Darkest legal tint for Cars in North Dakota
- Windshield: Must allow more than 70% of light in.
- Front Side windows: Must allow more than 50% of light in.
- Back Side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any darkness can be used.
Darkest legal tint for SUV and Vans in North Dakota
- Windshield: Must allow more than 70% of light in.
- Front Side windows: Must allow more than 50% of light in.
- Back Side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any darkness can be used.
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.
North Dakota first enacted its auto window tinting laws in 2003, and while tint regulations in the state are still suitable to cover most modern window tint products, know that window film laws can change from time to time and keep in mind some newer types of tinting did not exist when North Dakota tint laws were enacted nearly two decades ago.
To make sure your car, truck, or SUV meets current North Dakota window tint law it’s a smart idea to know the exact visible light transmission percent (or VLT% as it is usually abbreviated) which means how transparent and see-through or opaque and private the tint is, and to make sure your windows meet current VLT% rules for each window of your automobile.
Car window tinting is a sound investment for any vehicle owner who is thinking both of short-term looks and function of a car and the long-term value of the vehicle. In North Dakota car tinting adds privacy and improves style the day it’s applied and can also lower cabin temperatures and reduce glare even on hot summer days, making the vehicle cooler, more comfortable and cost effective, and safer to drive.
In the long view, window tinting for cars blocks 99% of the UV light that causes interior surfaces to fade, discolor, and crack, so vehicles will maintain the quality of their interior appearance and hold a higher sale value.
Car window film is a great investment and in North Dakota you are allowed much more latitude than in many states when it comes to window tint darkness and color, so go ahead and get the best window tint for your car’s looks, performance, and to protect its re-sale value thanks to the permissive tint laws in North Dakota.
Take note that unlike you find in almost all states where different window tinting rules apply to cars and to larger vehicles, the same laws apply equally to cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs in North Dakota. Thus all tint regulations are covered below without specific mention of vehicle type – let the terms “vehicle,” “automobile,” and “car” all be used interchangeably, e.g.
Windshield Window Tint Rules for North Dakota
North Dakota is among only a handful of states where window tint is legal on the entirety of the windshield. While most states only allow tint along the top five or six inches of the glass (above the windshield AS-1 line) in North Dakota you may apply tint of not darker than 70% VLT over the entire windshield. (For reference, the higher the VLT number, the clearer and more see through the glass from outside, so 95% VLT is all but clear while 5% VLT is all but fully blacked out.)
This 70% VLT tint can greatly cut the glare from the sun, reduce interior heat, and lead to a greater than 99% UV reduction.
Window Tint Rules for Cars in North Dakota
Vehicles registered in North Dakota may have window tint on the forward side windows rated at 50% VLT or lighter. This is plenty of tinting to add privacy to the vehicle while still allowing a view into the cabin from close up, such as can be critical for law enforcement officers to have for safety during traffic stops. 50% VLT tint reduces heat and glare, but note that even much lighter and more transparent window films can block 99% of UV light and reduce infrared heat and visible light glare, so you need not get a dark tint to get the benefits of window film.
Rear side windows, meaning any side windows in rows behind the driver and shotgun seat including those by cargo areas, may be tinted to any darkness under current North Dakota law, including down to full blackout privacy tint.
This any darkness of tint law also applies to rear windows (AKA the rear windshield) for cars registered in North Dakota.
Special Tint Rules and Regulations in North Dakota
Under present North Dakota tint laws, all colors of window tint are legal as no colors are expressly banned. However you cannot use window tint with a mirrored or metallic finish, so certain colors of window film may be effectively illegal if they have a reflective finish, this including metallic appearance tints like gold, silver, copper, and other similar tints.
If the rear window or any side windows behind the driver’s row have tint applied to the glass, than dual side mirrors are required on the vehicle.
Manufacturers and sellers of window tint do not need to certify the window film they sell in North Dakota as meeting state regulations, but you should speak to your tint retailer or installer and make sure you are getting window tint that won’t be in violation of state law and lead to a window tint ticket.
Illegal tint can be detected by devices used by police and inspectors, and it is not required for vehicle owners to use stickers on the vehicle that proves their window tint is legal.
North Dakota formerly allowed some exemptions to window tint laws that allowed form darker window tint, but these are no longer offered. That said, the state’s tint laws are permissive enough that most medical conditions, such as light sensitivity or skin issues, should be assuaged by tint allowed under existing law.
Window Tint Ticket Cost in North Dakota
Window tint violations in North Dakota are not serious issues. Since the summer of 2019, North Dakota statutes section 39-21-39(4) has classified illegal tint as a moving violation that comes with a fine of only $20 per offense. Thus even if an officer issued a window tint ticket for six windows found on a standard sedan, the total fee would be just $120, and in most cases only a single ticket will be issued.
Second and subsequent offenses for the same unresolved window tinting can see elevated costs but overall the penalties for illegal tint in North Dakota are quite minimal.
