We tint cars registered in four states, and the first question at almost every appointment is "how dark can I go?" The answer depends on where your car is registered, not where we tint it. Here's the plain-English version from a shop that deals with it every day.
Here's what you'll find below:
- The short answer
- Legal tint limits by state
- Delaware
- Pennsylvania
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- What the percentages mean
- How to pick a shade that passes
The short answer
In Delaware, front door windows can go as dark as 50% and the rear windows can be any darkness. Pennsylvania wants 70% everywhere on a car, Maryland allows 35%, and New Jersey allows nothing on the front doors.
Tint law follows your registration, not the shop. A Pennsylvania car tinted in Delaware still has to meet Pennsylvania's limits.
Legal tint limits by state
The percentage is the visible light transmission (VLT): the minimum amount of light that has to pass through the window. A lower number means darker tint is allowed. These are the limits for regular passenger cars:
| State | Front side windows | Rear side windows | Back glass | Windshield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 50% | Any darkness | Any darkness | Above the AS-1 line |
| Pennsylvania | 70% | 70% | 70% | Above the AS-1 line |
| Maryland | 35% | 35% | 35% | Above the AS-1 line |
| New Jersey | No tint allowed | Any darkness | Any darkness | Above the AS-1 line |
The AS-1 line is a small mark printed near the top edge of most windshields. Factory glass already blocks some light, so a 50% film on a stock window reads a little darker than 50% on a meter.
Delaware tint law
Delaware loosened its law on August 17, 2026 (Senate Bill 255), lowering the front side window limit from 70% to 50%. The rear side windows and back glass have no limit, and the windshield can be tinted above the AS-1 line only.
For front doors we recommend Apex Ultra Ceramic 50%: a light look that passes, with the ceramic doing the heat-rejection work instead of darkness. Pair it with 20% or 5% on the rear windows for privacy in the back.
Inspection special: if we tinted your car and it needs to pass state inspection, we'll remove the tint for free when you book the reinstall with us.
Pennsylvania tint law
Pennsylvania is one of the strictest states. On passenger cars, every window must let in at least 70% of light. On trucks and multipurpose vehicles, such as many SUVs and vans, the windshield and front side windows must meet 70%, but the rear side windows and back glass have no limit.
For a light film that still cuts heat, ceramic is the way to go. A 70% Apex Ultra Ceramic rejects about 96% of infrared heat while looking nearly clear. Read the full Pennsylvania tint law guide.
Maryland tint law
Maryland allows 35% on the front side, rear side and back windows of passenger cars. On multipurpose vehicles like SUVs, vans and pickups, the windows behind the driver can go darker. Read the full Maryland tint law guide.
New Jersey tint law
New Jersey doesn't allow any tint on the windshield or front side windows unless you have an approved medical exemption from the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission. The rear side windows and back glass can be any darkness, but mirrored or metallic film is not allowed. Read the full New Jersey tint law guide.
Window tint percentages explained
The number on a film is how much light passes through it, so a lower number means a darker window. Here's how each shade looks in person:
| Shade | How it looks | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 70% | Nearly clear | Heat and UV protection without a tinted look, and Pennsylvania's limit (Apex Ultra Ceramic only) |
| 50% | Light, subtle tint | Front door windows in Delaware (Apex Ultra Ceramic only) |
| 35% | Medium, classic look | Maryland's limit, and a clean, balanced look with some privacy |
| 20% | Dark | Strong privacy on rear windows |
| 5% | "Limo" tint | Maximum privacy on rear windows |
Keep in mind your factory glass already has a slight tint, so the finished window is a little darker than the film's number alone. We take that into account when we help you choose, and you can try every shade on a car in our tint visualizer.
How to pick a shade that passes in 4 steps
Here's how we walk every customer through it:
- Check where the car is registered
- Decide the front first
- Go darker in the back if your state allows it
- Use ceramic when you can't go dark
Let's go over each step.
1. Check where the car is registered
Your registration decides the limit. A Maryland-registered car can run 35% fronts even though we're in Delaware, and a New Jersey car can't run front tint even though Delaware allows 50%.
2. Decide the front first
The front doors are what an officer and an inspection station check. Pick the lightest shade your state allows and you'll never think about it again. In Delaware that's 50%, in Maryland 35%, in Pennsylvania 70%.
3. Go darker in the back if your state allows it
Delaware and New Jersey let the rear windows go any darkness, so 20% or 5% in the back for privacy is a common setup. Maryland caps the back at 35% on cars, Pennsylvania at 70%.
4. Use ceramic when you can't go dark
Heat rejection in a carbon film comes from darkness. In a ceramic film it comes from the ceramic layer, so a light 50% or 70% ceramic keeps the cabin cooler than a dark carbon. If your state keeps you light, ceramic is how you still get the comfort.
Limits shown are for passenger cars and are general information, not legal advice. Laws change, so check your state's rules before tinting. Sources: Delaware General Assembly, PennDOT, Maryland State Police, NJ Motor Vehicle Commission.
Tint law FAQ
What is the legal tint in Delaware in 2026?
50% on the front door windows, any darkness on the rear side windows and back glass, and windshield tint only above the AS-1 line. The front limit dropped from 70% to 50% in 2026.
Is 20% tint legal in Delaware?
On the rear side windows and back glass, yes. On the front doors, no: the front limit is 50%.
Is 35% tint legal in Delaware?
Rear windows, yes. Front doors, no. 35% is the front limit in Maryland, not Delaware.
Will 50% tint pass Delaware inspection?
Yes, 50% is the Delaware front door limit. Keep in mind the meter reads the film plus the glass, so a 50% film on factory glass reads slightly under 50%. We account for that when we recommend a shade. If we tinted your car and it needs tint removed to pass, we remove it free when you book the reinstall.
I live in Pennsylvania but you're in Delaware. Which law applies?
Pennsylvania's. Tint law follows the state the car is registered in, so a PA car needs 70% on every window even though we install it in Delaware.
Does the windshield strip count?
A sun strip above the AS-1 line is allowed in all four states. Tint below that line on the windshield is not.