Indiana Windshield Mounting Laws (2026 Guide)

Indiana allows windshield-mounted GPS units, dashcams, and phone holders as long as they do not obstruct the driver's clear view under Indiana Code 9-19-19-3. Items no larger than four inches square in the lower passenger-side corner are explicitly permitted. Dashboard mounts fall outside the statute entirely.

Indiana drivers who want to mount a GPS, dashcam, phone holder, or toll transponder on their windshield need to understand the boundaries set by Indiana Code 9-19-19-3. This statute controls what materials can be placed on vehicle windows and under what conditions.

Unlike states that carve out specific mounting zones for electronic devices, Indiana uses a general obstruction standard combined with a narrow size-and-placement exception. The result is a straightforward rule, but one that has produced notable court decisions interpreting exactly what the law covers.

What Indiana Code 9-19-19-3 Says

Indiana Code 9-19-19-3, titled "Decals, Signs, Posters, Sunscreens, or Other Nontransparent Material," contains two subsections.

Subsection (a) establishes a military exemption. The section does not apply to the display of a decal required by the United States Department of Defense on military vehicles, motor vehicles owned by persons serving in the armed forces, motor vehicles owned by persons employed by the armed forces, or motor vehicles authorized to display the decal by military police.

Subsection (b) is the core rule. It states: "A person may not drive a motor vehicle with a sign, poster, sunscreening material, or other nontransparent material upon the front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows of the vehicle that obstructs the driver's clear view of the highway or an intersecting highway."

Subsection (b) then adds an exception: "Signs, posters, or other nontransparent material not larger than four (4) inches square may be placed upon the front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows in the lower corner farthest removed from the driver's position."

The statute was originally enacted through P.L.2-1991 and falls under Title 9, Article 19, Chapter 19 of the Indiana Code, which covers Windows and Windshield Wipers.

The 4-Inch Square Exception Explained

The exception in IC 9-19-19-3(b) is one of the most specific windshield placement rules in any state statute. It permits nontransparent material on the windshield or windows under three conditions, all of which must be met simultaneously:

1. Size limit. The item must not exceed four inches by four inches (4 inches square).

2. Location. The item must be placed in the lower corner of the windshield or window.

3. Position. The corner must be the one farthest removed from the driver's position. In a standard left-hand-drive vehicle, this means the lower right corner of the windshield (passenger side).

This exception applies to items like registration stickers, parking permits, toll transponders, and small inspection decals. It does not create a blanket authorization for larger devices.

A standard E-ZPass transponder, which measures approximately 3 inches by 3 inches, fits within the 4-inch square limit. The Indiana Toll Road instructs drivers to mount transponders on the windshield behind the rearview mirror, which is a separate location from the lower corner exception. However, transponders mounted in this position are generally not challenged because they do not obstruct the driver's view.

The Meaning of "Upon" in the Statute

The word "upon" in IC 9-19-19-3 carries specific legal weight in Indiana. The statute does not prohibit an "obstructed view" in general terms. It prohibits nontransparent material placed "upon" the windshield or windows that obstructs the driver's view.

This distinction became the central issue in a 2018 Indiana Court of Appeals decision.

Anthony v. State (2018)

In John W. Anthony v. State of Indiana, Case No. 49A02-1712-CR-2859, the Indiana Court of Appeals reversed a finding that a driver had violated IC 9-19-19-3. The case was a traffic infraction proceeding, not a criminal prosecution. As the court restated, traffic infractions in Indiana are civil rather than criminal in nature, so what was at stake was a fine, not a criminal record.

The facts were straightforward. On July 25, 2017, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Officer Kenneth Greer observed Anthony driving a car filled with plastic bags of trash, canned foods, and clothes piled from the floor to the ceiling. The items covered the dashboard and blocked the view through the side and rear windows. Officer Greer could only see into the vehicle through the driver's window. He issued a citation for violating IC 9-19-19-3.

The trial court found Anthony had committed the violation and assessed a fine. Anthony paid the fine and appealed. The Court of Appeals, in a decision authored by Judge Melissa May, agreed with Anthony and reversed.

The court's reasoning focused on the statutory language. IC 9-19-19-3 prohibits material "upon the front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows." The items in Anthony's vehicle were not affixed to the windows and were not dependent on the windows for support. They were resting on the floors, seats, and dashboard.

The court noted that a different statute, IC 9-21-8-43, addresses the situation where a vehicle is "loaded in a manner so as to obstruct the view of the person who drives the vehicle to the front or sides." That statute would have applied to Anthony's situation, but the State charged him under the wrong section.

