(2026) Legal Window Tint Laws Washington

The rule lives in RCW 46.37.430, in the part of the Washington code covering vehicle equipment, and it is written as a floor on light rather than a ceiling on darkness: at least 24% coming through every window but the windshield, no more than 35% reflected back, on a vehicle with outside mirrors on both sides. Shade and reflectance are capped separately, which is why a mirrored film is out even in a light shade - along with red, gold, yellow and black material.

The statute does not spell out a removal order; what it says is that driving a vehicle carrying film that breaks the section is an infraction. So while that film is on the glass the vehicle is in breach, and putting it right means taking the film off and replacing it with a shade that passes. What an individual court does with a particular ticket is a matter for that court, and not something Kepler can advise on. The standard the finished car has to meet does not change: 24% light or more on every window but the windshield, and 35% reflectance or less.

Film is bonded to the glass and the adhesive is meant to stay put, so removal is a slow job of heat and patience. Hurry it and you can be left with adhesive across the pane, or a rear screen whose printed heating elements come away with the film. Washington allows only one sheet of film on a window, so a darker shade cannot be layered over it either. None of that is an argument against tinting - it is an argument for choosing the shade carefully once, with your dealer, against Washington's 24% limit.

You are. RCW 46.37.430 makes it an infraction to drive a vehicle carrying film that breaks the section, so responsibility sits with whoever is behind the wheel. Washington does mark professional work, though: a business that tints within the restricted areas of your glazing has to leave a sticker on the driver's door post, next to the manufacturer's tag, showing its business name and state tax identification number. Ask for it, and leave it where they put it.

No, and under a 24% floor that is rather the point of a ceramic film. With Kepler IR and IR+ the heat and glare are handled by the ceramic layer rather than by how little light the film lets through, so a legal shade can still take the edge off a car that has sat in the sun all afternoon. Kepler publishes IR+ with under 1% UV transmittance across the range, lightest shades included. Ask your dealer to compare the shades that clear the Washington limit on your own glass.

Law enforcement and tint professionals in Washington use specialized tools to check your car's window tinting shade. The main tool is a tint meter, which gauges the visible light transmission (VLT) through windows. This meter determines the percentage of light passing through the windows, allowing officers to quickly verify if the tinting meets Washington's laws. If your tinting goes beyond the legal limit in Washington, you may receive a ticket and be asked to take off it. It's best to have your car's window tinting installed by a trusted professional to verify compliance with Washington's laws and steer clear of such issues. Select a qualified installer who knows the legal guidelines if you are considering window tinting for your car in Washington.

Yes, most newer car windows come with a mild built-in tint, even without any aftermarket tinting. Typically, the built-in tint is very slight and primarily shields the adhesives and materials in window construction from UV damage. This factory tint usually adheres to legal window tint limits in Washington but does not provide significant heat rejection, glare reduction, or privacy benefits like aftermarket tinting. For window enhancements in Washington, consider the combined VLT of the factory and aftermarket tints to verify compliance with window tint laws. Some vehicles, such as Tesla , already have a manufacturer-installed light tint in the glass.

Yes. Washington allows greater light reduction on every window, and on the top six inches of the windshield, for a vehicle driven by or carrying someone who holds written verification from a licensed physician that they must be protected from sunlight. The State Patrol says there is no form to complete or submit: keep the physician's documentation in the vehicle and produce it if law enforcement asks. Tell your dealer before you choose the film, so the exemption and the shade are settled together.

Use the quote form. Tell us what you drive and the shade you are considering, and we introduce you to the closest dealer - an independent business that fits Kepler film. From there the film, the price and the fitting are agreed between you and them. Kepler makes the film and the introduction; it does not set the dealer's price or do the work, so check timing and availability with them directly.