(2026) Legal Window Tint Laws Vermont

The section is titled obstructing windshields, which tells you what it is aimed at. Rather than handing you a darkness percentage to shop for, Vermont writes the rule around position: material painted or adhered on or over the windshield, the vent windows and the side windows immediately left and right of the driver is prohibited. The exceptions are small and specific, covering a low space on the windshield about four inches by twelve, a smaller upper corner space, the places the Commissioner sets aside for stickers the state requires, and your rearview mirror or a toll transponder behind it. The glass behind the driver falls under a different subsection, which asks for a securely attached mirror on each side instead.

A citation under section 1125 is a civil ticket rather than an order to strip the glass. Where the statute does require removal, it is in the medical exemption: the exemption ends when the vehicle is transferred, at which point the seller takes the tinting off, and tinting that tears, bubbles or is otherwise worn enough to prohibit clear vision has to be removed or replaced. Beyond that, the annual safety inspection is where a car's glass gets examined, which is the practical argument for putting film where Vermont allows it the first time.

Taking film off is a patient job rather than a violent one: warm it, peel it slowly, then work the adhesive off the glass afterwards. The care it takes is a good reason not to have film fitted where Vermont will not allow it, and a good reason to say what is already on the car when you ask for a quote. If the tint came with the car from a previous owner, the annual inspection is where you are most likely to hear about it.

You are. Section 1125 is written around operating the vehicle, so the ticket follows the driver, whoever fitted the film and whenever it went on. That is worth knowing when you buy a used car in Vermont, because tint that came with it is still yours to answer for at the next inspection: ask about it before you buy. If the Commissioner has granted you a medical exemption, remember that it is tied to the vehicle and ends when that vehicle is transferred.

Legally, the statute puts no darkness figure on the rear side windows or the back window; what it asks for is a securely attached mirror on each side, giving a clear view of the road behind and down both sides. Practically, a dark rear film changes how much you see out of the back at night, which is worth a thought before you commit to 4%. The useful part is that darkness and heat rejection are not the same measurement: Kepler's ceramic film works on infrared rather than on visible light, so a lighter shade still carries a published heat figure. Glare is worth weighing too, since a normal Burlington winter brings around eighty inches of snow and low sun off fresh snow is hard work for the eyes.

Specialized tools help law enforcement and tint professionals in Vermont measure car window tinting darkness. The key tool is a tint meter, which measures the visible light transmission (VLT) through windows. This meter calculates the percentage of light transmitted through the windows, allowing officers to quickly determine if the tinting follows Vermont's laws. You may receive a citation and be told to remove the non-compliant tinting if it's less transparent than the legal limit in Vermont. It's recommended to have your car's window tinting installed by a reputable professional to confirm compliance with Vermont's laws and steer clear of such issues. Be sure to select a certified installer who knows the legal guidelines if you plan on window tinting for your car in Vermont.

Yes, most current car windows come with a slight built-in tint, even without any additional tinting. This built-in tint is usually very light and is primarily intended to shield the adhesives and materials used in the window construction from UV damage. This factory tint usually complies with legal window tint limits in Vermont but does not provide significant heat rejection, glare reduction, or privacy benefits like additional tinting. When thinking about enhancing your car's windows in Vermont, it's crucial to factor in the combined VLT of the factory tint and any aftermarket tinting to comply with local laws. Remember that vehicles like Tesla already have a mild factory tint in the glass.

Yes. Vermont's Commissioner of Motor Vehicles can grant an exemption to someone who needs to be shielded from the sun for medical reasons, on a document signed by a licensed physician or optometrist certifying that necessity. The certification is renewed every four years, though where a physician or optometrist has already certified the condition as permanent and stable it can be renewed without a fresh signature. The DMV takes the application on form VN-022, its Window Tint Permit Application. Two conditions are worth knowing before you start: the tinting the exemption allows is limited to the vent windows and the side windows immediately left and right of the driver, and the exemption ends when the vehicle is transferred, at which point the seller removes the tinting.

Use the quote form on this page. It takes a few details about your car and what you want from the glass, and it goes to an independent local tinter, who discusses the film, the price and the fitting with you directly. Confirm availability and timing with them before you make arrangements. If you would rather look at the film first, the shade carousel on this page shows each shade on a car.