In Idaho, legal tint is measured by VLT — the percentage of light the filmed glass lets through. The numbers below are the darkest tint the law allows at each window position, labeled VLT MAX: install film darker than the listed VLT and the vehicle is out of compliance. Figures are compiled from official Idaho state sources; laws change, so confirm the current statute before you tint.
| Window | Darkest Legal (VLT MAX) | Reflectivity |
|---|---|---|
| Front side windows | 35% — light transmission of not less than 35%, tolerance ±3%; the same clause covers the front side vents (1)(b) | |
| Rear side windows | 20% — the side windows to the rear of the driver carry the darker figure, tolerance ±3% (1)(c) | |
| Rear windshield | 35% — subsection (1)(b) names the rear window in the same clause as the front side windows, not in the rear-side clause; it answers to 35%, not 20% | |
| Windshield | Nonreflective film only, and none below the AS-1 line; if no AS-1 line is identifiable, none below a line extending six (6) inches below and parallel to the exposed windshield (1)(a). No general full-windshield percentage in the standard rule | |
| Reflectivity | Luminous reflectance of not more than 35% (tolerance ±3%) on every tinted window — front, rear side, and rear window alike (1)(b)–(c); and every device the section allows is a nonreflective one |
How to Read These Numbers
- Front side windows: Front side windows — driver and front passenger — are the most tightly regulated and the ones checked first at a traffic stop or inspection.
- Rear side windows: Rear side windows are usually allowed darker than the fronts, and on SUVs, trucks and vans they are sometimes exempt from the passenger-car limit.
- Rear windshield: The windshield rule controls the strip at the top of the glass and how far film or a visor band may extend down. Most states allow a non-reflective strip above the manufacturer's AS-1 line.
- Reflectivity: Reflectivity caps limit mirror-style films. A film can comply on darkness and still be illegal if it reflects too much light.
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Idaho Tint Law Questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Idaho?
For front side windows, Idaho allows tint down to 35% — light transmission of not less than 35%, tolerance ±3%; the same clause covers the front side vents (1)(b) — the VLT MAX. Rear windows may allow darker film; check the table above for each position.
What happens if my tint is darker than Idaho allows?
Over-dark tint can draw a citation and, in many states, a fix-it order requiring the film to be removed and the vehicle re-inspected. Laws also change — verify the current statute before tinting.