Georgia changed its ordinary tint limits on July 1, 2026. The enacted amendment uses 28% for front side windows and 15% for rear side windows and rear glass; the older DPS summary still shows 32%.
Read the official sources ↓Rules by window
| Window | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Windshield | Ordinary tint reducing windshield transmission is prohibited except for listed allowances, including a transparent top-six-inch strip that is neither red nor amber. |
| Front side | At least 28% light transmission, subject to statutory ±3% tolerance. |
| Rear side | At least 15%, subject to ±3% tolerance, unless a listed rear-window exemption applies. |
| Rear window | At least 15%, subject to ±3% tolerance, unless a listed rear-window exemption applies. |
Vehicle class and measurement
The amended law measures transmission through the window after material is applied and caps reflection at 20% on regulated side and rear windows. Its multipurpose definition requires seating for ten or fewer plus a truck chassis or special off-road features. Verify the classification; an SUV label alone is insufficient.
Labels and windshield color
DPS states that compliance labels are no longer required. Its published windshield-strip exception excludes red and amber.
Medical permits
Apply through Georgia DPS using its medical-exemption form. The medical office must mail the application, payment and physician or optometrist letter directly to DPS. The letter must explain why reduced visible light is medically necessary; a condition addressable by UV-blocking legal tint or protective eyewear does not qualify under the posted process. Obtain approval before relying on an exemption.
Why do some Georgia tint charts still say 32%?
The governor’s signed act places the tint amendment in Section 3. Section 8 makes it effective July 1, 2026; the separate July 1, 2027 delay applies only to Section 5.
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.
- The DPS ordinary-tint summary has not been updated to the 2026 VLT amendment. Medical materials also use older numerical language, so confirm the scope of any permit directly with DPS.
- A current consolidated official code text was not retrieved; the enacted amendment is the primary source for the 2026 change.
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
- Georgia governor: signed HB 1161 / Act 640 ↗
Section 3 amends VLT and classifications; Section 8 establishes effective dates. The amendment markup was visually checked.
- Georgia DPS: window tint summary ↗
Historical 2005 guidance used only for unchanged windshield and labeling provisions; its 32% figure is superseded.
- Georgia DPS: medical exemption process ↗
Current application route and medical supporting-document requirements.