In South Dakota, 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 South Dakota state sources; laws change, so confirm the current statute before you tint.
| Window | Darkest Legal (VLT MAX) | Reflectivity |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | No percentage — § 32-15-2.9: no sunscreening device may be placed on a windshield so as to obstruct or reduce the driver's clear view, and no sunscreening material may extend downward beyond the AS-1 line or more than the lowest point of the sun visor, whichever is lower. The windshield glass itself is also named in § 32-15-2.4's 35% combined-transmittance clause. | |
| Front side windows | 35% — the side windows forward of or adjacent to the operator's seat (and the side wing vents): combined light transmittance through the one-way glass, adhesive film material, or other glaze may not fall below 35%, with a 9% enforcement tolerance (§ 32-15-2.4) | |
| Back side windows | 20% — § 32-15-2.5 covers "rear windows behind the operators seat" as one class: combined light transmittance may not fall below 20%, with a 9% enforcement tolerance | |
| Rear window | 20% — the same clause, § 32-15-2.5 |
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.
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South Dakota Tint Law Questions
What is the darkest legal tint in South Dakota?
For front side windows, South Dakota allows tint down to 35% — the side windows forward of or adjacent to the operator's seat (and the side wing vents): combined light transmittance through the one-way glass, adhesive film material, or other glaze may not fall below 35%, with a 9% enforcement tolerance (§ 32-15-2.4) — the VLT MAX. Rear windows may allow darker film; check the table above for each position.
What happens if my tint is darker than South Dakota 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.