Minnesota ordinarily requires 50% transmission on side and rear glass, with specific vehicle and medical exceptions.
Read the official sources ↓Rules by window
| Window | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Windshield | No added treatment that increases reflectivity or reduces transmission, absent an applicable exception. Section 169.71, subdivision 4. |
| Front side | Ordinarily at least 50% transmission and no more than 20% luminous reflectance; statute states ±3%. |
| Rear side | Ordinarily 50% transmission/20% reflectance. The defined van's windows behind the driver are exempt; do not assume every SUV qualifies. |
| Rear window | Ordinarily 50% transmission/20% reflectance. Defined pickup-truck rear windows and van rear windows are exempt. |
Glass, markings and vehicle classes
Section 169.71 measures the window as treated, prohibits highly reflective or mirrored appearance, and requires a readable permanent transmission/reflectance marking on material applied after August 1, 1985, subject to subdivision 4a exceptions. Unmodified federally compliant original glazing is separately excepted. Other express exceptions include specified funeral vehicles, limousines and police vehicles.
Medical documentation changed in 2025 and 2026
Medical documentation must specify the permitted minimum transmission and whether the condition is temporary or permanent. Temporary documentation expires within two years; a clinician may identify a permanent condition for which expiration is inappropriate. Chapter 89, signed May 12, 2026, expressly includes optometrists and applies retroactively to prescriptions issued from July 1, 2025.
A driver relying on an absent patient's documentation must satisfy the listed family-or-care relationship, specified-vehicle and possession conditions. Read subdivision 4a before using someone else's certificate.
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.
- Vehicle exceptions depend on statutory definitions, not marketing labels such as SUV. No broader exemption is implied.
- A tint-specific color restriction or dual-mirror requirement was not established in the reviewed section.
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
- Minnesota Statutes 169.71 ↗
Subdivisions 4 and 4a: window limits, marking, factory glass and named vehicle exceptions. Current page flags 2026 amendment.
- Minnesota Laws 2026, chapter 89 ↗
Enacted May 12, 2026; optometrist and medical-documentation provisions effective retroactively July 1, 2025 for prescriptions issued on or after that date.