17C-15-36a states that the light transmittance requirement does not apply to windows behind the driver on trucks, buses, trailers, mobile homes, and multipurpose passenger vehicles. This is why factory tinted SUVs and vans often have dark rear glass that stays legal. Reflectivity and color restrictions can still apply to these vehicles even though the transmission rule does not, so an unrestricted rear window is not accurate.
Requirements or Elements
Beyond the darkness and reflectivity numbers, West Virginia Code Section 17C-15-36a places specific duties on the companies that manufacture tint film sold for use in the state. These requirements exist so that inspectors and drivers can confirm a film meets the legal standard without needing separate lab testing. The manufacturer certification and labeling rules apply regardless of what vehicle type the film gets installed on.
Manufacturer Certification and Labeling
Manufacturers must certify to the West Virginia State Police and the Division of Motor Vehicles that their sun screening device meets the reflectivity and transmittance requirements. A label no larger than one and one half square inches must sit permanently between the film and glazing surface, showing the manufacturer name and light transmission percentage. This label belongs in the left lower corner of the glass, viewed from outside.
Penalties or Consequences
A person who violates West Virginia Code Section 17C-15-36a is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, faces a fine of up to $200. The statute also prohibits offering illegal tint film for sale and installing film without permanently affixing the required manufacturer label. These separate violations fall under the same misdemeanor and fine structure rather than a tiered penalty scale.
Exceptions and Limitations
West Virginia Code Section 17C-15-36a lists several situations where the standard darkness and reflectivity rules do not apply in the way they normally would. These exceptions cover medical needs, certain law enforcement vehicles, and tint installed by the vehicle manufacturer at the factory. Each exception has its own specific conditions written into the statute, and none of them removes every restriction in the law entirely.
Medical Exemptions
A vehicle registered to a person, or their legal guardian, is exempt from the standard limits if a physician or optometrist licensed in West Virginia signs an affidavit stating a physical condition requires darker sun screening material. The affidavit must stay with the person, or their guardian, at all times while being transported. This exemption is tied to the individual and the documented condition, not the vehicle itself.
Law Enforcement and K-9 Vehicle Exemptions
Law enforcement K-9 vehicles and other emergency vehicles designed to haul animals are exempt from the standard sun screening requirements. Unmarked law enforcement vehicles used for covert or undercover enforcement are also exempt, though the statute states an exempted unmarked vehicle may not engage in routine traffic stops. A West Virginia Attorney General opinion on tint law enforcement addressed how this exemption applies to traffic enforcement duties.
Factory-Installed Tint
Automobiles equipped with sun screening devices installed at the factory by the manufacturer are exempt from the requirements in West Virginia Code Section 17C-15-36a. This exemption explains why some new vehicles arrive from the dealer with darker glass than the aftermarket limits would otherwise allow. The exemption applies specifically to factory installed film and does not extend to aftermarket film added later, even on the same vehicle.
Common Misconceptions
A common misunderstanding is treating the 35% figure as a darkness target rather than a minimum floor, when the statute requires transmission of not less than 35%. Another error is assuming one rule applies to every vehicle, when trucks, buses, and multipurpose vehicles receive a different rule for windows behind the driver. Drivers also assume a citation follows a fixed process, but handling may vary by county or magistrate court.
Laws and enforcement may change. Check official state sources for the latest rules. Readers who want to review the complete legal text can consult West Virginia Code Section 17C-15-36a, Sun-screening devices directly, alongside the related equipment rule in West Virginia Code Section 17C-15-36, windshield equipment. This article is general information only, and the Disclaimer below explains the limits of that information further.
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.