Missouri vs Kansas tint law
Missouri vs Kansas Window Tint Laws
We're a family-owned tint shop in Independence, and we hear it every week: how dark can I legally go? Here's the straight answer for both sides of the Kansas City metro line — in plain English, not legalese.
- Family-owned since 1975
- Lifetime warranty
- Five-star local reputation
- Independence, MO
Last verified: June 2026. No statutory changes confirmed for 2026. This guide is practical shop guidance, not legal advice.
Quick Answer
Kansas is stricter on rear glass. Missouri allows any darkness on rear side windows and the rear window, but Kansas keeps those windows at the same 35% floor as the front.
| Rule | Missouri | Kansas |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Non-reflective tint only above the manufacturer's AS-1 line. | Nonreflective tint only above the AS-1 line; red, yellow, and amber are not allowed on the windshield strip. |
| Front side | Must allow 35% or more VLT, with a 3% meter tolerance. | Nonreflective, with total light transmission not less than 35% VLT. |
| Rear side | Any darkness. | Nonreflective, with total light transmission not less than 35% VLT. |
| Rear window | Any darkness. | Nonreflective, with total light transmission not less than 35% VLT. |
| Reflectivity | No more than 35% reflective on any window. | All sun-screening material must be nonreflective, meaning designed to absorb light rather than reflect it. |
| Dual mirrors | Required if the rear window is tinted. | Not addressed in KSA 8-1749a. |
| Medical exemption | Yes. Missouri can issue an SHP-524 permit for darker front side tint with a qualifying physician prescription. | No darker-tint permit. Kansas only allows clear, colorless UV-blocking film with at least 78% light transmittance and a signed physician or optometrist statement. |
| Penalty | Class C misdemeanor; $75 fine plus a $30 administrative fee for Missouri-registered vehicles. | Misdemeanor. The statute does not specify a class, and fines vary by jurisdiction. |
Now You Know the Rule — Let's Get You Legal Tint
Trimline installs tint that's legal the day you drive off, backed by a lifetime warranty. Tell us how you drive the metro and we'll match you to the right film.
Missouri Window Tint Law
Missouri law is straightforward for most vehicles: front side windows are regulated, while the rear glass is not restricted by darkness. The primary statute is RSMo section 307.173, with the medical-permit process in 11 CSR 30-7.010.
Front windows
Front side windows must allow 35% or more VLT, with a 3% meter tolerance. Windshield tint must be non-reflective and above the manufacturer's AS-1 line. Confirm edge cases with the Missouri State Highway Patrol before relying on an interpretation.
Rear glass
Rear side windows and the rear window may be any darkness in Missouri. If the rear window is tinted, the vehicle must have dual side mirrors.
Reflectivity and sticker
Tint cannot be more than 35% reflective on any window. Missouri does not require a tint sticker.
Penalty
A violation is a Class C misdemeanor. For Missouri-registered vehicles, the fine is $75 plus a $30 administrative fee, and it is often handled as a fix-it ticket. Repeat offenses cost more.
Kansas Window Tint Law
Kansas statute KSA 8-1749a applies the 35% light-transmission floor to front side windows, side windows behind the driver, and the rearmost window. KSA 8-1749b defines nonreflective material as material designed to absorb light rather than reflect it.
Windshield
Windshield sun-screening must be nonreflective, cannot be red, yellow, or amber, and may only run above the AS-1 line. Kansas law does not give a specific inch count.
Front and rear windows
Front side windows, side windows behind the driver, and the rearmost window must be nonreflective and not less than 35% VLT. There is no SUV, van, or truck carve-out in KSA 8-1749a.
Medical accommodation
Kansas has no permit for darker low-VLT tint. Subsection (c) only covers clear, colorless UV-blocking film with at least 78% light transmittance, FMVSS 205 compliance, and a signed physician or optometrist statement carried in the vehicle.
Penalty and edge cases
A violation is a misdemeanor, but KSA 8-1749a does not specify a class or a single fine amount. Confirm edge cases with the Kansas Highway Patrol or local court before relying on an interpretation.
Crossing the State Line in the KC Metro
Missouri restricts only the front side windows and offers a darker-tint medical permit through SHP-524. Kansas holds the rear glass to the same 35% minimum as the front and offers no darker-tint exemption. A car that is legal in Missouri with dark rear windows can be illegal in Kansas.
Practical takeaway: if you regularly drive both sides of the state line, keep every window at 35% VLT or lighter so you stay legal in both states.
Missouri Medical Exemption Walk-Through
SHP-524 is the Missouri window-tinting permit form. SHP-510 is the Missouri Highway Patrol public brochure about what is legal; it is not the permit.
- 1Get a physician prescription issued within one year for a serious medical condition that requires front side tint below 35% VLT.
- 2Present the prescription and the vehicle to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Motor Vehicle Inspection Division.
- 3The inspecting officer verifies the prescription and completes the SHP-524 permit form for the vehicle.
- 4A sticker is placed on the lower-left inside windshield, and a decal is placed on the lower-left rear glass or rear bumper.
- 5Keep the permit copy in the vehicle. Immediate family members in the household may drive the permitted vehicle.
Legal Tint, Done Right Since 1975
Trimline tints to legal limits and can walk you through compliant film options for Missouri-only driving or regular KC metro state-line crossing. We can explain the rules and installation choices, but we do not provide legal advice or file exemption paperwork on a customer's behalf.
- Family-owned since 1975
- Lifetime warranty
- Five-star local reputation
- Independence, MO
Window Tint Law FAQ
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