New Hampshire tint rules at a glance
- Front side windows
- 70%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Back side windows
- 35%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- Rear window
- 35%
- Minimum VLT, film and glass together
- SUVs, trucks and vans
- Behind the driver: back side windows any darkness, rear window any darkness.
- Windshield
- A strip no wider than 6 inches at the top of the windshield with at least 35% VLT; nothing else without a DMV medical waiver.
- Medical exemption
- Yes, with documentation
- Sticker or certificate
- Not required
- Two outside mirrors
- Required when the rear window is tinted
- Penalty
- Violation-level offense for drivers, installers and sellers (RSA 266:58-a).
VLT is the share of light the glass lets through, film and glass together. Source: N.H. RSA 266:58-a, checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
New Hampshire regulates window tint through N.H. RSA 266:58-a. 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 New Hampshire
- Front side windows: at least 70% VLT.
- Back side windows: at least 35% VLT.
- Rear window: at least 35% VLT.
SUVs, trucks and vans follow a different rule behind the driver: back side windows any darkness and the 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
A strip no wider than 6 inches at the top of the windshield with at least 35% VLT; nothing else without a DMV medical waiver.
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
New Hampshire's statute sets no separate reflectivity limit; the VLT limits above still apply to metallic and mirrored films. No film colors are singled out.
Medical exemptions
New Hampshire allows darker tint with a medical exemption. DMV form DSMV 603 with a physician's certification dated within 6 months; permit DSMV 473 stays in the car, covers up to 2 vehicles, lasts 2 years (4 if lasting), and allows down to 35% VLT.
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. Violation-level offense for drivers, installers and sellers (RSA 266:58-a).
In practice
New Hampshire first allowed front door tint in 2021 and still requires 70% VLT there, with 35% on all windows behind the driver and two outside mirrors when those are tinted. A Sept 2024 change lets DMV medical waivers permit windshield and front-door film down to 35% VLT, and the DMV adopted updated waiver rules (Saf-C 2503) effective Sept 20, 2025. Multipurpose vehicles and pickups may carry factory-equivalent tint on rear windows, where the federal glazing standard sets no minimum.
Sources
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Laws change; confirm with the statute before tinting.
Common questions about tint in New Hampshire
Is 70% tint legal on front windows in New Hampshire?
Yes. 70% is the darkest New Hampshire allows on front side windows: the glass and film together must let at least 70% of visible light through. Anything darker fails a meter check.
Can I tint my windshield in New Hampshire?
A strip no wider than 6 inches at the top of the windshield with at least 35% VLT; nothing else without a DMV medical waiver. Film below that line is not permitted for ordinary drivers.
Does New Hampshire allow darker tint for medical reasons?
Yes, with documentation. DMV form DSMV 603 with a physician's certification dated within 6 months; permit DSMV 473 stays in the car, covers up to 2 vehicles, lasts 2 years (4 if lasting), and allows down to 35% VLT.
What happens if my tint is too dark in New Hampshire?
Violation-level offense for drivers, installers and sellers (RSA 266:58-a).
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