Canada window tint laws are different in each province. Below we’re providing you with a quick overview of tinting laws, but also more detailed information for each Canadian province.
Canada Window Tint Laws:
Canada tint laws are different for most provinces. Tinting windshield and front side windows is not allowed in most provinces.
Back side windows and rear windshield can have any tint darkness in most of the country.
Important note: many websites (including IWFA – International Window Film Association) provide inaccurate or outdated window tinting information!
Our data is continuously updated and we include direct links to pertinent and current laws where you can verify all regulations by yourself.
We constantly verify data with our Canadian traffic law experts to provide the most accurate and up to date information you can trust.
| Province | Windshield | Front side | Back side | Rear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | None | None | Any | Any |
| British Columbia | 7.5 cm | None | Any | Any |
| Manitoba | 12.7 cm | 50% | Any | Any |
| New Brunswick | 70% | 70% | Any | Any |
| Newfoundland | None | None | Any | Any |
| NW Territories | None | None | Any | Any |
| Nova Scotia | None | None | Any | Any |
| Nunavut | None | None | Any | Any |
| Ontario | None | None | Any | Any |
| Prince Edward | None | None | Any | Any |
| Quebec | 15 cm | 70% | Any | Any |
| Saskatchewan | 7.5 cm | None | Any | Any |
| Yukon | 70% | 70% | Any | 70% |
- # cm – only specified top centimeters on windshield may be tinted.
- % – refers to VLT – Visible Light Transmission (lower VLT percentage equals darker tint, for example 30% VLT blocks 70% of light; see example or our tint calculator).
Table above only provides a quick overview of window tint laws in Canada. There are more rules and regulations for each province and territory in CA.
We highly recommend reading more details below and clicking on each province name for additional details on regulations including links and references to official government websites where you can verify the information we provided.
Alberta Tint Laws
- Windshield: No tint allowed.
- Front side windows: No tint allowed.
- Back side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any darkness can be used only if vehicle has both left and right side rearview mirrors.
Alberta vehicle equipment laws prohibit installing window tint on the windshield and front side windows. Any level of darkness can be used on back side and rear windows.
More Alberta tint laws and regulations »
British Columbia Tint Laws
- Windshield: Top 75mm (3 inches) may be tinted.
- Front side windows: No tint allowed.
- Back side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any darkness can be used only if vehicle has both left and right side rear view mirrors.
In British Columbia you are allowed to tint only the top portion of the windshield up to 7.5 centimeters.
Front side windows may not be tinted, but any level of darkness can be used on windows behind the driver.
Rear window can be tinted with any level of darkness.
More British Columbia tint laws and regulations »
Manitoba Tint Laws
- Windshield: Top 127mm (5 inches) may be tinted with no less than 25% VLT.
- Front side windows: Must have over 50% VLT (blocks less than 50% of total light).
- Back side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any darkness can be used.
Windshield tint in Manitoba is permitted only on the top portion of the windshield up to 12.7 centimeters, exactly 5 inches.
Front side windows may be tinted but must pass through 50% or more light. Back side windows and rear windshield may have any darkness as long as vehicle has exterior rear view mirrors on left and right side.
More Manitoba tint laws and regulations »
New Brunswick Tint Laws
- Windshield: 70% VLT tint is permitted (blocks no more than 30% of total light).
- Front side windows: 70% VLT tint is permitted.
- Back side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any darkness can be used.
In New Brunswick you are allowed to tint your entire windshield but your window film must block less than 30% of light. Front side windows may also be tinted with same light transmission level.
You can use any level of darkness on your back side windows and rear window. In New Brunswick the law does not specifically require external rear view mirrors (“side wings”), whereas in most of Canada’s provinces these are required.
More New Brunswick tint laws and regulations »
Newfoundland and Labrador Tint Laws
- Windshield: No tint permitted.
- Front side windows: No tint permitted.
- Back side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any darkness can be used only.
