Louisiana Window Tint Laws
Gulf humidity plus stop-and-go New Orleans traffic equals serious cabin heat. Louisiana's tiered rule — 40 front, 25 back sides, 12 rear — rewards a shop that installs to the exact number per window.
Reviewed July 2026 · Passenger cars (sedans)
Legal tint limits in Louisiana
| Glass | Rule for passenger cars |
|---|---|
| Windshield | Tint allowed on the top 5 inches. |
| Front side windows | 40% VLT or lighter |
| Back side windows | 25% VLT or lighter |
| Rear window | 12% VLT or lighter |
| Reflectivity | No more than 20% reflective. |
| Medical exemption | Available with qualifying documentation |
What VLT means (and how police check it)
VLT — Visible Light Transmission — is the percentage of outside light that makes it through your glass. The number printed in the law is a floor: film may be that bright or brighter. Because factory glass already blocks a little light, an officer's meter reads the combineddarkness of glass plus film. A film sold as "40%" on top of factory glass can meter a few points darker — which is why professional installers measure the final result, not the box label.
Quality matters as much as darkness. Dyed films fade purple and bubble; ceramic films like ULTRASHIELD SHADOW reject heat and up to 99% of UV at any legal darkness, with no signal interference — so you get the comfort without gambling on the number.
Louisiana tint FAQ
What is the darkest legal tint in Louisiana?+
Can I tint my windshield in Louisiana?+
Does Louisiana allow medical exemptions for darker tint?+
Is ceramic tint legal in Louisiana?+
Are mirrored or reflective films legal in Louisiana?+
Get it installed right in Louisiana
ULTRASHIELD certified installers measure the finished VLT, use nano-ceramic SHADOW film, and register your warranty with CARFAX.
Own a shop in Louisiana? There's no certified ULTRASHIELD installer here yet — be the first. Apply to join the network →
This page summarizes Louisiana statute as published and was last reviewed July 2026. It is not legal advice. Laws change and local enforcement varies — confirm current rules with the Louisiana DMV before tinting.
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