Guide · Cañon City, CO
Colorado window tint law, explained plainly
Most of the calls we get start with the same question: how dark can I go without getting pulled over? Here is how Colorado's rules work, and how we keep your car on the right side of them.
Front side windows: 27% or lighter
- The driver and passenger windows must let at least 27% of light through (VLT). That number is measured through the glass and the film together, so factory glass that already has a slight tint matters.
- We meter your glass before we start, so the shade you pick reads legal on an officer's meter — not just on the box.
Windshield: only a top strip
- Film on the windshield is limited to the top 4 inches. Below that, the glass has to stay at 70% light transmission or better.
- A clear ceramic windshield film or a glass ceramic coating can still cut heat and glare without breaking the rule — ask Joe which fits your car.
Rear side and back glass
- Behind the driver, the rear side windows and back window can go darker, as long as the vehicle has working side mirrors on both sides. This is why so many trucks and SUVs run dark rears with legal fronts.
Tickets and medical exemptions
- A tint ticket in Colorado is a fine, and you'll usually be told to remove the illegal film. Removing and redoing film costs more than doing it right the first time.
- Drivers with certain medical conditions can carry a signed exemption that allows darker film. Bring the paperwork and we'll match it.
Common questions
- Is 20% tint legal on front windows in Colorado?
- No. Front side windows need to read 27% or lighter with the film installed. 20% and darker is for rear windows only.
- Can I tint my windshield in Colorado?
- Only the top 4 inches. A clear heat-rejecting film or ceramic coating is the legal way to cool the rest of the windshield.
- Do you check the law before installing?
- Yes. Joe walks through the rules and meters your glass before any film goes on.