What This Means for Windshield Mounts

The Anthony decision clarifies an important point for drivers who use windshield-mounted devices. IC 9-19-19-3 applies specifically to items placed "upon" the glass. A GPS, dashcam, or phone attached to the windshield with a suction cup or adhesive mount is placed "upon" the windshield and falls within the scope of this statute.

Items sitting on the dashboard, clipped to a vent, or otherwise not in contact with the windshield glass are not governed by IC 9-19-19-3. A dashboard-mounted GPS or phone holder avoids the windshield obstruction statute entirely.

GPS and Phone Mount Rules in Indiana

Indiana does not have a separate statute specifically addressing GPS or phone mounts on the windshield. These devices are regulated by the general obstruction standard in IC 9-19-19-3 and the state's hands-free driving law.

Where to Mount a GPS or Phone

Because the 4-inch square exception only covers the lower corner farthest from the driver, most consumer GPS units and phone holders will not fit within the exception. A typical phone mount with a smartphone attached measures well over 4 inches in any direction.

However, a device that exceeds 4 inches is not automatically illegal. The primary prohibition in IC 9-19-19-3(b) applies to material "that obstructs the driver's clear view." If a device does not obstruct the view, it does not violate the statute, regardless of its size.

This creates a practical framework for choosing a mounting location:

Indiana's Hands-Free Law (IC 9-21-8-59)

Indiana Code 9-21-8-59, titled "Use of Telecommunications Device While Operating a Moving Motor Vehicle," went into effect on July 1, 2020. The law fundamentally changed how drivers may interact with phones and other devices while driving.

The statute prohibits a person from holding or using a telecommunications device while operating a moving motor vehicle, unless the device is used in conjunction with hands-free or voice-operated technology.

A windshield-mounted or dashboard-mounted phone used as a GPS navigator is legal, provided:

• The driver does not hold the phone in their hand
• The driver uses voice commands or one-touch activation to operate the device
• The driver does not manually type addresses or text while the vehicle is moving
• The driver sets the destination before starting to drive or while the vehicle is parked

The law includes an exception for calling 911 to report a bona fide emergency. In that situation, a driver may hold and use the phone.

Hands-Free Law Penalties

A violation of IC 9-21-8-59 is classified as a Class C infraction. Fines may reach up to $500.

Starting July 1, 2021, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles began assigning four points to a driver's license for each hands-free law violation. Accumulating too many points within a two-year period can lead to license suspension.

A law enforcement officer may not confiscate, search, or download information from a driver's phone solely to investigate a hands-free law violation without probable cause to believe the device was used in the commission of a crime.

Dashcam Laws in Indiana

Dashcams are legal in Indiana. The state does not prohibit video recording from a vehicle-mounted camera. However, dashcam placement is subject to the same windshield obstruction rules under IC 9-19-19-3.

Recommended Mounting Positions

The best position for a dashcam in Indiana is directly behind the rearview mirror. Most compact dashcams fit in this location, and the area is already partially blocked by the mirror itself.

If the dashcam is small enough to fit within the 4-inch square limit, the lower passenger-side corner of the windshield is also a compliant location under the statutory exception.

Avoid mounting a dashcam in the center of the windshield, near the driver's direct line of sight, or in any position where it blocks your view of the road, intersections, or traffic signals.

Audio Recording Considerations

Indiana is a one-party consent state for audio recording. Under Indiana Code 35-33.5-5-5, it is lawful to intercept a communication when one of the parties to the communication has given prior consent.

If your dashcam records audio, it is legal in Indiana as long as you are present in the vehicle and consent to the recording. You do not need to inform passengers that audio is being recorded, though doing so is a common courtesy.

Window Tinting Rules

Indiana Code 9-19-19-4, titled "Tinting, Glazing, or Sunscreening Vehicle Windows," establishes separate standards for window tinting. While tinting addresses a different issue than device mounting, it interacts with overall windshield visibility requirements.

Windshield Tinting

Non-reflective tint is allowed only above the manufacturer's AS-1 line on the front windshield. No tinting is permitted below that line.

Side and Rear Window Standards

IC 9-19-19-4(c) regulates only the windshield, side wings, the side window that is part of a front door, and the rear back window. It does not list rear-door (rear side) windows at all, and it does not create any exception based on vehicle type such as SUV or van.

Medical Exemption

Indiana law provides a medical exemption from the tinting restrictions. The exemption applies to vehicles owned by individuals who are required for medical reasons to be shielded from the direct rays of the sun, or vehicles in which such an individual is a habitual passenger.

