Window Tint Laws in British Columbia
The current window tint limits in British Columbia, verified August 2026. Where a figure is given it is a minimum visible light transmission for the glass and film measured together, so a higher percentage requires a lighter film.
What is the legal tint in British Columbia?
- Front side windows
- No film allowed
- Back side windows
- Any darkness
- Rear window
- Any darkness (dual mirrors required)
- Windshield
- Top 7.5 cm strip only
- Medical exemption
- Not available
Worth knowing: Police may order film removed at roadside inspection.
Use the checker below to switch jurisdictions, or see every state and province side by side.
Verified August 2026 · General information, not legal advice — always confirm with your DMV, provincial authority, or installer before applying film.
British Columbia: current tint limits
Medical exemption: not offered in this jurisdiction.
Police may order film removed at roadside inspection.
Our listed installers currently cover New York and New Jersey, with more regions on the way. Browse the full directory — every shop page states the city it serves and the limits it installs to.
British Columbia compared with bordering jurisdictions
Tint is enforced where you are stopped, not where it was installed, so a legal install at home can be a ticket one line over. These are the jurisdictions sharing a land border with British Columbia.
| Jurisdiction | Front side windows | Back side windows | Rear window | Windshield | Medical exemption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | No film allowed | Any darkness | Any darkness (dual mirrors required) | Top 7.5 cm strip only | None |
| Alberta | No film allowed | Any darkness | Any darkness (dual mirrors required) | No tint allowed | None |
| Northwest Territories | No film allowed | Any darkness | Any darkness | No tint allowed | None |
| Yukon | 70% | No explicit limit | 70% | 70%+ transmittance required | None |
| Alaska | 70% | 40% | 40% | Strip above the AS-1 line; approved colors only | Available |
| Idaho | 35% | 20% | 35% | Strip above the AS-1 line | Available |
| Montana | 24% | 14% · any for MPVs/vans | 14% · any for MPVs | Strip above the AS-1 line; no red/yellow/amber | Available |
| Washington | 24% | 24% (some vehicle types exempt) | 24% (some types exempt) | Top 6-inch strip; no gold/yellow/black/mirror film | Available |
Comparing more than the neighbors? The complete tables for all 50 states, D.C. and the 13 Canadian provinces and territories are on one page.
How to read these numbers
Three details trip up more drivers than the percentages themselves. First, the limit applies to the combined reading of glass plus film, and factory glass is never perfectly clear, so a film's box rating always overstates what a meter will read on the car. Second, the windshield is its own category everywhere: below the AS-1 line (the small marking near the top corner of the glass), meaningful tint is illegal across both countries, whatever the side windows allow. Third, reflectivity is regulated separately from darkness, and mirrored or metallic film fails in most jurisdictions even at a legal VLT.
Sources: state statutes and DMV publications including NY VTL §375(12-a), Cal. Vehicle Code §26708, Texas Transp. Code §547.613, La. R.S. 32:361.1 (as amended 2025), Iowa HF 766 (2026), NH RSA 266:58-a, the SAAQ's Quebec standards, and provincial highway traffic regulations, cross-checked against 2026-current legal references. Last verified August 2026. Spot an error? Email info@carwraps.net.
British Columbia tint law questions, answered
What is the legal tint limit in British Columbia?
Front side windows: No film allowed. Back side windows: Any darkness. Rear window: Any darkness (dual mirrors required). Where a figure is given it is a minimum VLT, meaning the share of light that must still pass through the glass and film together, so a higher number requires a lighter film.
Is 5% limo tint legal in British Columbia?
The front side windows are governed by the rule "No film allowed", which leaves no room for 5% film. Behind the driver the answer flips: British Columbia sets no darkness floor on the back side or rear windows, so 5% limo film is fine there, subject to the mirror and vehicle-type conditions noted in the table.
What is the darkest legal tint in British Columbia?
British Columbia allows no aftermarket darkening film on the front side windows (the exact rule is quoted above), so the question only applies behind the driver. Behind the driver there is no floor at all, so the darkest film available is legal on the back side and rear glass. A lower VLT number is a darker window.
Is a medical exemption for darker tint available in British Columbia?
No. British Columbia has no medical exemption process, so a physician's letter does not authorize film darker than the standard limit.
What does British Columbia allow on the windshield?
Top 7.5 cm strip only. The windshield is regulated separately from side glass everywhere in North America, so whatever shade is legal on the doors says nothing about what is permitted up front.
Is there anything unusual about the British Columbia rule?
Police may order film removed at roadside inspection.