Pennsylvania combines a statutory rule against screening that prevents a view into the vehicle with the glazing levels in 67 Pa. Code Table X. For ordinary 1998-and-newer passenger cars, that table lists 70% for front, side and rear glazing.
Read the official sources ↓Rules by window
| Window | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Windshield | Table X lists 70%. A transparent top strip may not encroach on the AS-1 area and may extend no more than three inches from the top. |
| Front side | Table X lists 70% for front-side windows and wings across its vehicle categories. |
| Rear side | Passenger cars: 70%. Table X lists no numerical requirement for rear-side windows of trucks, multipurpose passenger vehicles, medium/heavy trucks and buses, and its 'all other vehicles' category; other visibility and mirror rules remain. |
| Rear window | Passenger cars model year 1998 or later: 70%. Pre-1998 passenger cars use the table’s VESC-20 provision and label. Other listed vehicle classes have no numerical rear-window requirement, subject to mirrors and other equipment rules. |
Mirrors and the special older-car label
Section 175.264 generally requires left and right outside rearview mirrors with a screening device, except for a permitted windshield-only top strip. It specifies mirror surface size and a limited medical exception.
The VESC-20 footnote for pre-1998 passenger-car rear windows requires a permanent label between the film and glass. It must identify the manufacturer or registration number and state compliance with VESC-20. This is a special rule for those older-car rear windows, not a label requirement for every tinted window.
Medical relief is for colorless UV screening
PennDOT must issue the certificate. The application requires vehicle information and medical certification from a licensed physician or optometrist. It can cover the owner or a qualifying household member who normally drives or rides in the vehicle.
Section 175.265 limits medical certificates to colorless screening that filters ultraviolet light. This is not an automatic authorization for darker privacy tint. Carry the certificate and produce it for police or inspection; the regulation says a sale or transfer voids the medical certificate, while the statute specifies transfer to a person who does not qualify for medical relief. Confirm the requirements with PennDOT before transferring an exempt vehicle.
What the percentages mean
These are glazing-transmission requirements, so assess the finished window after application. The statute’s visibility prohibition and factory-equipment exceptions still matter alongside Table X.
No separate numeric reflectance cap or general named-color permission was established in the reviewed provisions. A product should not obstruct the required view simply because its listed VLT appears acceptable.
Common installation questions
If my car passes inspection, does that mean my tint is legal?
PennDOT removed the requirement to check tint during inspection, not the road-use requirements. Check the vehicle-specific table in PennDOT’s fact sheet.
Official sources: PennDOT Vehicle Window Tint fact sheet (April 2025) ↗
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; no new effective date is implied.
- Passing a particular inspection is not a guarantee against roadside enforcement. This summary does not predict traffic-stop or court outcomes.
- Vehicle classification should be verified; the everyday SUV label is not the legal test.
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
- Pennsylvania Vehicle Code §4524 ↗
Official statute: visibility, factory-equipment and medical-certificate framework.
- 67 Pa. Code Chapter 175 Subchapter O and Table X ↗
Official regulation: window positions, vehicle/model-year table, mirrors, VESC-20 and medical process.
- PennDOT Publication 45, inspection regulations ↗
Official PennDOT compilation corroborates colorless medical screening and required certificate.