Newfoundland vehicle equipment laws prohibit installing window tint on the windshield and front side windows that does not conform with Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
This Act may technically allow up to 70% VLT (block no more than 30% of light), but we do not recommend tinting front side windows or windshields.
Back side and rear windows do not have any tinting restrictions.
Furthermore Newfoundland and Labrador laws allow clear non-tinted frost shields or window stickers which do not impair the driver’s vision.
More Newfoundland and Labrador tint laws and regulations »
Northwest Territories Tint Laws
- Windshield: No window tint allowed.
- Front side windows: No window tint allowed.
- Back side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any darkness can be used.
Northwest Territories Motor Vehicle Act prohibits using any sunscreen material on windshield and passenger front side windows.
Laws in NWT province do not specifically restrict tinting back side windows nor the rear window, therefore based on other regulations our interpretation is that any car tint darkness is permitted.
More Northwest Territories tint laws and regulations »
Nova Scotia Tint Laws
- Windshield: No window tint permitted.
- Front side windows: No window tint permitted.
- Back side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any darkness can be used.
In Nova Scotia you may not use any tint on windshield and front side passenger windows.
NS law does not restrict tinting back side windows nor the rear window, therefore our interpretation is that all tint darkness levels are permitted.
More Nova Scotia tint laws and regulations »
Nunavut Tint Laws
- Windshield: No window tint allowed.
- Front side windows: No window tint allowed.
- Back side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any darkness can be used.
Nunavut Motor Vehicle Equipment Regulations prohibit the use of any sunscreen material on windshield and passenger front side windows.
Nunavut law does not restrict tinting back side windows nor the rear window, therefore our interpretation is that any car tint darkness is permitted.
More Nunavut tint laws and regulations »
Ontario Tint Laws
- Windshield: No tint recommended. 30% VLT strip on top 7.5 centimeters may be allowed.
- Front side windows: No tint recommended. 30% VLT may be permitted.
- Back side windows: Any tint darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any tint darkness can be used.
Ontario laws do not expressly specify whether front window tinting is legal or not. According to Ontario Highway Safety Act (linked below), you may not drive a vehicle if:
[…] any window to the direct left or right of the driver’s seat […] substantially obscures the interior of the motor vehicle when viewed from outside the motor vehicle
We strongly suggest not installing window tint on windshield or front side windows, as any percentage could technically result in a fine.
It is up to each individual police officer to determine whether your tint “substantially” obscures vision inside your vehicle.
Front side windows may have 70% VLT (visible light transmission) only if originally manufactured as such. Vehicle inspection regulations also permit 70% VLT, meaning your vehicle will pass inspection if front side windows allow over 70% light transmittance.
However, Ontario law does not expressly allow aftermarket tinting on front side windows nor does it specify exact VLT percentage.
It only says windows must not substantially reduce vision inside the vehicle. Thus, tinting front side windows should be done only at your own risk.
Ontario law does not restrict tinting and darkness on your back side windows and rear window.
More Ontario tint laws and regulations »
Prince Edward Tint Laws
- Windshield: No tint allowed.
- Front side windows: No tint allowed.
- Back side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any darkness can be used when car has left and right side rear view mirrors.
On Prince Edward Island you are not permitted to install any aftermarket window tint on the windshield nor on front side windows.
Prince Edward Island laws only allow clear non-tinted frost shields or window stickers which do not impair the driver’s vision.
There are no tinting restrictions and any level of darkness can be used on back side windows.
You can use any tint percentage on your rear window as well, however in that case your car must have left and right exterior rear view mirrors.
More Prince Edward Island tint laws and regulations »
Quebec Tint Laws
- Windshield: Top 15cm (6 inches) may be tinted.
- Front side windows: Must have over 70% VLT (blocks less than 30% of light in).
- Back side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any darkness can be used only if vehicle has both left and right side rear view mirrors.
In Quebec you are allowed to tint only the top portion of the windshield up to 15 centimeters. Front side windows may be tinted but must pass through 70% or more light.
