No, 20% tint is not legal on the front side windows in Texas. Texas keeps a strict rule for the front of the vehicle it must allow at least 25% visible light transmission (VLT). A 20% tint only lets 20% of the outside light in, which is darker than the legal limit. Because of that, using 20% tint on the front side windows will fail inspection and can lead to tickets during a traffic stop.
However, the rule changes once you move to the back of the car. Texas is much more flexible with rear window tinting. In fact, 20% tint is perfectly legal for rear side windows and the back windshield, as long as your vehicle has dual side mirrors. Many Texans run darker tint in the back for privacy and heat reduction without any issue. This is where the confusion usually comes in people assume that because 20% is allowed on the back, it must be legal on the front. But Texas law separates the car into clear zones, and the front zone has tighter safety rules.
What the Texas Tint Law Actually Says
Texas tint laws are enforced by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), and the rules are the same in 2025 as in previous years. The most important part is the required 25% VLT for the front side windows. This means that the glass plus film together must allow at least 25% of visible light to pass through.
Here’s what Texas requires:
1. Windshield
- Only the top 5 inches or the AS-1 line may be tinted.
- That strip must be 25% VLT or lighter.
- No full windshield tint allowed.
2. Front Side Windows
- Must allow 25% VLT or more.
- This is where 20% tint becomes illegal.
3. Rear Side Windows
- Any darkness allowed.
- 20% tint is fully legal here.
4. Rear Window (Back Glass)
- Any darkness allowed if the vehicle has side mirrors.
- Most cars do.
- So 20% is legal here too.
These rules make Texas one of the easier states for back and rear tint, but one of the stricter states for front tint.
Why Texas Doesn’t Allow 20% Tint on the Front
Texas police and DPS inspections are designed around safety. The 25% rule exists for two simple reasons:
1. Officer Visibility During Traffic Stops
Police must be able to see inside the vehicle for safety.
With 20% tint, the inside of the car looks almost black from the outside, especially at night.
2. Your Visibility While Driving
Darker tint reduces your ability to see pedestrians, cyclists, and road hazards in low light.
Texas roads are busy, and visibility matters.
So the 25% front-window rule has never been changed since the day it was introduced.
What Happens If You Use 20% Tint on the Front Windows?
If you install 20% tint on the front side windows, you might deal with:
1. Failed Vehicle Inspection
Texas state inspections check tint.
If your front windows test below 25%, you’ll fail and must remove or replace the tint.
2. Traffic Stops and Tickets
Police can pull you over for illegal tint alone.
You may get either:
- A fine, or
- A “fix-it ticket” requiring you to bring the car back with legal tint.
3. Insurance Issues
Some policies may deny coverage if the illegal tint contributed to reduced visibility in a crash.
4. Repeated Stops
Darker tint draws attention.
20% on the front almost always looks suspicious in Texas daylight.
How Tint Is Measured in Texas
Texas uses a simple method: The VLT of the window = the combined VLT of the tint film + the glass.
Factory glass already blocks some light, usually around 80%–90%. When you add a 20% tint film, the final VLT might end up closer to 15%–18%.
This is why even films advertised as “25% tint” may sometimes read slightly lower and fail inspection.
Where 20% Tint Is Legal in Texas
Even though you can’t use 20% on the front windows, it’s perfectly legal for:
- Rear side windows
- The back windshield
- SUVs, trucks, vans, and sedans alike
Just make sure your vehicle has working side mirrors if the rear window is heavily tinted.
Most Texans running privacy tint use 20%, 15%, or even 5% (limo tint) on the back — all legal.
Medical Exemptions
Texas does allow tint exemptions for certain medical conditions.
However, these require:
- Documentation from a licensed physician
- Filing the exemption
- Keeping proof in the vehicle
But even with a medical exemption, Texas still sets limits on how dark the front tint can go. A 20% front tint usually still won’t qualify unless the exemption specifically allows it.
Final Word
So 20% tint is NOT legal on the front side windows in Texas, but it is legal on the rear windows. If you want your car to stay within Texas law and pass inspection every year, keep the front windows at 25% VLT or lighter and use 20% only on the back.
