South Dakota Window Tint Laws

Darkest legal tint for Cars in South Dakota

 

  • Windshield: Non-reflective 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 20% of light in.
  • Rear window: Must allow more than 20% of light in.

 

Darkest legal tint for SUV and Vans in South Dakota

 

  • Windshield: Non-reflective 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 20% of light in.
  • Rear window: Must allow more than 20% of light in.

 

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
 

South Dakota first enacted window tint laws for cars more than 30 years back in the year 1989, making the state one of the earliest in the nation to do so. This means that lots tint laws on the books in South Dakota were created before lots of modern window tint products were even imagined, so the tint laws governing the state may pose a problem if you are using a window tint that was not conceived of when the rules were passed.
 
Below, we break down current SD car tint laws in as much detail as possible, but make sure to consult with your tint retailer or installer to be sure the car tint you have is legal in South Dakota. That often means determining then exact VLT (or visible light transmission, meaning how clear or how dark the tint is) percent and making sure it meets VLT% rules of the state.
 
Car window film is a smart upgrade for those concerned both about short-term function and style of a vehicle and long-term re-sale value of the automobile. In South Dakota car tint adds privacy and style the same day is installed and it reduces interior cabin heat even during long, hot summer days, keeping the car cooler and comfortable and reducing battery use and increasing fuel savings through less AC usage.
 
Over the years, window tint blocks 99% of the UV light that causes interior bleaching, discolor, and cracking of upholstery and dash surfaces so a vehicle keeps its interior look and its value.
 

Legal Windshield Window Tint in South Dakota

 
As you find in almost all states in America, the regulations regarding windshield window tint in South Dakota are easy to follow: you can apply non-reflective window tint down to the auto manufacturer’s AS-1 line, which is an area about inches below where glass meets roofline. (If you can’t find the specific AS-1 line, use five inches as your guide for the thickness of the tint strip.) The same windshield tint laws apply to all vehicle types in South Dakota.
 

Auto Window Tint Laws in South Dakota

 
All types of vehicle in South Dakota are held to the same tint rules; there are not different regulations for cars as for SUVs and other larger vehicles as is common in many states.
 
The front side windows, meaning those by the driver and shotgun seat, may have tint not darker than 35% VLT, meaning at least 35% of visible light must pass through. This is dark enough tint to add some privacy but will not obscure the view into the vehicle from up close.
 
Back side windows, meaning any side window by seating behind the front row as well as by cargo areas, may be tinted down to 20% VLT, meaning you are allowed to have tint dark enough to add significant privacy. This same rule, the 20% VLT tint, applies to the rear window (AKA rear windshield) of automobiles registered in South Dakota as well.
 

Other Car Tint Rules in South Dakota

 
Unlike you find in almost all states, there are no laws pertaining to dual side view mirrors and rear window tint in South Dakota. Likewise unusual is the fact that no colors of window tint are banned in the state, so even red, amber, and yellow tints are legal under SD law as written.
 
South Dakota permits broad variance in window tint VLT, allowing a variance of up to 9% without penalty. So even if your car had window tint that tested to be just 26% VLT rated on its front side windows, in most cases that would not result in a citation for illegal tint.
 
Manufacturers and sellers of auto window tint in South Dakota are legally required to certify the tint they offer as meeting state rules, so be sure you check with your retailer or tint installer to make sure that your car’s window film is legal in SD.
 
Also note that you must apply stickers identifying window tint as legal on every tinted window of your vehicle. These tint ID stickers are a good way to efficiently avoid tint issues during a traffic stop or an inspection, beside the fact that they are the law.
 
South Dakota tint laws do not allow for medical exemptions for darker window tinting, so even if you have health issues like photosensitivity, skin sensitivity, or other medical conditions that may merit darker tint, you need to stay within the confines of the law.
 

Window Tint Law Violations in South Dakota

 
In South Dakota illegal window tint tickets can cost you several hundred dollars if you get hit with multiple fines. Window tint violations in South Dakota are assessed as Class 2 misdemeanors, which stay on your record for 10 years, so they are really best avoided. Police can test window tint VLT in real time with handheld devices, so any traffic stop for any reason may become much more costly if you have illegal window tint in South Dakota.