Oklahoma Tint Laws Summary
In Oklahoma, window tinting laws are regulated by the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to ensure safety and visibility standards on the state’s roads. Establishing these guidelines minimizes the risk of accidents caused by reduced visibility, particularly during nighttime and adverse weather conditions.
The Oklahoma tint laws dictate several conditions for front windshields, front side windows, rear side windows, rear windshields, side mirrors , and back seat windows. Adjustable or "multi-layered" tinting products are permitted to be used on vehicles.
The DPS permits medical exemptions to the tint law under certain circumstances. Individuals with medical conditions that require additional light in their vehicles can obtain an exemption sticker from the DPS. These stickers must be displayed on the driver’s side windshield for the exemption to be recognized while operating a vehicle.
The DPS is responsible for developing the tinting regulations in Oklahoma and monitoring compliance. The Oklahoma tint law outlines specific requirements for Visible Light Transmission (VLT) levels and reflectivity limits, detailing what amounts of light can pass through the windows and how much light may be reflected. The aim is to maintain an adequate level of safety and visibility for all drivers.
Current Rules for Passenger Cars
In Oklahoma, the law is somewhat stringent when it comes to window tinting on passenger vehicles. Darkness of window tint is measured by visible light transmission percentages (VLT%). For passenger vehicles, non-reflective tint must allow more than 25% of light in through the window. On the other hand, the window tint must have a VLT of 25% or less on the front side window, and eye-protection vehicle window film must have a VLT of more than 35%.
On the rear side and back windows, the percentage of VLT allowed is not regulated for tinted or mirrored films. However, any tint that is reflective and mirrors are only allowed as long as they do not fall below 25% VLT. Therefore, if the VLT is not above 25%, the tint is not legal.
All windows in a car that has been tinted and are made of glass must have a VLT of more than 6%. In addition, all windows in the vehicle can only be tinted with non-reflective window tint.
For SUVs and vans, there is only a statute concerning the tint on the front windows. These vehicles can only have the front window tinted to more than 25%. All other windows on SUVs and vans can be tinted according to the standard regulations mentioned above.
There are no regulations in the state of Oklahoma governing the tinting of the windshield, however if a lower tint is installed, which legal, it will need a permit.
Restrictions for SUVs / Vans
According to Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes, section 12-537.2, SUVs and Vans have a little bit stricter tint rule than regular passenger vehicles. In non-legal terms, regular passenger cars and trucks can get away with having a tint of darkness level of 25% for windshield strip, 25% for windshield (the top five inches can be clear), 35% for side windows, and 25% for rear window. SUVs and vans (and trucks over 50 inches in height) can only have the top strip of tint down to the bottom of the AS-1 line or no more than five inches from the top of the windshield and 32% tint limit for all other windows including windshield, side windows and rear windows. As you know, the darker percent of tint, the less visible light is allowed to pass through.
Exceptions and Special Permits
One exception to the rule is for those with a legitimate medical reason for needing darker windows. The state Department of Public Safety does allow an exemption from the tint laws or special permit for windows to appear darker than standard regulations to certain groups of individuals, upon application and approval.
That means medical doctors or optometrists can provide you with a statement describing how the tint you have installed on your windows is necessary for your safety. This statement should include:
A letter from your doctor explaining your need for legal exceptions to tint laws
Your name, address, phone number and signature
Your physician’s name and signature
The date of signing
The recommend tint percentage allowed for your vehicle
Your vehicle make/model and VIN number
The date of signing and
Pass this along to the Department of Corrections, which will note you are exempt from the tint laws.
