Indiana Window Tinting Laws

Indiana Car Window Tinting Laws

Darkest legal tint for Sedans in Indiana

 

  • Windshield: Non-reflective window tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line of the windshield.
  • Front Side windows: Must allow more than 30% of light in.
  • Back Side windows: Must allow more than 30% of light in.
  • Rear window: Must allow more than 30% of light in.

 

Darkest legal tint for SUV and Vans in Indiana

 

  • Windshield: Non-reflective window tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line of the windshield.
  • Front Side windows: Must allow more than 30% of light in.
  • Back Side windows: Any darkness window tint can be applied
  • Rear window: Any darkness window tint can be applied

 
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.
 
Window Tint Shades Chart – Window Tint Percentage Examples
 
There are myriad reasons window tinting cars in Indiana is a great idea, but ironically the primary benefits of window film for cars are two things most people don’t even think about when they consider getting window film. Window tint can block 99% of the sun’s UV light, and as it’s this ultraviolet light that causes interior fading and cracking, car window film preserves your vehicle’s interior and can help it maintain much higher resale value.
 
Secondly, window tint blocks a large majority of the heat created by the sun’s infrared light, dramatically reducing interior cabin heat. This means a more comfortable car that also requires less energy consumption for cooling, reducing operating costs and minimizing strain on the vehicles air conditioning system.
 
These two benefits of window tint can be achieved using optically clear window film, so while most people think of window tint for cars as primarily about privacy and style, there is every reason to get window tint in Indiana even if you’d rather not change the look of your car.
 
If you are interested in window tint for adding privacy and style, then be aware that Indiana has regulations governing the type of tint you can use and on which windows you can apply it. Indiana window tint laws were enacted in 2003 and are subject to change periodically. Below are the window tint laws in Indiana as of 2021. Make sure you stay up to date on the rules as your vehicle may fall out of regulation if they change because in Indiana window tint violations can be assessed as serious Class A infractions.
 

Windshield Tint Laws in Indiana

 
Windshield tint can help keep the sun out of a driver’s eyes and makes operating a vehicle safer, especially in the mornings and evenings, which is why many vehicles come with factory installed window tint at the top of the windshield.
 
The rules regarding windshield tint in Indiana are the same for cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans. State law allows for non-reflective window tint applied down to the AS-1 line, which is marked with small letters on the sides of the windshield glass. If your vehicle’s windshield does not have a visible AS-1 line, apply tint no farther down than five inches below the top of the windshield.
 
Note that only non-reflective window tint is allowed on the windshield of a vehicle.
 

Window Tint for Cars in Indiana

 
The rules dictating the type of window tint allowed for cars are different than those governing window tint on SUVs, trucks, and vans in Indiana, so we will split the discussion into separate parts.
 
Fortunately, laws regarding window tint for cars in Indiana are clear cut and easy to understand: all side windows and the rear windshield may have window tint as dark as 30% VLT, with VLT short for visible light transmission. Simply put, VLT means how light or dark a window is, and the higher the number, the clearer it is. (Limousines with very dark windows usually have 5% VLT, for example.)
 
The forward side windows, rear side windows, and rear windshield likewise are all limited to the same 25% reflectivity.
 

Window Tint for Vans, SUVs, and Trucks in Indiana

 
Indiana window tint laws are much looser when it comes to larger vehicles. As with cars, front side windows may only have tint as dark as 30% VLT, and all windows are limited to a maximum of 25% reflectivity. But the rear side windows and rear windshield of a larger vehicle in Indiana may be any darkness of tint.
 
However, there is one unique catch to Indiana tint law: the rules stipulate that this dark tint on the rear side windows and rear windows can’t cover the whole window, but must cease several inches below the top of the window, but the exact measurement is not specified. Work with your tint installation specialist to come up with a design unlikely to make an issue with police or inspectors.
 

Other Window Tint Laws and Tint Exemptions in Indiana

 
Indiana state window film law is rather flexible in many ways, especially when compared to rules in other states. For example, no colors of window tint are banned in Indiana, and stickers identifying legal window tint are not required to be applied.
 
Indiana tint law also makes no stipulations regarding placement and condition of side view mirrors when window tint is applied, another thing common in other states. The rules do require window tint manufacturers to certify window tint that will be sold and installed in Indiana as complying with the state’s laws, but any reputable tint vendor or installer will only offer such window film and you need only ask to confirm.
 
The state does allow medical window tint exemptions with which you can apply much darker window film on your car. From issues like glaucoma to skin sensitivity to UV light, if you have a medical condition you feel warrants a window tint exemption, speak to a doctor and request a dispensation that clears you for darker tint. And keep paperwork proving you have a medical exemption in your vehicle at all times.
 

Window Tint Violation Penalties in Indiana

 
Depending on how often you get cited for a window tint violation in Indiana, you could be looking at a very large window tint ticket. Indiana state law assesses window tint penalties as either Class C or Class A infractions.
 
A Class C infraction can come with a penalty up to $500, so if the authorities choose to assess the maximum fee, it is a sizable enough fine. However, Class A infractions may be assessed all the way up to $10,000, a massive penalty.
 
If you get a window tint ticket in Indiana, you need to get the illegal tint replaced (or simply removed) with legal window film as quickly as you can, because if you are cited again for the same window tint, the penalty will be much more severe. And note that many police and inspectors will have a tool that can measure VLT immediately with them, so your illegal tint may be immediately discovered during a traffic stop or vehicle inspection.

 

Darkest legal tint for Sedans in Indiana

 

  • Windshield: Non-reflective window tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line of the windshield.
  • Front Side windows: Must allow more than 30% of light in.
  • Back Side windows: Must allow more than 30% of light in.
  • Rear window: Must allow more than 30% of light in.

 

Darkest legal tint for SUV and Vans in Indiana

 

  • Windshield: Non-reflective window tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line of the windshield.
  • Front Side windows: Must allow more than 30% of light in.
  • Back Side windows: Any darkness window tint can be applied
  • Rear window: Any darkness window tint can be applied