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Minnesota Window Tint Laws & Regulations

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Tahir Azam
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The tint laws in Minnesota are currently very easy to understand. Most of them just regulate the darkness of the window tints, while others can require a bit more detail.

Minnesota window tint laws have made it clear that no tint is allowed on the windshield whatsoever.

The front-seat side windows need to allow at least 50% of the external light to pass into the car. The rest of the windows have different rules depending on your car type.

There are many more rules and regulations to discuss, so make sure that you read the article to the end as I will explain them all and answer any questions that you may have.

How Much Tint Darkness Is Legal In Minnesota?

Learn how dark can your window tints be in MN

While some windows can have any tint or darkness you want, the limits on some windows are capped at 50% VLT.

If you want to play it safe, you should try and make sure that the windows can allow 50% of light inside.

Tint Darkness Limit For SUVs And Vans

I will go in-depth with the rules starting with the regulations set on sports utility vehicles and vans.

As is the case for all cars and vehicles, the windshields are not allowed any sort of tinting at all.

The front-seat side windows of your SUV should be able to pass 50% of light through it.

The rest of the windows do not have any special rules on them. The back seat side windows can have any VLT amount you want.

This is the same for the rear window. That can have any darkness that you prefer. These are the main rules for SUVs related to tint darkness.

Tint Darkness Limit For Sedans

The rules set for sedans are quite similar to those set for sports utility vehicles and vans however differentiate by being a bit stricter.

Let’s take a closer look!

1. Front Windshield

The front windshield laws are also the same across the board, with no tints being allowed at all.

2. Front Seat Side Windows

The rules for the front seat side windows are generally the same across all vehicles. You cannot have less than 50% VLT unless you want to get in trouble with the police.

3. Rear Window

The rules start to change when you get to the rear windows of sedans, where the state of Minnesota has set a 50% VLT requirement or more.

4. Back Seat Side Windows

This is also the case for all Sedans’ back seat side windows, which must have at least 50% VLT to be street legal if they have any tints.

Window Tint Reflection And Tint Colors

  • There are also various laws related to the reflection and colors of the tints that you can apply in Minnesota.
  • All of these rules are the same across all cars and vehicles.
  • The front-seat side windows cannot be more than 20% reflective.
  • This is true for the back seat side windows, which cannot exceed the 20% reflective rule.
  • On the subject of colored tints, Minnesota has not restricted the use of any colored tints.
  • You can use any color tints you want as long as they allow the correct amount of light to pass through.

Medical Exemption Of Window Tint Laws In Minnesota

Medical exemptions are a huge thing when it comes to window tinting laws.

Not everyone can afford to come into contact with direct sunlight as the UV rays inside can directly inflict pain or disturbance.

This is why people who suffer from various illnesses that prevent them from going into the sun for long must be given some form of exemption from window tint laws to be able to drive carefully and without any issues.

Some states do not offer any medical exemptions to their citizens, but luckily the state of Minnesota does.

To be medically exempt and apply special tints to your car’s windows, you must first obtain a special prescription from a doctor or a physician that states that you require special tints for medical purposes.

This must be a medical necessity as well. You will also have to specify the vehicle’s make, model, and license plate with the tinted windows.

Get A Certified Sticker From The Company

Law enforcement is always on the lookout for people who are not following the rules.

This means that if you are wearing illegal tints that exceed the state’s limit, you are liable to be pursued by the police.

To make the lives of the police slightly easier, the state of Minnesota has made it clear that the people are required to have certification stickers between the films and the windows.

This will allow the people to establish that they have legal tints and not get in trouble with the police.

Despite this, however, the manufacturers of the tint films are not required to certify that the tints they sell are under the standard set by the state.

Other Window Tint Law Rules And Regulations In Minnesota

Here are a few more rules and regulations on window tinting in MN that should know if you want to abide by them.

  • There are no restrictions at all for side mirrors in Minnesota.
  • The state has provided a 3% variance to the people regarding window tints.
  • This means that your window tints will be okay if they are within 3% of the set threshold.
  • You must have a certification sticker between the tint film and the window.
  • You can use whatever colors you want for the tints.
  • You can be medically exempt from certain laws if you have the proper documents.

Cost Of Car Window Tint In Minnesota

When it comes to the cost of tints in Minnesota, you have a rather large range to deal with depending on what tint you want and the quality you want it at.

The most basic tint you can get can easily cost you $80 or above, but as you increase the quality, you will require more and more capital to purchase the tint.

Ceramic quality tints, which have the best quality and usually come with warranties, can go for anything above $600 and reach prices as high as $800.

Many other factors affect tint price as well, so make sure that you account for all of them before getting your car’s windows tinted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is 15% Tint Legal In Minnesota?

You can only consider using 15% tints on the rear and back seat side windows of SUVs and vans if you are in Minnesota. Otherwise, the 15% tint is banned for all other windows.

Q2. Are 5% Tints Legal In Minnesota?

Like 15% tints, you cannot use this low VLT tint on any window as it would be illegal.

The only windows you can apply 5% tints are the back seat side windows and the rear windows for SUVs and vans.

Q3. Is Limo Tint Legal In Minnesota?

Limo tints are very dark and block out a lot of light, so it may not be possible or legal for you to apply them to all windows; however, you can apply them to the same windows like the ones above.

Q4. Can I Get Pulled Over For Tint In Minnesota?

You can get pulled over if the authorities believe that you are using an illegal tint or if you do not have a certification sticker. This can bring with it some fines or other consequences.

Q5. How Much Is A Tint Ticket In Minnesota?

If you do not follow the rules and get a tint ticket, you can be slapped with a hefty fine of $135, which is just for the first infraction.

Conclusion

Minnesota tint laws are very easy to understand and very easy to follow.

For the most part, you just have to have 50% tints on all your windows, and you should be good to drive your vehicle whenever you want in the state.

The inclusion of certification stickers may be a bit inconvenient, but people can apply for medical exemptions, which is a huge plus.

Overall, the tinting laws in the state are quite reasonable, and you should be able to follow them easily now since you have read the article and understood everything there is to know about tinting laws.

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