Maryland's tint rules live in Transportation Article §22-406. Here's the plain-English version we apply on every install.
The 35% rule
Passenger cars (sedans, coupes, wagons, convertibles): every window you add tint to must let at least 35% of light through (35% VLT). That includes rear side windows and the back glass.
Trucks, SUVs, vans, and other multipurpose vehicles: the 35% floor applies to the driver and front passenger windows only. Rear side windows and the back glass can go as dark as you like — which is why factory "privacy glass" SUVs are everywhere.
Windshields
No tint film on the windshield itself except a non-reflective visor strip at the top, above the manufacturer's AS-1 line. Full-windshield films, even nearly clear ones, are where enforcement gets unpredictable — we'll walk you through the options honestly.
Other rules worth knowing
Film can't be reflective/mirrored, and red, yellow, and amber tints are off the table. If a window is tinted, Maryland also expects working side mirrors. Factory glass tint counts toward nothing — the rule is about film added after manufacture, measured through the glass-plus-film combination.
The medical exemption
Drivers with a documented light-sensitivity condition can go darker with a physician's written certification in the format required by the Maryland State Police Automotive Safety Enforcement Division — carried in the vehicle, valid up to two years before renewal. We install to the certification when you have one.
What happens if you're over
A stop typically earns a Safety Equipment Repair Order (SERO): fix the tint, get it inspected, prove compliance — an expensive way to buy tint twice. Our approach is simpler: we install legal shades with ceramic film that beats illegal dyed tint on heat anyway, and we put the film specs on your receipt in case a roadside meter ever disagrees.
Laws change and enforcement varies; this guide reflects §22-406 as verified July 2026 and isn't legal advice. When in doubt, we'll check the current statute with you before the install.