---
title: "Mississippi Window Tint Laws: The 28% Rule by Window"
canonical: "https://carglassfix.com/mississippi-window-tint-laws/"
author: "Garrett Ross"
published: "2026-11-13T09:00:00+00:00"
modified: "2026-11-08T00:26:56+00:00"
language: "en-US"
site: "CarGlassFix"
description: "Mississippi tint law: every car window needs 28% light or more, no film on the windshield, no mirrored glass. SUV rear rules, medical exemption and fines."
categories: "Window Tint"
attribution: "CarGlassFix (https://carglassfix.com/)"
---
# Mississippi Window Tint Laws: The 28% Rule by Window
Short answer
Mississippi window tint laws require every tinted side and rear window of a car to let through at least 28% of light, checked by an official tint station. No tinted film is allowed on the windshield, except the sun shield band carmakers may install. SUVs, vans and pickups follow federal law behind the front side windows.
## Key takeaways
- Under Miss. Code Ann. 63-7-59(2), a tinted car needs a windshield label certifying that all windows pass 28% or more of light, or a medical exemption certificate.
- The windshield may carry no tinted film or darkening material of any kind, apart from a factory-type sun shield band in the uppermost area.
- Current law sets no reflectance percentage; it bans any glazing that “causes a mirrored effect”, and the old 20% cap was deleted in 2006.
- From July 1, 2026, a Mississippi-licensed optometrist as well as a physician can sign the medical exemption affidavit (SB 2453).
- Installing illegal film or misusing a label can bring a fine of up to $1,000, up to 3 months in county jail, or both (63-7-59(10)).
## Mississippi window tint limits by window
Mississippi sets one number, 28% light transmittance, for every tinted window of a passenger car. The rule is Mississippi Code Annotated 63-7-59, last amended by Senate Bill 2453, effective July 1, 2026. The statute does not list limits window by window. It says a tinted vehicle may not be driven unless a label on the windshield certifies “that all the windows of the vehicle have a light transmittance of twenty-eight percent (28%) or more”. A medical exemption certificate is the only other way to drive with tinted windows. Pickups, vans, motor homes, recreational vehicles, SUVs and other multipurpose vehicles get a separate rule for the glass behind the front side windows. Factory-tinted glass that meets federal law is exempt on any vehicle under 63-7-59(3)(c).
| Window | Sedan | SUV, van, pickup |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Windshield | No tinted film; only a sun shield band in the uppermost area, as carmakers may install under federal law | Same |
| Front side windows | 28% light or more | 28% light or more |
| Rear side windows | 28% light or more | Not stated as a number; exempt to the extent the window meets the federal factory minimum (63-7-59(3)(b)) |
| Rear window | 28% light or more | Same federal-law rule as the rear side windows |
| Reflectance | No glazing that causes a mirrored effect; no percentage | Same |
| Tolerance | None in the statute | None in the statute |
| Proof | Label on the lower left corner of the windshield from a DPS tint station | Same |
## How Mississippi checks the 28% rule: the windshield label
Mississippi proves legal tint with a small label from a state-approved tint inspection station, not with a sticker from the film maker. Under 63-7-59(6), the Department of Public Safety (DPS) issues labels to official tint inspection stations. The station must test the windows before it fixes the label, using methods or devices DPS approves and certifies at least once a year.
*Limits from Miss. Code Ann. 63-7-59 as amended by SB 2453 (2026). Diagram: CarGlassFix.*
The label goes on the lower left corner of the windshield and must be legible from outside. It shows a registration number and a certification of compliance. It must be pressure-sensitive, self-destructive on removal and no larger than 1 inch square. The statute tests the window as it sits in the car, so the 28% covers film and glass together. NHTSA has said factory-tinted glass in new cars passes about 80% of light, so a 35% film on that glass reads about 28%. Our guide on [how to measure window tint](https://carglassfix.com/how-to-measure-window-tint/) shows that math. The DPS station application names the Pocket Detective, a meter that reads both light transmission and reflectance. A [window tint meter](https://carglassfix.com/window-tint-meter/) reads the same net figure.
## Windshield tint in Mississippi: only a factory-type sun shield band
A Mississippi windshield may not carry tinted film or any darkening material, except a sun shield in the uppermost area of the kind carmakers may install under federal law. Section 63-7-59(1) bans “any tinted film, glazing material or darkening material of any kind” on the windshield. The exception covers material “designed to replace or provide a sun shield in the uppermost area”. The statute gives no inch measure and does not name the AS-1 line. Several tint sites and videos describe a “top 5 inches” strip or a strip “above the AS-1 line” in Mississippi. Neither figure appears in the statute.
