Tennessee Window Tint Laws (March 2023)

The Tennessee window tinting laws were brought into existence in the year 1990. Since then the state of Tennessee has been very specific about its laws as well as other rules and regulations in the state. If you are looking forward to getting your car windows tinted then it is important to be aware of the rules and regulations in your state in order to avoid negative situations with law enforcements. Tennessee has particular allowance terms for window tinting.

This article will talk about the car window tinting laws in the state of Tennessee. We have tried our level best to add each and every important piece of information that will be helpful to you in this article. From how dark or reflective the window tint on your car can be to the other rules and regulations like if colored tints are allowed or not, whether you need a certified sticker from your company installer or not, etc. everything is included in this article.

Check out other States Window Tint Law :-

What Does VLT Mean According To The State Law Of Tennessee?

VLT(Visible Light Transmission) is the light percentage allowed by the window tint film to travel through your car windows. In Tennessee, there are different legal allowable terms when it comes to window tinting.

In Tennessee, the amount of light allowed to pass through your film and also glass varies for Passenger vehicles and Multi-purpose vehicles. Let us break it down for you so you understand it better.

The higher the VLT the more amounts of light will be allowed to pass through your window tint film. For instance, a 60% tint will allow only 60% of the light to pass through whereas a 7% tint will allow only 7% of the light to pass through.

Tennessee Tint Law- Legal Tint Limit For Passenger Vehicles

  • Front Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.
  • Front seat side windows: up to 35% tint darkness allowed
  • Back seat side windows: up to 35% tint darkness allowed
  • Rear window: up to 35% tint darkness allowed

Tennessee Tint Law- Legal Tint Limit For Multi-purpose Vehicles

  • Front Windshield: Must allow more than 70% of light in; any darkness on AS-1 line.
  • Front seat side windows: up to 35% tint darkness allowed
  • Back seat side windows: Must allow more than 35% of light in.
  • Rear window: up to 35% tint darkness allowed

Tint Reflection

Tint reflection: For Passenger Vehicles

The one main reason for having window tints is so that it helps reflect light which then further in the process reduces glare as well as heat. Depending on the vehicle type as well as the type of tint the Tennessee law allows only a certain level of reflection with a tint.

  • Front side windows: No mirrored or metallic appearance.
  • Back side windows: No mirrored or metallic appearance.

Tint reflection: For Multi-purpose Vehicles

  • Front side windows: No mirrored or metallic appearance.
  • Back side windows: No mirrored or metallic appearance.

Other Tennessee Window Tint Laws Rules And Regulations

Besides the basic laws that you have come across already there are some other rules and regulations that you need to pay good attention to, in order to avoid any form of negative situations. It is important to consider the laws as well as these particular rules and regulations altogether before you decide to get your car windows tinted. These rules and regulations may vary for other states. 

  • Do I have to have side mirrors in Tennessee? The law of Tennessee is very vague about this particular aspect called “side mirrors”. It says motor trucks if they are loaded they must have at least one uninstructed mirror to allow the driver’s view of the rear.
  • Is colored tint illegal in Tennessee? No colors are illegal in the state of Tennessee. All colors are allowed.
  • What are the window tint certification rules in Tennessee? The tint film manufacturers do not have to certify the film they sell in the state of Tennessee. 
  • Do I need a certified sticker from the company installing my window tint in Tennessee? It is required between the film and glass on the driver’s side window.
  • Are there any medical exemptions in Tennessee for Window Tint? For special tint, the state of Tennessee allows medical exemptions.
  • How much is a ticket in Tennessee? You can get fined if you are pulled over for violating the Tennessee window tint law. Your fine can range between $130 to $300 easily depending on your case. It can go around to $138 if you see a court judge.
  • Other rules: In case you do not possess a medical exemption you cannot go lower than 35%. And if you happen to have a medical exemption you need to have your physician make a certificate and that’s when you will get a special sticker that has to be visible.