Kentucky Window Tinting Laws (2024)

Darkest legal tint for Sedans in Kentucky

• Windshield: Non-reflective window tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line
• Front Side windows: Must allow more than 35% of light in
• Back Side windows: Must allow more than 18% of light in
• Rear window: Must allow more than 18% of light in

Darkest legal tint for SUV and Vans in Kentucky

• Windshield: Non-reflective window tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line
• Front Side windows: Must allow more than 35% of light in
• Back Side windows: Must allow more than 8% of light in
• Rear window: Must allow more than 8% of light in

Vehicle window tint laws in Kentucky are much more complex and specific than you’ll find in most states, and they differ based not only on window type but by vehicle type as well, so we’ll go through each window of both cars and of larger vehicles in turn to make sure you have a full understanding of Kentucky window tinting laws for 2021.

The state first enacted window tint laws in 1994, and in the ensuing years the regulations have changed several times. And of course window film laws will surely change again in the future as new tinting products and installation techniques are developed. As a window tint violation in Kentucky is usually a Class B misdemeanor, the penalties for illegal tint can be harsh enough to where risking a violation is really not worth it.

Critical to ensuring your window tint is legal in Kentucky is knowing its VLT percentage, or visible light transmission percentage, which is how much visible sunlight the tinted glass allows to pass through. The lower the VLT number, the less light gets through and the darker the window. You can use as a reference 5% VLT tint, which is the very dark privacy tint common on limousines and even referred to as limo tint. Know that even optically clear tint with a near 100% VLT rating can still block 99% of the sun’s UV light, which can fade and discolor the interior of a car and reduce its resale value (and can damage your skin as well) and reduce how much infrared light gets into the car, thus keeping the car cooler and more cost effective to operate, so you can get the benefits of window film without adding tint at all.

That said, window tint adds privacy and can improve the look of the vehicle, thus its popularity with so many drivers. Just be sure your window tint is legal in Kentucky by adhering to the rules laid out below.

Please note: The accuracy, completeness, adequacy or currency of the content is not warranted or guaranteed. We are not lawyers or a law firm and we do not provide legal advice. We recommend you consult a lawyer or other appropriate professional if you want legal advice.

Windshield Window Tint Laws in Kentucky

The rules for windshield window tint in Kentucky are the same for all types of private vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans. Nonreflective window tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line, which is a subtly demarcated strip of glass between five and six inches below the roof line.

Windshield tint can help block the glare of the sun that can be annoying and even dangerous, especially in earlier morning or later afternoon hours. This is not window tint to skip, just make sure to follow the rules on reflectivity and placement.

Car Front Side Window Tint Rules

The laws governing window tint on the front side windows of cars are the same as those for larger vehicles. In Kentucky, front side windows (those beside the driver and the shotgun seat passenger, e.g.) may be tinted down to a darkness of 35% VLT. This allows for plenty of added privacy but still also allows a view into the car from close up, as a police officer wants to have during a traffic stop.

The front side windows may have a 25% or less reflectivity rating, so many mirrored or metallic looking window films are going to be illegal under Kentucky law.

Back Side Window Tint Rules

In Kentucky, rear side windows are governed by different laws based on vehicle type. Cars may have back side windows tinted down to 18% VLT, while trucks, SUVs, and vans can have nearly blacked out rear windows with tint as dark as 8% VLT, a visible transmission rating so dark it creates almost total privacy.

In Kentucky tint laws dictate that rear side windows for cars and for larger vehicles alike may have a 35% reflectivity rating.

Rear Window Tint Rules in Kentucky

The laws for tint on the rear windshield of a vehicle in Kentucky follow those for rear side windows. The back windshield of cars can be tinted down t0 18% VLT, while for trucks, vans, and SUVs, rear windows can be as dark as 8% VLT.

Other Tint Requirements and Restrictions in Kentucky

Kentucky window tint rules are a bit convoluted when it comes to what is allowed, what is required, and what is banned when you move beyond basic darkness of window tint. The state does not have any rules regarding side mirrors as regarding window tint such as you find in many states. And no specific colors of window tint are banned by Kentucky law.

Curiously, however, for a state with relaxed tint laws in many regards, Kentucky law does require window film manufacturers to certify the window tint they sell as officially meeting all state regulations. Sellers and installers are obliged to guarantee the window film they offer is legally compliant.

You are also required to have a sticker certifying your window film as compliant be applied to the inside of the driver’s door jamb this to be easily checked during an inspection or a traffic stop.

Kentucky tint law allows for a three percent variance in tint darkness, so tint on a front side window of a car could actually be as dark as 32% VLT and still not lead to a citation for being illegal. But don’t rely on this variance buffer too much, as a window tint violation in Kentucky can be a serious issue. As noted, tint violations are Class B misdemeanors in Kentucky, which means they can come with a fine as high as $250 and even with up to 90 days of jail time. These maximum penalties are unlikely be to assessed for a first offense, but you may face these penalties and can be hit with even worse repercussions for subsequent offenses if you don’t get the window tint changed to be compliant.

Lastly note that Kentucky window tint law does not allow for medical exemptions, so you cannot get a doctor’s dispensation allowing you to get window tint darker than that allowed by law even if you have a medical condition that you feel warrants darker window tinting.

Darkest legal tint for Sedans in Kentucky

• Windshield: Non-reflective window tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line
• Front Side windows: Must allow more than 35% of light in
• Back Side windows: Must allow more than 18% of light in
• Rear window: Must allow more than 18% of light in

Darkest legal tint for SUV and Vans in Kentucky

• Windshield: Non-reflective window tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line
• Front Side windows: Must allow more than 35% of light in
• Back Side windows: Must allow more than 8% of light in
• Rear window: Must allow more than 8% of light in