Arizona Window Tint — Law & VLT%

This article is the definitive online guide to Arizona’s tint law. This article will show you the numbers you need to look for when shopping for tint as well as a verse by verse coverage of the law.

Attention: we always advise you to turn to your local authorities last, in order to ensure that the information you have reflects the laws enforced in your specific area!

Tint For Windows Car in Arizona

Arizona window tint law — key facts

Year law enacted: 1994 (revised 2014)
Tint length on front windshield: AS-1 line
Front side window VLT: 33%
Back side window VLT: any
Back windshield VLT: any
Front side window reflectivity: 35%
Back side window reflectivity: 35%
Restricted colors: red, amber
Medical exemption: yes
Tolerance: 3%

What the Law Says

Arizona window tinting law can be found in Arizona code § 28-959.01 which reads in relevant part:

Materials on windows or windshield; exceptions; requirements; violation; definitions

A. This section does not apply to:

Front side wing vents and windows that have a substance or material in conjunction with glazing material that has a light transmission of thirty-three per cent plus or minus three per cent and a luminous reflectance of thirty-five per cent plus or minus three per cent….

Side windows that are to the rear of the driver and rear windows that have a substance or material in conjunction with glazing material that has a luminous reflectance of thirty-five per cent plus or minus three per cent or less….

The rear window or windows if the motor vehicle is equipped with outside mirrors that are on both left-hand and right-hand sides of the vehicle and that are located in a manner to reflect to the driver a view of the highway through each mirror for a distance of at least two hundred feet to the rear of the motor vehicle.

Transparent material that is installed, affixed or applied to the topmost portion of the windshield if:

The bottom edge of the material is at least twenty-nine inches above the undepressed driver’s seat when measured from a point five inches in front of the bottom of the backrest with the driver’s seat in its rearmost and lowermost position with the vehicle on a level surface.

The material is not red or amber in color….

C. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person shall not place, install, affix or apply a transparent material on the windshield or side or rear windows of a motor vehicle if the material alters the color or reduces the light transmittance of the windshield or side or rear windows.

What This Means

Tinting on front side windows must allow at least 33%, plus or minus 3%, of the light to pass through and may not reflect more than 35%, plus or minus 3%, of the light.

Rear side windows may have tinting as long as it does not reflect more than 35%, plus or minus 3%, of the light. Tinting on the rear windshield may allow any amount of light to pass through and reflect any amount of light as long the vehicle has two outside rear view mirrors (commonly called side view mirrors). Tinting applied to any window must not alter the color of the window.

percentage of window tint

Transparent tinting that is not red or amber in color may be applied only to the top portion of the front windshield no lower than 29 inches above the undepressed drivers seat. To measure the 29 inches:

Park the vehicle on a level surface.
Put the driver’s seat as far back and down as it will go.
Find the point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest.
Measure up 29 inches from that point.

Exceptions to Arizona Window Tinting Law

Like many other states, Arizona offers an exception to the window tinting law for those with certain medical conditions that require that they be shielded from the direct rays of the sun. In order to obtain an exemption, one must provide the Medical Review Board with the registration for all vehicles for which they are requesting extra tinting and a letter from a license physician stating the need for tinting that does not comply with the law.