The federal reference points to the factory shade band. Federal glazing rules let makers tint the top of the windshield above the area needed for driving visibility, which is usually marked by the AS-1 line. Read [the AS-1 line on a windshield](https://carglassfix.com/as1-line-on-windshield/) to find it on your glass. The same subsection bans signs and posters on the windshield and windows, other than a certificate or paper the law requires. For how other states treat the windshield, see [is it illegal to have tint on a windshield](https://carglassfix.com/is-it-illegal-to-have-tint-on-windshield/).
## SUVs, vans and pickups: the federal-law exemption explained
On pickups, vans, motor homes, SUVs and multipurpose vehicles, Mississippi likely allows any darkness on the windows behind the front two side windows, but the statute does not say so in plain numbers. Section 63-7-59(3)(b) exempts those windows, rear window included, “to the extent that the light transmittance of the window meets the minimum light transmittance requirements authorized to be installed for that window and for that vehicle under federal law”.
The federal rule is Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 205. It says glazing in multipurpose passenger vehicles follows the requirements for trucks in the ANSI/SAE Z26.1 glazing standard. A Virginia State Police summary says darker AS3 glass is barred on trucks only beside the driver and in a rearmost window used for driving visibility. The International Window Film Association says FMVSS 205 on trucks and multipurpose vehicles “is applicable only to the front side windows if the vehicle has two outside rear mirrors”. Read together, federal law sets no light floor behind the front doors of these vehicles. Our reading is that film there is exempt at any shade. The statute does not mention mirrors, and no Mississippi court ruling or DPS guidance on this clause was found, so ask a DPS tint station before going very dark.
## How the Mississippi tint law changed, and what older pages get wrong
The 28% limit dates from 2006, and many pages still describe the 2005 law it replaced. House Bill 734 of 2005 required, from July 1, 2006, a label on each tinted window certifying luminous reflectance “not exceeding twenty percent (20%)” and light transmittance of 35% or more. House Bill 1215, approved on March 23, 2006, lowered the light limit to 28%. Its title says it deletes “certain provisions that restrict the percentage of luminous reflectance”. It also moved the label to the windshield.
*Sources: Mississippi Legislature bill histories and texts for HB 734 (2005), HB 1215 (2006), HB 982 (2015) and SB 2453 (2026). Diagram: CarGlassFix.*
That history explains the errors. A Bing AI answer checked for this page said reflective tint “cannot exceed 20%” and that a compliance sticker goes on each tinted window. Both rules ended in 2006. Current law bans only glazing that “causes a mirrored effect”; see [can you put mirror tint on a car](https://carglassfix.com/can-you-put-mirror-tint-on-a-car/). House Bill 982 repealed the Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Law from July 1, 2015, but kept official tint inspection stations. A 2008 bill to add a 3% tolerance died in committee, so the statute has none. The tint section names no banned colors.
## Mississippi medical exemption for window tint
A Mississippi driver or regular passenger with a condition “seriously aggravated by minimum exposure to sunlight” can get a free certificate of medical exemption from the county tax collector. Section 63-7-59(4) lets that person put otherwise illegal film on “the windshield or windows” of a vehicle they own, drive or regularly ride in. The statute sets no darker floor for an exempt vehicle. A 2024 bill to add a 15% floor died in committee. SB 2453 added Mississippi-licensed optometrists from July 1, 2026. The DPS affidavit form, dated October 2023, still names only the physician.
## How to get a Mississippi medical exemption for window tint
1. ### Get a diagnosis
A physician licensed in Mississippi, or from July 1, 2026 an optometrist licensed in Mississippi, must diagnose the condition (63-7-59(4)).
2. ### Sign the affidavit
Use the DPS Window Tint Waiver Affidavit. The applicant signs it, and the physician or optometrist signs and attests it.
3. ### Take it to the tax collector
Present it at the tax collector’s office in the county where the vehicle is registered, with proof of ownership or a signed affidavit from the owner.
4. ### Display the certificate
Keep the free certificate, on the form prepared by the Commissioner of Public Safety, prominently on the dashboard.
Altering, copying or misusing an exemption certificate is an offense under 63-7-59(9).
## Mississippi tint ticket penalties and who enforces them
Driving with illegal tint in Mississippi is a misdemeanor, and only DPS officers and police of towns of 2,000 or more people may enforce it (63-7-59(12)). Section 63-7-59(11) sends most violations to 63-7-7, which says only “It is a misdemeanor”; the general penalty is in 63-9-11. A first conviction carries a fine of not more than $100 or up to 10 days in jail. A second within a year carries not more than $200, up to 20 days, or both. A third within a year carries not more than $500, up to 6 months, or both. An eligible driver can take a court-approved traffic safety violator course of at least 4 hours to have the case dismissed (63-9-11(3)).
