California window tint law, in plain English
The short version: fronts stay light, rears can go dark, and the windshield gets a strip at the top. Here's what that means for your car.
Front side windows
California is strict here. Aftermarket film on the driver and front passenger windows has to let at least 70% of light through, and the combination of the factory glass plus your film has to meet that. In practice that means a very light or clear film on the front doors — the kind you choose for heat rejection rather than for looks.
Windshield
You can run a tint strip across the top of the windshield, but only above the manufacturer's AS-1 line (or the top four inches if there's no marking). Clear, non-reflective heat-rejecting film on the rest of the windshield is the usual way to get the benefit without breaking the rule.
Rear side windows and rear window
These can be as dark as you want on a passenger car. This is why most cars you see have light fronts and much darker rears.
Mirrors
If the rear window is tinted, the vehicle needs dual side mirrors. Almost everything on the road already has them.
Colours and reflectivity
Red, amber and blue films are not allowed, and film can't be excessively reflective or metallic-mirrored.
Medical exemptions
California allows darker front film with a signed certificate from a licensed physician or optometrist for specific conditions. You need to carry the documentation in the vehicle.
Fix-it tickets
A tint citation is usually correctable: remove the illegal film, get the correction signed off, and pay the fee. We do a lot of these — strip the too-dark film and re-do the fronts at a legal shade so the car still looks right.
So what should you actually do?
The setup most of our customers land on is a very light ceramic film on the front doors and windshield for heat, and a darker shade on the rear sides and back glass for privacy and looks. You get the cooling benefit everywhere and you keep the car legal.
If you've just moved to California with film that was legal in another state, it's worth checking. Fairfield and Travis-area customers ask about this constantly — out-of-state fronts are usually too dark here.
This page is a general summary, not legal advice, and the vehicle code can change. Check the current California Vehicle Code or ask us when you book — call 925-886-0771 and we'll talk through what's legal for your vehicle.
Not sure what's legal on your car?
Call and describe the vehicle. We'll tell you what shade you can run before you commit.