Penalties for Failure to Comply
The authorities in Oklahoma are known for being strict regarding window tints. These regulations have been developed after factoring safety needs and verifying them through rigorous research and scientific testing. However, some vehicle owners continue to overlook the rules and chose to move forward with illegal car window tinting, which ends up having serious negative repercussions. The reality of the situation is that on can only imagine as to how many times the violation has been reported by the cops on a yearly basis. Oklahoma does not take matters of non-compliance lightly, and for this reason, it is important for all tinted window owners to stay within regulatory limits. First and foremost, violators can expect to be slapped with a fine. For those who own cars, the penalty for a tint law violation is $50. On the other hand, owners of trucks will face a fine of $100. These fines, however, can vary based on city. Additional fines may be imposed in some municipalities. In that regard, penalties may range anywhere from $2 to $100. The only exception to the standard penalty is for first time offenders. If deemed a first time offender, the penalty will be waived. The penalties mentioned above do not end there, however. In addition to being fined exorbitantly, one can also be slapped with points on the record. These points increase as one continues to make tint law violations . It all begins with 2 points; this is issued on the first offense. For the second offense, the driver will be issued another two points subsequently resulting in a fine. The third offense results in 4 points, followed by 6 points for the fourth offense. The points are deducted from the driver’s license upon the first offense, followed by penalties in subsequent offenses. This means that the driver will not be penalized for those offenses where the fine has already been paid. With that said, it should be understood that the police officers or highway patrolmen can spot the tint issue even if the car window is closed. All they would need to do is get close enough to find out. For this reason, it is not uncommon for a traffic officer to assess the tint by leaning close to the window or placing their face close enough to assess the tint in the open windows. The authorities in Oklahoma have a fair understanding of the ways in which people try and get away with illegal car window tinting. For this reason, they are increasingly being able to detect the defect by inspecting the color and darkness. If a person is caught with illegal tint, the law enforcement officers will request that the person rolls down their car windows. After this, the officer will ask them to turn off their vehicle’s engine. It is then that the officer inspects the windows visually.
Comparison to Surrounding States
Oklahoma’s tint laws are similar in many ways to those of its neighboring states, but there are some differences that are important to keep in mind.
Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana have all recently adopted tint rules that are very similar to Oklahoma in terms of darkness and reflectivity, which is an important characteristic of window film that has more to do with the light that bounces off the glass than in the tint. The stickers (known as certification labels) that are required by all states to be displayed on the drivers side window indicates that the film was installed by a certified technician, and they are regularly checked as part of random roadside checks. The aluminum stickers are issued by the International Window Film Association as the most readily available method of indicating compliance with state laws.
Missouri, Colorado, and Kansas, have laws that are relatively similar to Oklahoma’s, but the reflectivity requirements are slightly different. New Mexico, on the other hand, has much more stringent tint laws, with much less allowable tint than Oklahoma, bordering Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri, but similar to Colorado and Kansas. Arkansas has the least restrictive tint laws in the region, allowing limited tint on the windshied and the lowest tint restrictions across the board for the rest.
However, even though the tint laws are generally the same, neighboring states have varying requirements regarding certification and labeling. For example, Missouri has no certification requirements, neither does Colorado with the exception of allowing only OEM tinted glass at the time of manufacture. Kansas requires the indicator label only on the front windshield.
How to Choose a Compliant Tint
When selecting a window tint for their vehicle, Oklahoma residents should consider only those options that have been tested and proven to comply with the law. It is also important to note that the legalities involved in tinting your vehicle windows don’t stop with the front windshield and front side windows. Oklahoma law also regulates the tint on the back side windows and rear windshield of a vehicle. Oklahoma law stipulates that for the front side windows, the total light transmittance must be 25 percent, or more, according to Oklahoma Statutes. The darkness of window tint is measured by visible light transmission percentage, which is computed by measuring the percentage of visible light allowed through the tinted window film. The percentage of the tint can be anywhere from zero to one hundred, with zero letting in the most light and one hundred the darkest tint. In addition to the front-side windows , window tinting is also regulated for the rear side windows and the back windshield. For these windows, the tint on any level is allowed, as long as a side mirror or rear-view mirror is used. Some additional factors to consider when choosing the right tint include: Oklahoma residents should also consider whether to tint their windows at home or hire a professional to perform the job. For those who chose to tint their own windows, be sure to select only high-quality tint. Cheaper tint often does not pass the legal test when the visible light transmission percentage is measured, and it can even lead to cracking or discoloration over time. No matter how you tint your windows – home or job – be sure to retain a copy of the receipt, as well as the certificate of compliance that indicates the film is suitable for your vehicle.