Ontario window tint laws: what's legal in 2026
In Ontario, front side windows must allow more than 70% of light through (70% VLT), measured as your factory glass and the film combined. Rear side windows and the rear windshield have no restriction. Windshield tinting below the AS-1 line has been illegal on vehicles made after 1 January 2017. Fines range from $85 to $500.
The limits, window by window
| Window | Legal limit |
|---|---|
| Windshield | No aftermarket tint below the AS-1 line (vehicles made on or after 1 Jan 2017) |
| Front side windows | Must allow more than 70% of light through |
| Rear side windows | No restriction |
| Rear windshield | No restriction, provided both side mirrors work |
The detail that catches people out
The 70% figure is your glass plus the film, measured together — not the film's rating on its own.
Most modern car glass already sits somewhere around 70 to 85% VLT from the factory. So a film labelled "70%" applied to glass that's already at 75% gives you roughly 52% combined, which is well under the limit. That's how drivers end up with an illegal front after asking for a "light" tint.
This is why we measure your actual glass before recommending a shade for the front. The rears are a different matter — there you can go as dark as you like.
What it costs to get it wrong
Fines run from $85 to $500 depending on severity. Police measure with a VLT meter at the roadside, so it isn't a judgement call.
Two consequences people don't expect: illegal tint can fail a safety inspection, and a tint conviction is a Highway Traffic Act offence that sits on your three-year driving abstract. Insurers can and do use that at renewal. The ticket is the small part.
You may also be ordered to remove the film, meaning you pay twice — once to install, once to strip.
How to stay legal and still get what you want
The practical approach is to treat front and rear differently. Legal shade on the front, whatever you like on the rears. Visually the car still reads as tinted, because the rears dominate how it looks from outside.
If privacy is the goal, the rears do almost all the work. If heat is the goal, a legal ceramic film on the front rejects more heat than a darker dyed film would — shade and heat rejection aren't the same thing.
Frequently asked
What is the legal tint limit in Ontario?
Front side windows must allow more than 70% of light through, measured as the factory glass and film combined. Rear side windows and the rear windshield have no limit. Windshield tinting below the AS-1 line is illegal on vehicles manufactured on or after 1 January 2017.
What is the fine for illegal tint in Ontario?
Between $85 and $500 depending on severity. Police measure tint with a VLT meter at the roadside. You may also be ordered to remove the film, and the conviction appears on your three-year driving abstract where insurers can see it.
Can I tint my windshield in Ontario?
Not below the AS-1 line, for vehicles manufactured on or after 1 January 2017. A narrow strip at the top is permitted. Older vehicles fall under a 'substantial obstruction' judgement by the officer.
How dark can my rear windows be in Ontario?
There's no legal limit on rear side windows or the rear windshield, as long as both side mirrors are functional. You can go as dark as you want back there.
Is 35% tint legal in Ontario?
Not on the front side windows. A 35% film lets 35% of light through, well below the 70% minimum. On the rear windows it's completely legal.
Will tint affect my car insurance?
Legal tint won't. A ticket for illegal tint is a Highway Traffic Act conviction that stays on your driving abstract for three years, and insurers can factor that in at renewal.
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