Iowa Window Tinting Laws

Iowa Car Window Tinting Laws

Darkest legal tint for Sedans in Iowa

 

  • Windshield: Must allow more than 70% of light in
  • Front Side windows: Must allow more than 70% of light in
  • Back Side windows: Any darkness window tint can be applied
  • Rear window: Any darkness window tint can be applied

 

Darkest legal tint for SUV and Vans in Iowa

 

  • Windshield: Must allow more than 70% of light in
  • Front Side windows: Must allow more than 70% 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
 
Window tint is one of the best after-market upgrades you can make for a car. It blocks the ultraviolet light that can cause interior fading and cracking to upholstery and dashboards and preserves your vehicle’s resale value. It reduces interior heat and keeps the car cooler and more comfortable and reduces the need for fuel consumption. Window film limits the glare of the sun and of oncoming headlights, making driving safer. And it adds privacy and style, making your car look better than ever.
 
However, unlike with many other after-market upgrades, like a new coat of paint, a color wrap, or a lowering kit, in Iowa window tint for cars is regulated by laws. And in fact, window tint laws in Iowa have been on the books for much longer than in most states. Iowa window film laws were enacted in 1983 and have been changed several times in the years in between. Iowa car window tint laws are generally rather permissive, but there are gray areas not clearly laid out in the regulations and penalties for tint law violations, so ensuring your car remains legally tinted in Iowa can be tricky.
 
Making sure your window tint is legal in Iowa requires you to understand how tint darkness is measured. The measurement used is called visible light transmission, or VLT, and the higher the VLT percentage, the more transparent the window. So 70% VLT tint can be seen through with relative ease from the outside of a car, while 10% VLT window tint looks almost fully opaque from outside during daylight hours. Unlike in some states, Iowa window tint law does not allow for any variance, so if your tint is too dark – something police and inspectors can check in real time using tint measuring tools – you can be immediately cited for it.
 
Here we will here cover 2021 Iowa car window tint laws in depth to help you be sure you never violate the state’s window film rules.

 

Windshield Window Tint Laws in Iowa in 2021

Front Side Window Tint Rules in Iowa in 2021Rear Side Window and Rear Windshield Tint Laws in Iowa in 2021Iowa Window Tint Color Restrictions and RequirementsIowa Window Tint Violation Penalties

 
Window tint darkness can be tested with a hand held device, as noted earlier. That means that during a routine traffic stop, an officer can test your windows and, if they violate the rules, can immediately issue a ticket. Window tint tickets in Iowa are currently assessed at $127.50 per violation, and you can be ticketed repeatedly for illegal window film.

 

Darkest legal tint for Sedans in Iowa

 

  • Windshield: Must allow more than 70% of light in
  • Front Side windows: Must allow more than 70% of light in
  • Back Side windows: Any darkness window tint can be applied
  • Rear window: Any darkness window tint can be applied

 

Darkest legal tint for SUV and Vans in Iowa

 

  • Windshield: Must allow more than 70% of light in
  • Front Side windows: Must allow more than 70% of light in
  • Back Side windows: Any darkness window tint can be applied
  • Rear window: Any darkness window tint can be applied