Maryland tint laws were legislated in 1995 which require motor vehicles with tinted windows must pass 35% Visible light transmitted through their windows.

Visible Light Transmission percentage is an important factor to consider while tinting your Car windows. Check out the detailed guidelines about the legal limits of Tint darkness, Tint reflection and Prohibited Tint Colors.

Overview of Maryland Tint Laws

The below image summarize the window tint darkness and tint reflection requirements for Sedan and SUV type motor vehicles. Vehicle Owners and passenger can enjoy advantage of windows tinting but follow the tint limits to comply with the State laws.

Maryland Tint Laws for Sedan and SUV or Van type Motor Vehicles

Darkest Legal Tint in Maryland

Drivers and Vehicle owner in Maryland should follow the below mentioned Windows Tint Darkness and Tint Reflection limits. By following the legal limits, you can avoid penalties and legal actions from the state departments.

Tint Darkness For Sedan

State Front Side WindowsBack Side WindowsRear WindowWindshieldTint ReflectionColor Tints
Maryland35%35%35%Non reflective tint above the AS1 line or 5 inches from Top.Not SpecifiedRed, Yellow and Amber Tint colors are not allowed.
Tint Darkness, Tint Reflection and Tint color rules for Sedan

Tint Darkness For SUV or Vans

State Front Side WindowsBack Side WindowsRear WindowWindshieldTint ReflectionColor Tints
Maryland35%AnyAnyNon reflective tint above the AS1 line or 5 inches from Top.Not SpecifiedRed, Yellow and Amber Tint colors are not allowed.
Tint Darkness, Tint Reflection and Tint color rules for SUV

Window Tint Reflection

Maryland code for Transportation has not specified the legal requirements for the Motor Vehicle Window Tint Reflection.

Although, The safe limit for tint reflection is, Tinted material installed on windows must not reflect light to a greater extent than a standard window without any tinting material installed. Identify the best type of tint which must not reflect light to large extent.

If you want more specific details about the Window tint reflection laws in Maryland, We recommend you to consult with the concerned department.

Other Rules and Regulations

Motor vehicles registered in Maryland need to follow these rules too:

  • Dual Side mirrors are required if the rear window is tinted.
  • Red, Yellow and Amber Tint colors are not allowed by the state laws.
  • Sticker to show the legal tint is not required to display on Vehicle’s windows glass.
  • Manufacturers need to certify that they are selling legal tinting materials as per state laws.

Medical Exemption

Maryland Tinting laws allow medical exemption for individual who require protection from the Sun. A written certification in proper format is required to show, if vehicle is stopped by the Police officer.

Maryland Code, Transportation ยง 22-406, Section 4 allows the person to get exemption from the tinting laws.

Penalties for Violating Maryland Tint Laws

If any person violate Tint laws, he will get a Safety Equipment Repair order. It means you must have to remove the illegal tint or replace it with the window film which meets the window tinting laws.

Failure to fix the illegal tint within Five business days can result in heavy fine of value $1000.

Further to above, Your vehicle will require re-inspection from Automotive Safety Equipment Division to verify the compliance with Tint laws. Non-compliance with state laws not only increases the risk but also chances of being pulled over by the concerned authorities.

Frequently Asked Questions

No 5 percent tint is illegal, any person caught with 5 percent tint on car can be pulled over by Police. It is risky to install 5 percent tint on a car since it obstructs 95% of visible light, substantially decreasing the driver’s visibility.

No, Maryland doesn’t allow mirror tinting. Mirror tinting creates glare from reflections, which can annoy other motorists and passengers.

As per state laws, All passenger or multipurpose vehicles with tinted windows must have 35% Visible Light transmission percentage. If you install 20 percent tint on car windows, it allows only 20 percent Visible Light Transmission, which is deviation from the allowed limits.

5 tint is darker as it permits only 5 percent of light to pass through the window film, while 20 tint allows 20 percent Visible light to pass. Simply, The lower the number, darker the tint.