There are no tinting restrictions and any level of darkness can be used on back side windows.
You can use any tint percentage on your rear window as well, however in that case in Quebec and most other provinces in Canada your vehicle must have exterior rear view mirrors.
More Quebec Tint laws and regulations »
Saskatchewan Tint Laws
- Windshield: Top 7.5cm (3 inches) may be tinted.
- Front side windows: No tint allowed.
- Back side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: Any darkness can be used.
In Saskatchewan you are allowed to tint only the top portion of the windshield up to 7.5 centimeters.
You are not permitted to install any aftermarket window tint on front side windows.
There are no window tinting restrictions and any level of darkness can be used on back side windows and rear window.
More Saskatchewan tint laws and regulations »
Yukon Tint Laws
- Windshield: 70% VLT allowed.
- Front side windows: 70% VLT allowed.
- Back side windows: Any darkness can be used.
- Rear window: 70% VLT allowed.
According to the RCMP front and back windshields and front side windows can have 70% VLT. Back side windows can likely have any darkness.
More Yukon tint laws and regulations »
Penalties
Penalties for illegal window tint vary for each province, but you can typically expect a $100 fine if caught by the police.
You may also be required to remove your tint incurring additional costs, and not complying can incur additional costs often around $600 range.
In some cases your vehicle may even get taken off the road and require an additional inspection before you can legally drive it again.
In Quebec for example if a police officer pulls you over and issues a notice for inspection you will be required to visit a road vehicle inspection agent.
Failure to inspect your vehicle makes you liable for a $438 to $865 fine.
In case the inspection agent determines your car windows are tinted beyond legal limits you will be required to remove illegal tint within 48 hours.
Failure to do so will make your vehicle unauthorized for driving and you will be liable for a $154 to $274 fine each time you fail to comply.
In addition you will be required to store the vehicle at your own expense until a photometric reading certifies that your windows are up to standards.
Factory-made tinted windows
Many newer factory-made vehicles already come with tinted windows, and Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act permits those vehicles to have as much as 70% VLT (maximum of 30% light transmission block).
This does not mean aftermarket window tint is legal; it only means this level of tint is permitted if the vehicle was manufactured as such.
Canada’s Motor Vehicle Safety Act applies to all provinces, so if your vehicle manufacturer installed darkened windows they are legal in the entire country regardless of local province laws.
Legal window tint in most of Canada?
Residents who often travel between provinces or even car owners looking to sell their vehicles some day may consider installing car tint which is legal in majority of Canada’s provinces.
Technically there is no aftermarket tint darkness percentage which is legal in the entire country, but if you wish to minimize the risk of traffic fines you can consider:
- Windshield: Don’t apply any tint whatsoever.
- Side windows: Don’t apply any tint.
- Back side windows: Any VLT %.
- Rear window: Any VLT %.
You could apply any tint percentage on back side and rear window.
We did not include Yukon regulations as they are very vague and any percentage could potentially be unlawful.
Conclusion
In Canada car window tint is regulated by Motor Vehicle Safety Act as well as laws for specific provinces.
Windshield and front passenger windows are illegal to tint in almost all provinces, and we strongly advise against it.
Furthermore tint darkness when measured includes both factory and aftermarket tint, so ensure you don’t go overboard with darkness if your vehicle’s windows are manufactured with tinted glass.
Penalties can be harsh and police officers in Canada are not forgiving about illegal window tint.
Even in provinces where light transmission percentage isn’t clearly defined officers can still issue notices and fines if they determine they don’t have a clear vision of the driver.
Canada regulations don’t take into account residency. Even if your car window tint is legal in your province you can still get a citation in other Canadian provinces.
While in other provinces you are subject to their laws, meaning you should always ensure your window tint levels are legally permitted in most of the country.
Take another closer look at our Province laws comparison table for quick info about each province, and see Legal tint % in Canada section of this article to find out what level of tint darkness is permitted in most of the country.