D.C. generally requires 70% transmission at the windshield/front sides and 50% at the rear. The statute gives mini-vans a distinct 55% front and 35% rear rule; this is not a general SUV exception.
Read the official sources ↓Rules by window
| Window | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Windshield | Ordinary vehicles: at least 70%; mini-vans: at least 55%. Section 50-2207.02(b) separately permits lower transmission above the AS-1 line or within five inches of the top. |
| Front side | At least 70% for ordinary vehicles; at least 55% for mini-vans. |
| Rear side | At least 50% for ordinary vehicles; at least 35% for mini-vans, subject to a valid statutory exemption. |
| Rear window | At least 50% for ordinary vehicles; at least 35% for mini-vans. The statute does not substitute a general dual-mirror exception for these numbers. |
Measurement, parked vehicles and exceptions
The limits describe light passing through the vehicle window. Check the completed glass-and-film reading rather than using the film’s standalone rating.
The statute covers operation and parking on D.C. public streets or spaces. It separately exempts manufacturer-installed tint predating purchase and specified government, church and service vehicles; do not extend those categories to ordinary aftermarket work. The exemption for limousines, ambulances, buses and hearses depends on meeting 18 DCMR §413.10; this review did not establish the full incorporated requirements.
Medical documentation
The Code authorizes a DMV Director medical exemption. Current DC DMV guidance says to maintain a signed letter on the practitioner’s letterhead certifying the registered owner’s or household member’s need for protection from sunlight or bright light.
DMV lists physicians, physician assistants, ophthalmologists and optometrists as acceptable signers. Follow that current agency process and obtain clarification for a particular vehicle or documentation question; a medical condition without the required documentation is not enough.
Before you rely on this guide
This is general information, not legal advice, a vehicle inspection, or permission to install a particular film. Exceptions and enforcement procedures can depend on your circumstances.
- Research checked October 14, 2026; not an effective-date claim.
- The Code names mini-vans but no expanded definition covering SUVs was verified.
- A separate reflectance percentage, film-color rule, tint-specific mirror requirement or routine consumer sticker/certification program was not verified.
- The Code speaks of Director exemption while current DMV guidance describes retaining a medical letter; confirm any case-specific issuance requirement directly with DMV.
- The exemption for limousines, ambulances, buses and hearses is conditional on meeting 18 DCMR §413.10.
The research date shows when the sources were checked. It is not the date the law took effect, and it does not mean this page is monitored continuously. This research preview still awaits human editorial review; we do not claim attorney review.
Official sources
- D.C. Code §50-2207.02 ↗
Current official Code: ordinary/mini-van percentages, top strip, parked vehicles and exemptions.
- DC DMV medical waivers for tint ↗
Current official agency documentation instructions and listed exempt categories.