Ontario Window Tint Laws: Complete Guide
Ontario’s tint rules depend on your vehicle’s model year. The Ministry of Transportation’s vehicle inspection standard requires the front side windows of any vehicle built on or after January 1, 2017 to let in at least 70% of light, and it bars aftermarket film on those vehicles’ windshields. Older vehicles face a looser test. On every vehicle, the rear side windows and rear window can be as dark as you like, as long as you have outside mirrors on both sides.
Key Takeaways at a Glance
Front side windows
2017 and newer: at least 70% light transmission. Older vehicles: tint can't obscure or limit the driver's view
Windshield
No aftermarket tint on 2017 and newer vehicles. Older vehicles: top 75 mm (about 3 in) only, above the AS line, 70% or lighter
Rear side and rear windows
Any darkness, with outside mirrors on both sides
SUVs, vans, and trucks
Same rules as cars. Model year matters, not body style
Medical exemptions
No medical exemption process for darker front tint
Penalties
$85 set fine on a ticket, up to $500 in court, and tint can fail a safety inspection
Darkest Legal Tint by Vehicle Type in Ontario
Windshield
No aftermarket tint
Front side windows
70% or lighter (glass and film combined)
Rear side windows
No limit
Rear window
No limit, with outside mirrors on both sides
Windshield
Top 75 mm (about 3 in), above the AS line, 70% or lighter
Front side windows
Must not obscure or limit the view
Rear side windows
No limit
Rear window
No limit, with outside mirrors on both sides
Ontario’s rules follow the model year, not the body style. A 2018 pickup and a 2018 sedan face the same 70% test on their front doors.
Windshield tint rules and the AS-1 Line
Unlike Quebec, Ontario does use the AS line, the small mark etched near the top of most windshields. How much you can tint depends on when the vehicle was built.
For vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 2017, no aftermarket tint may be applied to the windshield at all. A factory shade band is fine; adding your own film is not.
For older vehicles, a tint strip is allowed at the top, but it can’t reach more than 75 mm (about 3 inches) down from the top edge or extend past the AS line, whichever comes first. The windshield must still let in at least 70% of light.
- On a 2017 or newer vehicle, even a light sun strip counts as aftermarket tint and will fail a safety inspection.
Reflectivity and Color Restrictions
Ontario’s inspection standard is built around two tests: how much light passes through the glass beside and in front of the driver, and whether the view is obscured. It does not set a separate reflectivity percentage or list banned colours. In practice, a mirrored or coloured film on the front windows would fail on either count.
Understanding VLT
VLT (visible light transmission) is the share of visible light that passes through a window. Ontario’s 70% rule means at least 70% of light must get through the front side windows of a 2017 or newer vehicle. Higher numbers are lighter; lower numbers are darker.
- Your factory glass counts. The inspection standard notes that factory tint on these windows blocks no more than 30% of light, so some factory glass already sits close to the 70% line before any film goes on.
- How police measure. Officers can meter the installed front side windows, so the reading reflects glass and film together. They can also judge whether the tint blocks the view.
- Heat without darkness. Ceramic and infrared-rejecting films are designed to cut heat while staying light. On the front windows, have the glass metered first, since there may be little room left above 70%.
Certification, Stickers, and Inspection
Film certification and stickers
Ontario doesn't require film certification or a compliance sticker.
Using a professional shop doesn't protect you
The tint offence falls on the driver, and inspections judge the glass, not who installed the film.
Buying used
A used vehicle needs a Safety Standards Certificate before it can be registered to a new owner, and non-compliant tint can fail it.
Safety inspections
There's no annual tint check, but tint is inspected whenever a vehicle needs a Safety Standards Certificate. See Penalties below for how that works.
Medical Exemptions
Ontario’s rules don’t include a medical exemption process for darker tint on the front side windows or windshield.
Penalties
What you face depends on whether you’re stopped on the road or your vehicle is being inspected.
Situation
Fine
Ticket for non-compliant window tint (set fine)
$85
plus the victim fine surcharge and court costs
Convicted after contesting the ticket
Up to $500
Tint fails a Safety Standards Certificate inspection
No fine
but no certificate until the tint is fixed
How a Safety Inspection Works
1
The vehicle needs a Safety Standards Certificate
This happens when a used vehicle changes owners or is registered in Ontario for the first time.
2
A licensed inspection station checks the tint
The technician checks the windshield and the windows beside the driver against the Ministry of Transportation’s standard.
3
If the tint fails, it has to come off.
The station can’t issue a certificate until the film is removed or replaced and the vehicle passes.
- Keep driving it and you risk repeated fines, and you can be required to store the vehicle at your own expense until a photometer reading shows the windows meet the standard.
Choosing Legal Film in Ontario
Maximum legal privacy
Go as dark as you want on the rear side windows and rear window, and keep the front side windows at 70% or lighter.
Heat rejection
Rear windows can take any high-performance ceramic or IR film. For the front windows, ask an installer to meter the factory glass first and pick a film that keeps the total at 70% or more.
Windshield sun glare
On 2017 and newer vehicles, only a factory shade band is legal. On older vehicles, a strip in the top 75 mm, above the AS line, is the only option.
FAQ
What is the darkest legal tint in Ontario?
On the front side windows of a 2017 or newer vehicle, the glass and film together must let in at least 70% of light. The rear side windows and rear window have no limit, as long as you have outside mirrors on both sides.
Is limo (5%) tint legal in Ontario?
Only on the rear side windows and rear window. It is not legal on the front side windows or the windshield.
Is 35% tint legal on front windows in Ontario?
Not on a 2017 or newer vehicle, where the front windows must stay at 70% or lighter. On older vehicles, 35% film is likely to be treated as obscuring the view.
Is windshield tint legal in Ontario?
Not on vehicles built on or after January 1, 2017, apart from a factory shade band. Older vehicles can have a strip in the top 75 mm (about 3 inches), above the AS line, that lets in at least 70% of light.
How much is a tint ticket in Ontario?
The set fine is $85, plus the victim fine surcharge and court costs. If you contest the ticket and are convicted, the fine can be as high as $500.
Do SUVs have different tint rules in Ontario?
No. The same rules apply to cars, SUVs, vans, and pickups. What changes the rules is the model year.
Will tinted windows fail a safety inspection in Ontario?
They can. Front side windows below 70% on a 2017 or newer vehicle, any aftermarket windshield tint on those vehicles, or tint that obscures the view on older ones will fail a Safety Standards Certificate inspection.
Do I need a tint sticker in Ontario?
No. Ontario does not use tint compliance stickers.
Can I get a medical tint exemption in Ontario?
Ontario has no medical exemption process for darker front window tint. Contact the Ministry of Transportation if you have a medical concern.
If a tint shop installed my film, am I still liable?
Yes. The offence falls on the person driving, and a safety inspection judges the glass itself, whoever installed the film.
Does Ontario enforce its tint law on out-of-province cars?
The Highway Traffic Act applies to anyone driving on Ontario roads, so visitors can be stopped too. If your home province or state allows darker front tint, expect Ontario’s standard to apply while you’re there.
Sources
Disclaimer
Please be aware that the accuracy, completeness, adequacy, or timeliness of the US and Canadian window tint law information provided on these pages is not guaranteed. The information provided on this webpage is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Window tint rules and fines can change, so confirm current requirements with the Ontario Ministry of Transportation before installing film. Users are solely responsible for determining which laws apply to their specific circumstances. Window Film Pros assumes no responsibility or liability for any decisions or actions taken based on this information.
