Arizona tint rules at a glance
- Front side windows
- 33%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Back side windows
- Any
- Any darkness allowed
- Rear window
- Any
- Any darkness allowed
- Windshield
- Only a strip that is not red or amber above a line 29 inches over the undepressed driver's seat (in practice about the AS-1 line).
- Reflectivity
- Every tinted window is limited to 35% luminous reflectance, plus or minus 3%.
- Film colors not allowed
- red or amber on the windshield strip
- Medical exemption
- Yes, with documentation
- Sticker or certificate
- Not required
- Two outside mirrors
- Required when the rear window is tinted
- Penalty
- Civil traffic violation; the civil penalty is capped at $250 before court surcharges (A.R.S. 28-1591, 28-1598).
VLT is the share of light the glass lets through, film and glass together. Source: A.R.S. § 28-959.01, checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Arizona regulates window tint through A.R.S. § 28-959.01. Below: the minimum visible light transmission (VLT) for each window, the windshield rule, what counts as too reflective, who can get a medical exemption, and how an officer checks a car at the roadside.
Legal tint limits in Arizona
- Front side windows: at least 33% VLT.
- Back side windows: any darkness.
- Rear window: any darkness.
VLT is measured through film and glass together. Factory glass already blocks some light, usually landing between 70% and 80% VLT before any film, so a roll sold as "35%" on a window that started at 75% ends up darker than 35% once installed. Officers meter the finished window, not the box the film came in.
Windshield
Only a strip that is not red or amber above a line 29 inches over the undepressed driver's seat (in practice about the AS-1 line).
Federal standard FMVSS 205 sets the baseline for the glass itself: the windshield and front side windows of a new car must transmit at least 70% of visible light. State law decides what film may be added afterwards, which is why the windshield rule is usually a strip above the AS-1 line rather than a percentage.
Reflective and colored film
Every tinted window is limited to 35% luminous reflectance, plus or minus 3%. Film colors not permitted: red or amber on the windshield strip.
Medical exemptions
Arizona allows darker tint with a medical exemption. ADOT MVD's Medical Review Program issues the exemption on form 40-1511 certified by an MD, DO, NMD or ophthalmologist; it covers vehicles the person owns or regularly rides in.
Stickers, mirrors and enforcement
No sticker or certificate is required for legal tint. If the rear window is tinted, the car must have outside mirrors on both sides. Civil traffic violation; the civil penalty is capped at $250 before court surcharges (A.R.S. 28-1591, 28-1598).
In practice
Arizona writes its front-window limit as 33% light transmission with a 3-point tolerance, so a meter reading of 30% is still legal, and pairs it with a 35% reflectance cap. Windows behind the driver have no darkness floor at all; the only limit there is reflectance, and the rear window simply requires both outside mirrors giving a 200-foot view. There is no separate SUV rule because sedans already get the same latitude behind the driver. Medical exemptions come from ADOT MVD, not from a doctor's letter carried in the car.
Sources
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Common questions about tint in Arizona
Is 33% tint legal on front windows in Arizona?
Yes. 33% is the darkest Arizona allows on front side windows: the glass and film together must let at least 33% of visible light through. Anything darker fails a meter check.
Can I tint my windshield in Arizona?
Only a strip that is not red or amber above a line 29 inches over the undepressed driver's seat (in practice about the AS-1 line). Film below that line is not permitted for ordinary drivers.
Does Arizona allow darker tint for medical reasons?
Yes, with documentation. ADOT MVD's Medical Review Program issues the exemption on form 40-1511 certified by an MD, DO, NMD or ophthalmologist; it covers vehicles the person owns or regularly rides in.
What happens if my tint is too dark in Arizona?
Civil traffic violation; the civil penalty is capped at $250 before court surcharges (A.R.S. 28-1591, 28-1598).
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