To qualify, the medical necessity must be attested to by a physician or optometrist licensed to practice in Indiana. The physician's or optometrist's certification must be carried in the vehicle at all times.

Tinting Penalties

A violation of the tinting statute under IC 9-19-19-4 is generally a Class C infraction. The one exception is IC 9-19-19-8, which states that a person who violates section 4(e) commits a Class A infraction. Section 4(e) is aimed at whoever performs the work rather than at the driver: it prohibits tinting, covering, or treating the windows described in IC 9-19-19-4(c) or (d) with sunscreening so that operating the vehicle afterward violates those subsections. It is not a violation if the work is done for a person who supplies the physician's or optometrist's statement described in IC 9-19-19-4(b). A Class A infraction carries a judgment of up to $10,000 under Indiana Code 34-28-5-4.

Penalties for Windshield Mounting Violations

Obstruction Under IC 9-19-19-3

A violation of Indiana Code 9-19-19-3 is classified as a Class C infraction under IC 9-19-19-7. The maximum fine for a Class C infraction under Indiana Code 34-28-5-4 is $500.

In practice, fines for first-time moving violations are often lower. If a driver admits the violation or enters a plea of nolo contendere before the court date, the judgment may not exceed $35.50 plus court costs. If the violation is contested and the driver is found to have committed it, fines scale based on prior moving violations within the past five years:

Court costs and fees are added on top of the base fine amount.

Obstructed View Under IC 9-21-8-43

If a driver's view is obstructed by items not placed "upon" the windshield (such as items piled on the dashboard or seats), IC 9-21-8-43 may apply instead. This statute prohibits driving a vehicle "loaded in a manner so as to obstruct the view of the person who drives the vehicle to the front or sides."

As the Anthony v. State decision showed, prosecutors must charge the correct statute based on the specific facts. IC 9-19-19-3 covers material placed "upon" windows. IC 9-21-8-43 covers obstructed views caused by how a vehicle is loaded.

Windshield Condition Requirements

Windshield Required

Indiana Code 9-19-19-2 requires every motor vehicle (except motorcycles and motor-driven cycles) registered with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to be equipped with a front windshield.

Windshield Wipers

Indiana Code 9-19-19-6 requires every motor vehicle windshield to be equipped with windshield wipers that the driver can control. Every windshield wiper must be maintained in good working order.

Driving with broken or missing windshield wipers is a separate Class C infraction under the same chapter.

Safety Glazing

Indiana Code 9-19-19-5 requires safety glazing materials in all passenger-type motor vehicles and in the driver's compartment of trucks and truck-tractors. A new motor vehicle cannot be sold or registered unless it is equipped with approved safety glazing material wherever glazing is used in doors, windows, and windshields.

Commercial Vehicle Considerations

Commercial motor vehicles operating on Indiana highways must comply with both state law and federal regulations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) amended 49 CFR 393.60(e) effective May 6, 2022, expanding the authorized mounting area for vehicle safety technology on commercial motor vehicle windshields.

Under the federal rule, devices may be mounted within an area up to 8.5 inches below the upper edge of the area swept by the windshield wipers. Covered devices include:

• Driver camera systems
• Braking warning and assist systems
• Lane departure warning systems
• GPS and navigation systems
• Traffic sign recognition systems

For commercial vehicles, Indiana's general obstruction standard under IC 9-19-19-3 applies alongside the federal mounting rules. Where both standards govern, the more restrictive rule controls.

Tips for Staying Compliant in Indiana

Because Indiana combines a general obstruction standard with the specific 4-inch square exception, following these guidelines will help you avoid a citation:

1. Use a dashboard mount when possible. A device mounted on the dashboard rather than the windshield falls outside IC 9-19-19-3 entirely, as confirmed by the reasoning in Anthony v. State.

2. If using a windshield mount, place the device behind the rearview mirror. This location causes the least obstruction to the driver's forward view.

3. Keep small stickers and decals in the lower passenger-side corner. This is the only location where the 4-inch square exception applies in a standard left-hand-drive vehicle.

4. Set your GPS destination before you start driving. Indiana's hands-free law prohibits manually entering information into a device while the vehicle is in motion.

5. Secure the mount firmly. A device that falls off the windshield while driving creates a sudden distraction and a potential safety hazard.

6. Clear your windshield of all snow, ice, and debris before driving. A clear windshield reduces the chance of any obstruction issue and supports compliance with the general equipment requirements.

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