Under Arkansas tint laws, front side windows on every vehicle must let in at least 25% of visible light, rear windows on any vehicle can go as dark as 10%, and rear side windows on SUVs, trucks, and vans can also drop to 10% while sedan rear side windows must stay at 25%. Windshields may carry only a five-inch tinted strip at the top. Breaking these rules is a Class B misdemeanor, and officers carry meters to check on the spot.
The rules come from Arkansas Code ยง 27-37-306 and apply to all 1994 and later model vehicles. Visible light transmission, or VLT, is the percentage of outside light that passes through the glass and film together. A lower number means darker tint.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-37-306 – Light Transmission Levels for After-Market Tinting Material
Legal Tint Limits by Window and Vehicle
Sedans and Passenger Cars
- Windshield: tint only along a strip at the top edge, extending no more than five inches down from the top center.
- Front side windows: at least 25% VLT.
- Rear side windows: at least 25% VLT.
- Rear window: at least 10% VLT.
The rear window allowance catches people off guard. Many drivers assume every window behind the windshield shares the 25% limit, but the statute treats the rearmost window separately and lets you go significantly darker.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-37-306 – Light Transmission Levels for After-Market Tinting Material
SUVs, Trucks, Vans, and Multi-Purpose Vehicles
- Windshield: same five-inch strip as sedans.
- Front side windows: at least 25% VLT.
- Rear side windows: as dark as 10% VLT.
- Rear window: at least 10% VLT.
The difference is on the rear side windows. On trucks, buses, motor homes, trailers, and multi-purpose passenger vehicles, those windows can drop to 10% VLT. On a sedan, the same windows must stay at 25%.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-37-306 – Light Transmission Levels for After-Market Tinting Material
Reflectivity and Color Restrictions
Arkansas bans window film with a metallic or mirrored appearance. The statute doesn’t assign a numeric reflectivity limit. The practical standard is whether the film looks mirrored or throws glare at other drivers; if it does, expect a citation.
Certain colors are prohibited on any window regardless of VLT. Red, amber, and any shade that mimics emergency vehicle or signal lighting cannot be used. Neutral shades like charcoal, gray, or black stay within the rules.
The Installer Label You Have to Carry
Every vehicle with aftermarket tint in Arkansas must display a label from the shop that installed it. The label goes on the windshield on the driver’s side and must include the installer’s company name and phone number, along with a statement confirming the tint meets legal requirements.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-37-306 – Light Transmission Levels for After-Market Tinting Material
That sticker matters more than most drivers think. If an officer questions your tint during a stop, the label is your first line of defense: it shows a professional installer certified the film as compliant. Without it, you can be cited even if the VLT is legal. Confirm your installer will provide the label before you pay.
Medical Exemption for Darker Tint
Drivers with a condition that causes extreme light sensitivity, such as lupus or albinism, can go darker than the standard limits. Arkansas keeps this process simple. Your physician writes a certification stating that darker tint is in your best medical interest, and you carry the certification in the vehicle at all times.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-37-306 – Light Transmission Levels for After-Market Tinting Material
No state application is required. You don’t need approval from the Department of Finance and Administration or the Arkansas State Police. The physician’s certification is the authorization. With the exemption, the limits shift to:
- Windshield: may be tinted to at least 50% VLT, rather than only the five-inch strip.
- Side windows: at least 20% VLT, rather than 25%.
- Rear window: 10% VLT minimum, unchanged.
A vehicle using the medical exemption still needs the installer label on the windshield, and the label must confirm the tint complies with the exemption provisions.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-37-306 – Light Transmission Levels for After-Market Tinting Material
Penalties for Illegal Tint
A tint violation in Arkansas is a Class B misdemeanor. It applies both to the driver operating the vehicle and to the installer who applied the film.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-37-306 – Light Transmission Levels for After-Market Tinting Material Under Arkansas’s general sentencing structure, a Class B misdemeanor carries a fine of up to $1,000. Courts routinely order the owner to remove or replace the illegal film on top of any fine.
Officers use handheld tint meters during traffic stops, which give an instant VLT reading. There’s no arguing the number. Keep in mind that factory automotive glass already blocks some light on its own, so adding film right at the legal minimum can push the combined VLT below the threshold. A reputable installer accounts for that when picking a shade.