Installers face a heavier penalty. Installing film that puts a vehicle in violation, issuing a label wrongly, or altering or misusing a label carries a fine of up to $1,000, up to 3 months in county jail, or both (63-7-59(10)). Preview shades in the [window tint simulator](https://carglassfix.com/window-tint-simulator/), and see other states in [what car window tint is legal](https://carglassfix.com/what-car-window-tint-is-legal/).
Mississippi tint rules can change with each legislative session. Check the current Mississippi Code 63-7-59 or the DPS Window Tint Compliance division before you tint. This article is general information, not legal advice.
*CarGlassFix infographic. Sources: Miss. Code Ann. 63-7-59 as amended by SB 2453 (2026), 63-9-11, Mississippi DPS Tint Waiver page and affidavit.*
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Infographic: CarGlassFix
## Frequently asked questions
### Is 28% tint legal in Mississippi?
Yes. A window that reads 28% or more with film and glass together is legal on any window of a car except the windshield. There is no tolerance in the statute, so a reading below 28% fails.
### How do you get a tint exemption in Mississippi?
A Mississippi-licensed physician, or from July 1, 2026 a licensed optometrist, signs the DPS tint waiver affidavit with you. You take it and proof of ownership to the county tax collector, who issues a free certificate for the dashboard.
### Is 20% tint legal on an SUV in Mississippi?
A 20% reading is illegal on an SUV’s front side windows, which must pass 28%. Behind the front side windows, the statute ties SUV glass to the federal factory minimum, which likely allows any darkness, but the wording is unclear.
### What’s darker, 35 or 50 tint?
A 35% tint is darker, because it lets through 35% of visible light against 50% for the lighter film. The [window tint percentage chart](https://carglassfix.com/window-tint-percentage-chart/) shows each shade side by side.
### Does Mississippi have a reflectance limit for window tint?
Mississippi has no reflectance percentage today. Section 63-7-59(1) bans any glazing material that causes a mirrored effect. The 20% reflectance cap that many sites quote was deleted by House Bill 1215 in 2006.
## Sources
- [Mississippi SB 2453 (2026), full text of Miss. Code Ann. 63-7-59 as amended](https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2026/pdf/SB/2400-2499/SB2453SG.pdf) and [bill history](https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/history/SB/SB2453.xml) (approved 13 March 2026, effective 1 July 2026; checked 29 October 2026)
- [Miss. Code Ann. 63-7-59, Windows and windshields](https://codes.findlaw.com/ms/title-63-motor-vehicles-and-traffic-regulations/ms-code-sect-63-7-59/) (FindLaw, current as of 1 January 2025; checked 29 October 2026)
- [Miss. Code Ann. 63-7-7](https://codes.findlaw.com/ms/title-63-motor-vehicles-and-traffic-regulations/ms-code-sect-63-7-7/) and [63-9-11, penalties](https://codes.findlaw.com/ms/title-63-motor-vehicles-and-traffic-regulations/ms-code-sect-63-9-11/) (FindLaw, current as of 1 January 2025; checked 29 October 2026)
- [Mississippi HB 734 (2005), as sent to the Governor](https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2005/html/HB/0700-0799/HB0734SG.htm)
- [Mississippi HB 1215 (2006), history and title](https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2006/pdf/history/HB/HB1215.htm) and [text as sent to the Governor](https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2006/html/HB/1200-1299/HB1215SG.htm)
- [Mississippi HB 982 (2015), safety inspection repeal and tint inspection stations](https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2015/pdf/HB/0900-0999/HB0982SG.pdf)
- [Mississippi Legislature: bills on code section 63-7-59](https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2026/pdf/code_sections/063/00070059.xml) (2026, 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2008 sessions; checked 29 October 2026)
- [Mississippi DPS Driver Service Bureau: Tint Waiver](https://www.driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov/node/324) and [Window Tint Waiver Affidavit](https://www.driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov/sites/default/files/2023-10/Tint%20Waiver%20Affidavit%2010.23.pdf) (archived copies read)
- [Mississippi DPS: Window Tint Compliance](https://www.driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov/Tint) and [Application for Official Window Tint Inspection Station](https://www.driverservicebureau.dps.ms.gov/sites/default/files/2022-01/Application%20Official%20Window%20Tint%20Packet.pdf) (archived copies read)
- [49 CFR 571.205, FMVSS 205 Glazing Materials](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-V/part-571/subpart-B/section-571.205) (checked 29 October 2026)
- [NHTSA interpretation letter 1985-03.16 on FMVSS 205 light transmittance](https://www.nhtsa.gov/interpretations/1985-0316) (1985)
- [Virginia State Police: Approved Equipment Definitions (AS1 to AS3 glazing)](https://vsp.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Approved-Equipment-Definitions.pdf)
- [International Window Film Association: Automotive Education Guide 2026](https://iwfa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Automotive-Education-Guide-2026.pdf)