Window tint laws in Texas (2026)

The rules, window by window

Windshield

A sunscreening device on the windshield must not be red, blue, or amber and may not extend downward beyond the AS-1 line or more than five inches from the top of the windshield; below that, windshield devices must meet the 25 percent transmission / 25 percent reflectance standard (Tex. Transp. Code 547.613(b)). Clear UV film is permitted.

The standard in the law's own words

Chapter 547 also generally requires unobstructed driver visibility; 547.613 supplies the numeric sunscreening standard.

Reflectivity

A sunscreening device, measured in combination with the window, must have a luminous reflectance of 25 percent or less (Tex. Transp. Code 547.613(b); TxDPS window tinting standards).

Color restrictions

Windshield sunscreening devices may not be red, blue, or amber (Tex. Transp. Code 547.613(b)).

Medical exemption

It is a defense to prosecution that the driver or a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the violation is required for a medical reason to be shielded from direct rays of the sun (Tex. Transp. Code 547.613(c)). TxDPS stopped issuing separate window tint exemption certificates as of January 1, 2019; the statutory medical defense applies instead.

Enforcement

The standard is stated as combined transmittance and reflectance (device measured in combination with the window). Side windows to the rear of the driver are exempted from regulation entirely; the rear window restriction does not apply if the vehicle has an outside mirror on each side reflecting a view of the highway at least 200 feet to the rear (otherwise the 25/25 standard applies to the rear window). Other exceptions include law enforcement vehicles, buses, taxis, and limousines for windows behind the driver.

Notes

Front side windows: combined light transmission of 25 percent or more with luminous reflectance of 25 percent or less. Rear side windows: no restriction (expressly exempt per TxDPS guidance under 547.613(c)). Rear window: no restriction if dual outside mirrors give a 200 foot rear view, otherwise 25 percent. No sedan vs MPV/SUV split is stated. Several aggregator sites claim a 2026 amendment lowering the front side floor to 20 percent; this could not be verified against any primary source (the texas.public.law reproduction shows the section last amended in 2009 and current through the 2025 session), so 25 percent is recorded and the claim is flagged for review. Primary-source caveat: statutes.capitol.texas.gov served only a navigation page to automated fetching, so the section text was verified from the texas.public.law full-text reproduction plus the official TxDPS standards page; a human reviewer should confirm against statutes.capitol.texas.gov.