Window Tint Laws New York

Darkest legal tint for Cars in New York

 

  • Windshield: Must allow more than 70% of light in (non-reflective tint with any darkness can be used on top 6 inches).
  • Front Side windows: Must allow more than 70% of light in.
  • Back Side windows: Must allow more than 70% of light in.
  • Rear window: Any darkness window tint can be used

 

Darkest legal tint for SUV and Vans in New York

 

  • Windshield: Must allow more than 70% of light in (non-reflective tint with any darkness can be used on top 6 inches).
  • Front Side windows: Must allow more than 70% of light in.
  • Back Side windows: Any darkness window tint can be used
  • Rear window: Any darkness window tint can be used

 

Please note: The accuracy, completeness, adequacy or currency of the content is not warranted or guaranteed. We are not lawyers or a law firm and we do not provide legal advice. We recommend you consult a lawyer or other appropriate professional if you want legal advice.

 
Window Tint Shades Chart – Window Tint Percentage Examples
 

New York first enacted window tint laws for cars in 1991 but the state’s tint laws were thoroughly amended in the year 2017, thus the tinting rules in New York are well suited to most modern window tint products, but of course tint laws can change year to year. To make sure your car stays in line with New York window tint law it’s a must that you know the exact VLT% (or visible light transmission percent, which refers to how light or dark, or how see-through or how opaque, the glass is) and to be apprised of the current rules for VLT% for each window of each vehicle type.
 
Car window film is a savvy purchase for motorists thinking of the performance and style of a vehicle on a daily basis and about the overall value of the automobile. In New York car tint adds privacy and enhances styling the same day it is installed and it reduces interior cabin heat even on the longest, hottest New York summer days, keeping the car cooler and more comfortable, and making it more cost effective thanks to less drain on the battery and fuel tank. In the long run, window tinting blocks 99% of the UV solar energy that leads to interior fading, discoloring, and cracked upholstery and dash surfaces (and that leads to skin damage as well) so a car will better maintain its looks and its value.
 
Auto window tint is a smart investment, but as illegal window tint in New York come with lead to steep financial penalties fines, you need to be certain a car with window tint meets current NY window film laws.
 

Legal Windshield Window Film in New York

 
New York window tint law is unique in that windshields of all vehicle types, meaning cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans may be coated with some tinting. The entirety if the windshield glass may be coated in a non-reflective tint provided it allows in 70% or more of the sun’s visible light, while above the AS-1 line, a strip of glass at the top six inches of the windshield, non-reflective tint of any darkness may be used.
 
In most states, windshield tint is only allowed above the AS-1 line, so drivers in New York enjoy an unusual benefit of some added glare reduction, privacy, and style thanks to the legal windshield tint.
 

Car Window Tint Laws in New York

 
In New York, cars (specifically sedans, coupes, and hatchbacks) are held to different window tint rules than larger autos, such trucks, SUVs, and vans which are frequently called MPVs, or multi-purpose vehicles, so we will break down the laws by car and by MPV separately.
 
Cars in New York may have a window tint on the front side and rear side windows that allows at least 70% or more of the sun’s visible light into the cabin. This adds some privacy, greatly reduces glare, helps curtail infrared heat, and can block more than 99% of the sun’s harmful and damaging UV light. 70% VLT window tint is only modestly dark, but it does change the appearance of the car some, adding style and depth to the looks.
 
In New York, car rear windows, also called rear windshields, may be tinted down to any darkness, including blackout privacy tint.
 

Auto Window Tint Rules in New York for MPVs

 
The front side windows of larger vehicles (MPVs) in New York are held to the same rules as cars and must have a tint no darker than 70% VLT. The rear side windows of vans, trucks, and SUVs however can have any darkness of window tint, including full blackout privacy tint not allowing any view into the vehicle.
 
Rear windows (AKA rear or back windshields) of larger vehicles may also be tinted to any darkness under New York rules.
 

Other Car Tint Rules in New York

 
At present, New York tinting laws permit all colors of auto window film, though no reflective window tint is legal, so certain metallic tints (think gold, silver, or copper colored window film) may be illegal under tint regulations despite not being expressly banned.
 
Note that if any tint darker than 70% VLT is present on rear windows (the rear-facing windshield, e.g.) then the vehicle must have dual side view mirrors.
 
Manufacturers, installers, and retailers of window tint in New York do not need certify the tint they offer as meeting state laws, but tinted vehicle owners do need to put stickers identifying tint as legal between the tint and glass of every window with tinted window film applied.
 
New York tint rules do allow for medical exemptions for darker window tinting, so if you feel you need tint darker than 70% VLT on car side windows, MPV front side windows, or even on the windshield, talk to a doctor about getting a medical dispensation for darker window tint. Just make sure to carry proof of your New York window tint medical exemption with you, as police and inspectors can test tint on the scene so you’ll need your paperwork on hand to avoid tickets.
 

Window Tint Law Violations in New York

 
Authorities in New York can give out window tint with fines ranging up to $150, and nearly a million window tint tickets have been issued in the state in the last 10 years. Illegal window tint is also a surefire way for your vehicle to fail to pass inspection, therefore costing you even more time and money as you have the tint removed or replaced and then get the car inspected again.
 
Unless you have a medical or commercial reason to seek an exemption and get darker tint, it’s best to stick with legal window tint and avoid a window film ticket or a failed inspection, something your car must pass each and every year that it is registered in the state of New York.