In Hawaii, 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 Hawaii state sources; laws change, so confirm the current statute before you tint.
| Window | Darkest Legal (VLT MAX) | Reflectivity |
|---|---|---|
| Front side windows | 35% — no less than 35%, plus or minus 6%, measured with the glazing material; the same clause covers the front side wing vents (d)(7) | |
| Rear side windows | 35% — side windows to the rear of the driver, no less than 35%, plus or minus 6%, where the window is necessary for driving visibility (d)(8) | |
| Rear windshield | 35% — the rear window is written into the same (d)(8) clause at the same figure and tolerance. On vans, minivans, trucks, and buses the rear glass sits outside the section entirely under (d)(9) | |
| Windshield | Transparent film along the top edge only: it may not encroach upon the AS-1 portion of the windshield, or reach lower than four inches below the top of the windshield, measured from the middle point of the bottom edge of the top windshield moulding when no AS-1 markings can be found (d)(6). Transparent material applied to the AS-1 portion itself is allowed when it meets FMVSS 205 (d)(11). No full-windshield percentage in the standard rule | |
| Reflectivity | The section states no reflectance percentage; the governing test is that the glazing and any device meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205. The site prints no reflectivity number |
How to Read These Numbers
- 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.
- Rear 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 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.
- Reflectivity: Reflectivity caps limit mirror-style films. A film can comply on darkness and still be illegal if it reflects too much light.
Getting tinted in Hawaii?
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Hawaii Tint Law Questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Hawaii?
For front side windows, Hawaii allows tint down to 35% — no less than 35%, plus or minus 6%, measured with the glazing material; the same clause covers the front side wing vents (d)(7) — the VLT MAX. Rear windows may allow darker film; check the table above for each position.
What happens if my tint is darker than Hawaii 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.