In Alaska, legal tint is measured by VLT — the percentage of light the filmed glass lets through. The numbers below are the darkest tint the law allows at each window position, labeled VLT MAX: install film darker than the listed VLT and the vehicle is out of compliance. Figures are compiled from official Alaska state sources; laws change, so confirm the current statute before you tint.
| Window | Darkest Legal (VLT MAX) | Reflectivity |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Strip only. Subsection (b)(1): a strip of tinting material applied to the top edge of the front windshield, "known in the industry as an 'eyebrow,'" which does not extend downward more than five inches from the top of the glass. The regulation measures in inches — it does not use the AS-1 line. No tint below the strip under the standard rule; the medical route at (c) is the only route to darker glass. | |
| Front side windows | 70% — subsection (b)(2): the driver and front passenger side windows may have tinting material that permits at least 70 percent light transmittance. No vehicle class is excepted from this figure. | |
| Back side windows | 40% — subsection (b)(3): the rear door windows (with the quarter glasses and back glasses) may have tinting material that permits at least 40 percent light transmittance — subject to the (b)(4) class rule below. | |
| Rear window | 40% — the "back glasses" of subsection (b)(3), same figure as the rear side windows — subject to (b)(4), and to the (h) grandfather clause for pre-July 1, 1994 installs. |
How to Read These Numbers
- Windshield: The windshield rule controls the strip at the top of the glass and how far film or a visor band may extend down. Most states allow a non-reflective strip above the manufacturer's AS-1 line.
- Front side windows: Front side windows — driver and front passenger — are the most tightly regulated and the ones checked first at a traffic stop or inspection.
- Back side windows: Rear side windows are usually allowed darker than the fronts, and on SUVs, trucks and vans they are sometimes exempt from the passenger-car limit.
- Rear window: The rear window rule often interacts with side mirrors: darker rear glass typically requires dual outside mirrors.
Getting tinted in Alaska?
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Alaska Tint Law Questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Alaska?
For front side windows, Alaska allows tint down to 70% — subsection (b)(2): the driver and front passenger side windows may have tinting material that permits at least 70 percent light transmittance. No vehicle class is excepted from this figure. — the VLT MAX. Rear windows may allow darker film; check the table above for each position.
What happens if my tint is darker than Alaska allows?
Over-dark tint can draw a citation and, in many states, a fix-it order requiring the film to be removed and the vehicle re-inspected. Laws also change — verify the current statute before tinting.
