A Guide to Legal Window Tint in Indiana: What You Should Know

Indiana Window Tint Law Overview

Indiana’s window tint laws are regulated by Indiana Code (IC) 9-19-2-6.5. The window tinting laws and regulations in Indiana are as follows: Front Window Tint – No more than 30% tint is allowed on the windshield and no more than 30% tint is allowed on the front windows. Back Windows – Any tint is allowed on the back windows, as long as you do not exceed the window tint darkness as stated below for the rear windshield. Window Tint Reflectivity – The visible light reflectivity on the windshield may not be more than 25%. The visible light reflectivity on the front windows, back windows and rear windshield may not be more than 25%. VLT (Visible Light Transmission %) – Means the percentage of visible light that enters the vehicle through the window film. The darker the tint , the less amount of visible light that enters through it. When talking about window tint darkness in Indiana, we describe it in VLT. Front Side Windows Tint Darkness – Indiana law requires you to have 30% of VLT on the front windows. Back Side Windows Tint Darkness – No restrictions on tint darkness for the back windows. Rear Window Tint Darkness – Indiana law requires you to have 30% of VLT on the rear windshield. Window Tint Reflectivity – Indiana law requires that the tint on the front windshield, back windows and rear windshield must not be more than 25% reflectivity.

Why Are Tint Restrictions Important in Indiana?

Safety concerns play a significant role in the existence of legal window tint limits in Indiana. Tint’s primary purpose is to protect you, the driver, passengers, and any cargo from the sun’s harmful UV rays. It also provides additional privacy and as a theft deterent. However, going too dark with your tint can have an adverse impact on your ability to see your surroundings when driving. The darker your tint is, the more difficult it will be to see pedestrians, animals, and objects on the side of the road, especially at night. If you’re unable to see these people and objects, your reaction time may be hindered and the likelihood of an accident increases.
Law enforcement visibility is another piece of the puzzle. Tinted windows make it more challenging for police officers to see drivers and passengers inside a vehicle. When they can’t see inside a vehicle, they can’t determine what’s going on. Even if the tint on the windows is legal, officers may become suspicious of what’s happening inside if they can’t see anything or if the tint looks darker than the law allows. This can result in the officer pulling the vehicle over, which is frustrating for everyone involved. That said, being pulled over for improper window tint could potentially be a good thing in some cases.
For example, if a family member or loved one happened to be hiding in your trunk after a domestic situation and the police pulled you over for your tint being too dark, they may have been able to safely rescue that person from a life-or-death situation. Many lives were saved because of illegal tint stops. Although there shouldn’t be a need to mask anything about your personal life, window tint helps keep you safe and even saves lives in some cases.
From the viewpoint of some police and medical professionals, the health risks of UV exposure are less of a concern than they once were. With that said, ultraviolet light through car windows is still believed to contribute to an estimated 75 percent of non-occupational skin cancers in the U.S. Though it’s not realistic to expect the law to change anytime soon. Medical professionals note the eye is at risk when exposed to sunlight through windows, as well as other damage that can occur due to harmful exposure to UV light.

Indiana Window Tint Exceptions and Special Cases

While the rules regarding legal tint in Indiana are clearly laid out, there are always subsections that are up for interpretation. One of those subsections is the idea of medical exemptions for window tint levels. You see, there are certain drivers who just can’t have normal tint without negatively impacting their quality of life. In this case, a licensed medical doctor can prescribe a form of special exemption for individuals who suffer from certain medical conditions. Then, once you have that prescription in hand, you have to take it to the BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) and get your exemption letter so that you can keep legal tint levels in your car for as long as you own your vehicle.
Of course, there are also cases of an additional tint exemption for truck and SUV drivers. One interpretation of the rules is that if your vehicle is a van or SUV, you basically have the option to tint the rear windows however you please. While it’s not officially listed under the rules for tint levels, most officers will recognize this exception as valid and therefore allow it to pass.

