Window Tint Laws in Western Australia (2026)

WA’s rules are in regulation 260 of the Road Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014, and the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI) explains them in its Information Bulletin IB-119D on window tinting. The bulletin was rebranded to DTMI in October 2025; its content is marked “Last updated: 01.05.2015”. WA is also the only state whose regulator documents a medical exemption, covered below.

WA tint limits at a glance

The bulletin explains that “35% VLT means 35% of the available light passes through both the window and the tint membrane together”. The lower the number, the darker the window.

On a phone, swipe the table sideways to see every column.

The bulletin’s front rule is blunt: “All windows whether tint has been applied or not forward of the “B” pillar must have a VLT of at least 35%.” The regulation applies the 20% limit to all “rear glazing”, so the back window is included.

The windscreen band

The bulletin says “A windscreen must not have film applied to it.” It allows “a tinted band across the top of the windscreen” as long as “it is above the portion of the windscreen swept by the wipers and it does not intrude into the primary vision area”. It adds: “The band area must not be more than 10% of the windscreen area unless the Vehicle Safety and Standards Section have provided written permission.”

Those band limits are the department’s policy, and they’re stricter than the regulation. Regulation 260 requires the windscreen to let through at least 70% of light, and exempts the greater of the area above the wiper sweep or the upper 10% of the windscreen. Work to the bulletin and you meet both. Nationally, ADR 8/01 requires at least 70% in the primary vision area for passenger cars built from 1 January 1994.

Reflective film

“Tinted film must not be reflective or mirror like as it can dazzle other drivers by reflecting sunlight or headlight beams. The Road Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014 limit the reflectance of window tint film to 10%.”

Mirrors decide the rear limit

“A minimum of 20% VLT tint can now be applied to windows behind the B pillar provided that external rear vision mirrors complying with ADR14 are fitted to the exterior on each side of the vehicle.”

The 20% limit isn’t new. The bulletin says that “Up until October 2004 most vehicles were restricted to using a tint where the overall transmittance was no less than 35%” and that “This policy has been relaxed in WA”. Regulation 260 itself was inserted in March 2019.

Vans, special vehicles and privacy glass

Vans and goods vehicles

“Van type vehicles that are available as a manufacturer’s option with metal panels rearward of the B pillar instead of windows are allowed to reduce the VLT to 0%.”

Regulation 260 is wider than the bulletin here. A vehicle “designed primarily for the carriage of goods”, with a rear-vision mirror on each side and either at least four wheels, or at least three wheels and a gross vehicle mass over 1 tonne, may have its rear glazing coated to 0%.

Ambulances, hearses, coroners’ vehicles and limousines

Ambulances, hearses and coroners’ vehicles “are permitted to have window tinting film of less than 20% VLT behind the “B” pillar”. Stretched limousines are not: they stay at 20% or lighter behind the B-pillar.

Factory privacy glass

WA is the only state with a published exemption for privacy glass. “For vehicles fitted with existing tinted (privacy) glass of VLT less than 20%, Vehicle Safety and Standards may grant an exemption to allow the fitment of film with a VLT of less than 20% behind the “B” pillar”, for the purpose of “matching the tint on the existing glass”. These are “considered on a case-by-case basis”, and the bulletin says “No exemption will be granted for the glass forward of the “B” pillar”.

Medical exemptions

WA is the only jurisdiction whose regulator documents a medical exemption. The bulletin says “Exemptions to this policy may also be granted on medical grounds subject to documentary evidence being provided from a medical specialist.”

• Who decides: Vehicle Safety and Standards, Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure.
• Evidence: documentary evidence from a medical specialist.
• Where to send it: Vehicle Safety and Standards, 34 Gillam Drive, Kelmscott WA 6111. Enquiries: 13 11 56.
• Which windows: the medical paragraph doesn’t say.

Penalties and how tint is checked

The bulletin warns that “you may be subject to receiving a compliance notice or an immediate fine for contravening the Road Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014.” It gives no dollar amount. The regulations set the penalty in penalty units. Regulation 232 says a person must not drive or use a vehicle unless it complies with each provision in that Part, which includes regulation 260 on tint. The penalty is “a fine of 16 PU”, with a modified penalty of 2 PU.

How WA compares

WA follows the national default of 35% at the front and 20% behind the driver with a mirror on each side, the same as NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania. The NT allows 15% behind the driver. In the ACT, Access Canberra’s page says 20%, but the regulation itself still says 35%. Our window tint laws by state guide compares all eight jurisdictions, and our guide on how to tint car windows covers the job itself.

Sources

• Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure, Information Bulletin IB-119D (window tinting)
• Road Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014, regulations 232 and 260
• Australian Design Rule 8/01, Safety Glazing Material

Other states

• Window tint laws in New South Wales
• Window tint laws in Victoria
• Window tint laws in Queensland
• Window tint laws in South Australia
• Window tint laws in Tasmania