Minnesota Window Tint: Legal Limits, Medical Exemptions & Penalties
Minnesota is stricter than most states, and the rules that catch people out are not the ones they expect. Here is what the statute actually says, checked line by line against Minn. Stat. § 169.71.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Every side window and the rear window on a passenger car must let in more than 50% of visible light. No window may reflect more than 20% of the light hitting it. No aftermarket tint of any kind is allowed on the windshield.
Pickup trucks, vans and SUVs get an exception: front side windows still must meet the 50% rule, but everything behind the driver can be as dark as you want.
MINNESOTA TINT LIMITS AT A GLANCE
| Window position | Passenger car / sedan | Pickup, van, SUV | Reflectivity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windshield | No aftermarket tint | No aftermarket tint | Not reflective or mirrored |
| Front side windows | More than 50% VLT | More than 50% VLT | Max 20% reflectance |
| Back side windows | More than 50% VLT | Any darkness allowed | Cannot be mirrored |
| Rear window | More than 50% VLT | Any darkness allowed | Cannot be mirrored |
| Legal tolerance | ±3% | ±3% | ±3% |
VLT = Visible Light Transmission. A higher number means lighter film. 5% “limo” tint is not legal on any window subject to the limit.
The line most people miss: on a sedan or coupe the 50% rule applies to the back side windows and the rear window too, not just the front doors. Factory privacy glass is exempt, which is why an SUV can leave the dealership with dark rear glass legally.
WINDSHIELDS: WHAT MINNESOTA ACTUALLY ALLOWS
Section 169.71 prohibits any material that makes the windshield more reflective or in any other way reduces light transmittance.
There is no AS-1 line allowance in Minnesota. Most states permit a tinted band down to the manufacturer’s AS-1 marking. Minnesota does not, which is why a visor strip that is legal in Wisconsin is not legal here on a street-driven car.
| Situation | Legal? | What it requires |
|---|---|---|
| Medical exemption | Yes | Physician documentation under § 169.71, subd. 4a(2). The exemption applies to subdivision 4 as a whole, including the windshield clause. |
| Not driven on public roads | Yes | Show cars, track cars and trailered vehicles fall outside the statute’s scope. |
| Clear protection film | Gray area | Optically clear film resists chips rather than darkening glass. The statute states no tolerance for the windshield. |
Windshield tint darkens the glass, which is exactly what the statute prohibits. Windshield protection film is an optically clear layer that resists rock chips. We install clear protection film routinely. For any darkening film on a windshield we walk you through the medical exemption first, because that is the one route that is unambiguously legal.
MEDICAL EXEMPTION FOR DARKER TINT
Minnesota allows tint darker than 50% with documented medical need. There is no permit, application or fee — the documentation itself is the exemption.
What changed on July 1, 2025: a physician can now issue documentation with no expiration date for a permanent condition, and a driver may rely on a prescription issued to a parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling or spouse, or to someone they act as a personal care attendant for.
Most shops will not discuss this. Bring us the documentation and we will match the film to the minimum transmittance your physician specifies, install it, and label it to the statute’s marking requirement.
ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES
Illegal tint is a primary stop in Minnesota. It is an equipment violation and there is no state law making it a secondary offense.
A tint violation is generally charged as a petty misdemeanor, carrying a fine of no more than $300 and no jail time. Courts often reduce or dismiss the fine when the driver removes the film and shows proof of correction.
Buying a used car with tint already on it? You inherit the violation. Have it measured before you assume it is legal.
GET LEGAL TINT INSTALLED IN THE TWIN CITIES
We have tinted cars in the Twin Cities for 20+ years out of Spring Lake Park and Medina. Certified with ULTRAFIT, 3M, SunTek and LLumar, so we pick the film that fits your car and the law instead of pushing one brand.
Want heat rejection without the ticket? Modern ceramic films reject most infrared heat at 50–70% VLT. Darkness and heat rejection are not the same thing.
Free loaner vehicle available. Mobile service available.