Legal Penalties for Tint Violations

When you are stopped and ticketed for having too dark or otherwise illegal window tint, you may be tempted to disregard the citation as just another example of "Big Painter" throwing their weight around to oppress the innocent motorist.
But unless you want to risk having your car impounded, fined and forced to remove the tint, that simply isn’t an option. The state of Indiana has a routine traffic enforcement procedure. A law enforcement officer can stop a vehicle for any moving violation, including driving in a car with tint that is too dark. If the officer believes that your window tint is illegal, he or she records the violation on your citation form, typically in the field that calls for "Vehicle Equipment Violations." If you see the "too dark window tint" violation on your citation, this is not the officer’s opinion; it is a proper legal notation and a probable cause statement for a successful prosecution. After you are stopped and cited, you receive a "traffic infraction," which is like a misdemeanor, but with less severe penalties. The traffic court that has jurisdiction in your jurisdiction will have a hearing within a certain amount of time . That hearing will determine if you are guilty of violating the traffic law. If you are found guilty of violating the window tint law, you are typically required to pay a fine in a set amount and must often appear in court. The fine is typically imposed for a first or second offense. For a third or subsequent offense, installation of window tint is usually required. If you fail to appear in court, you will be considered guilty in absentia and the judicial process will be put into motion to find you, fine you and require you to pay court costs, which can amount to hundreds of dollars. This is on top of the possible inconvenience that a citation might bring, including administrative impoundment of your vehicle, mandatory tint removal and additional fees for all that. The bottom line is, there’s no use getting an attitude with the police officer during a traffic stop. Take the citation for what it is, a legally proper statement of probable cause for a traffic infraction. If the officer has recorded window tint as the reason for pulling you over, you have two choices – get your tint tested and certified as legal within five days or so, or go to trial and plead your case before a judge.

Tips to Make Sure You Stay within Indiana Tint Laws

To help Indiana vehicle owners meet the applicable legal tint limits and avoid financial liabilities or worse, here are some tips: First and foremost, if you want window tint that’s dark, always seek out the assistance of a professional installer. The laws in your state or territory may allow only as much tint darkness as your installer can legally offer, meaning that seeking out the assistance of a tint installation expert can be a great way to save yourself the heartache of excess liability on your end. Professional installers are familiar with the laws of the jurisdictions in which they do business, and as a result, can offer you maximum tint darkness legally possible where applicable. Secondly, temperature testing in your vehicle is a must if you live in a part of Indiana that can see extreme heat in the summer. Extreme weather can push the bounds of your tint installation, particularly if the tint filter was of a lower quality and was applied to your vehicle at a non-regulated temperature devised by the manufacturer, resulting in bubbling or lifting in the edges. Avoid excess liability by making sure your tint is of the highest quality and that it was properly installed on your windows according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Another tip is to test visible light transmittance on your vehicle after your tint was installed. Even if you were able to avoid excess liability in the private sector from a poor tint job, attempting to pass your vehicle through a government inspection station in any state can usually result in government problems, whether it’s taxes or tint. To ensure that you are legally covered, request clear evidence such as photos of visible light transmittance being tested on your windows so that you have proof in the event of excessive liability through accident or failure of legal regulation on your tint installations. If you have already violated the tint laws of Indiana, it is suggested to take corrective action as soon as possible to avoid exceeding the extent of your liability. Just because the tinted film covering your windows can allow a small amount of light through doesn’t mean you’re off the hook, as a careful officer will usually measure the light passing through the tinted installation. Exceeding this amount can result in fines. As well, misaligned windows that expose the adhesive properly used to install the tint may also incur liabilities, so ensure that you follow car care procedures, as well as specific manufacturer specifications for your film material to avoid the liabilities associated with tint failure both personally and financially.

Common Inquiries

Q: Why should I care about the legalities of window tint?
A: Window tinting can sometimes be considered an "alpha offense," by which we mean it is easy to spot and typically is used as a first step toward discovering other violations. For example, if an officer pulling you over believes your window tint is illegal, he or she may conduct an inspection of your vehicle and find that your registration is not up to date. They may then issue you a citation for both window tint and registration issues.
Q: What is the purpose of tint on windows?
A: Tint is used to cut down on glare in the driver’s eyes. Many people also consider tint a way to improve the appearance of a vehicle, but from a legal standpoint preferential looks are not a defense against a window tint ticket .
Q: When does Indiana law require that you have tint in your windows?
A: Indiana law requires no tint in your front windshield, with exception of a clear top tint that extends six inches downward from the top of the glass. On the rest of the windows, however, there are no tint requirements or restrictions.
Q: Can I tint my windshield?
A: You can tint your windshield only with a top strip of tint that is colored or tinted clear, provided it is located no lower than the AS-1 line or top 5 inches of the windshield, whichever is longer. In the past, tinted windows on the windshield were permitted in Indiana. In 2018, the law changed to disallow tinted windshields.
Q: What is the best way to remove window tint?
A: The best way to remove window tint safely is to steam it or heat it with a hair dryer and then peel it off in a piece. After the tint is off, clean the window thoroughly with window cleaner, like Windex, or rubbing alcohol.