Arizona Window Tinting Laws

Arizona Window Tinting Laws
  • Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line of the windshield
  • Front Side windows: Must allow more than 33% of light in
  • Back Side windows: Any darkness can be used.
  • Rear window: Any darkness can be used.
  • Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line of the windshield
  • Front Side windows: Must allow more than 33% of light in
  • Back Side windows: Any darkness can be used.
  • Rear window: Any darkness can be used.

Other Arizona window tint rules and regulations:

  • Side Mirrors: Dual side mirrors are required if back window is tinted.
  • Restricted Tint Colors: Arizona law prohibits using red and amber window tint colors
  • Certificates: Film manufacturers do not need to certify the film they can sell in this state.
  • Stickers: No sticker to identify legal tinting is required by law.

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.

Arizona Car Tint Laws

Looking to get your vehicle tinted but you are not sure what the Arizona window tint laws are? You’ve come to the right place. Below you’ll find the window tinting laws for the state of Arizona as well as frequently asked questions about Arizona tint laws.
 
Adding window tint to a vehicle can help reduce the glare of the sun and oncoming headlights, making driving safer and more comfortable, it can block solar energy and keep the car cooler, making it safer for occupants and more energy efficient, and it can prevent ultraviolet light damage to the interior surfaces and to the skin of those inside the car. The excessive number of sunny days and the heat common in Arizona make window tint a welcome addition to any vehicle, but not all window tint is allowed in Arizona.
 
The state of Arizona enacted its first automotive window tint laws in 1994, and in the nearly three decades since then the regulations regarding window tint for cars in Arizona have changed several times. Window tint laws change based on new tinting products entering the marketplace, new practices by vehicle manufacturers, and other factors as well.
 
This guide will help you determine whether or not the window tint you have on your vehicle or are considering installing a window film legal in Arizona in 2021. Pay close attention to how dark window tint is, where it is placed, its reflectivity, and its color.

Looking to get your vehicle tinted but you are not sure what the Arizona window tint laws are? You’ve come to the right place. Below you’ll find the window tinting laws for the state of Arizona as well as frequently asked questions about Arizona tint laws.
 
Adding window tint to a vehicle can help reduce the glare of the sun and oncoming headlights, making driving safer and more comfortable, it can block solar energy and keep the car cooler, making it safer for occupants and more energy efficient, and it can prevent ultraviolet light damage to the interior surfaces and to the skin of those inside the car. The excessive number of sunny days and the heat common in Arizona make window tint a welcome addition to any vehicle, but not all window tint is allowed in Arizona.
 
The state of Arizona enacted its first automotive window tint laws in 1994, and in the nearly three decades since then the regulations regarding window tint for cars in Arizona have changed several times. Window tint laws change based on new tinting products entering the marketplace, new practices by vehicle manufacturers, and other factors as well.
 
This guide will help you determine whether or not the window tint you have on your vehicle or are considering installing a window film legal in Arizona in 2021. Pay close attention to how dark window tint is, where it is placed, its reflectivity, and its color.

Can You Have Front Side Window and Windshield Tint in Arizona?

Glare reducing window film is a useful driver safety measure as the tint reduces blinding glare from the sun, helping a driver safely operate a vehicle. This is why applying a strip of window tint to the top portion of a windshield is a good idea. In Arizona windshield tint may be applied atop the windshield down to then AS-1 line, which is a line minutely demarcated on the windshield that is roughly equivalent to five inches below the line where windshield and roof meet. This windshield tint must be non-reflective, thus preventing sunlight from glinting off into the eyes of drivers in oncoming traffic. Below the AS-1 line, the windshield must be clear.
 
In Arizona vehicle window tint on the front side windows, those beside the driver and front seat passenger, is permitted so long as the tint allows in at least 33% of visible light. This is still a dark enough tint to add privacy to the windows and to add a stylized look to the exterior of the vehicle, but without fully blocking the view into the cabin. (Note that the percentage of light a tint permits is referred to as Visible Light Transfer, or VLT, and the lower the VLT number, the darker the window tint, so a window film rated at 95% VLT is essentially clear, while 5% VLT tint looks black.)
 
On the rear side windows and on the rear windshield, vehicles may have window tint of any darkness down to an effectively opaque limo-style tint. Very dark window tint can afford full privacy for passengers in the rear seats of a car, ideal for parents with young children or for vehicles used to carry clients who are concerned about privacy. It can also prevent passersby from seeing the contents of a car while it is parked, potentially helping dissuade a break-in.
 
Unlike in many states, in Arizona vehicle window tint regulations apply equally to all types of automobile, including sedans, trucks, SUVs, and vans. If a vehicle has more than one row of seats, then the front windows must have a tint no darker than 33% VLT while the rear windows and rear windshield may have tint of any darkness provided those within the vehicle can see out of it.
 
Note that a vehicle with window tint on the rear windshield must have a functional set of side view mirrors, though this regulation is rarely an issue as almost every vehicle has dual side mirrors to begin with.

Are There Window Film Reflectivity and Tinting Color Laws in Arizona?

2021 Arizona vehicle window tint laws are generally flexible as pertains to window tint colors and are permissive in terms of light reflectivity (reflectivity referring to how much the window film bounces away light as would a mirror.
 
Current Arizona automotive window tint laws allow all colors of window tint except for amber and red shades of tinting. Gray, green, or blue shades are the most common window tint colors, and tend to work best with most vehicles in terms of aesthetics.
 
As for window tint reflection, which reduces the glare of sunlight during daylight and cuts the glare of headlights at night, thus making driving safer, under Arizona law, windows must not be more than 35% reflective. (Reflective window tinting also reduces interior cabin heat, meaning less need for the AC and a more pleasant driver experience.
 
Keep in mind that these regulations regarding color and reflectivity as well as those pertaining to window tint darkness and which windows can be tinted in what manner are always subject to change, so check local and state laws and consult with your vehicle tint installer before you have new window tint applied.

Medical Exemptions for Window Tint Laws in Arizona

Arizona state law does allow many people with legitimate medical conditions to apply window tint that would be illegal without a specific medical exemption for the darker tinting. These may include people with glaucoma or other issues where excess light is damaging, people with sensitive skin or with a history of skin cancer where any UV light exposure is dangerous, and form other reasons as well.
 
Arizona drivers hoping to get a medical window tint exemption must consult with a doctor and get a signed document proving they qualify for medical window tint exemptions and this paperwork should be shown to a licensed window tint installer before the otherwise extralegal window tint is applied. Make sure to keep the doctor-approved exemption notice in your car, truck, or SUV at all times, as the document may need to be shown to law enforcement to demonstrate that the tint is allowed.
 
Do keep in mind that if blocking ultraviolet light is your concern, myriad transparent or nearly transparent window “tints” still block 99% of the sun’s UV light; you may not need dark window tinting at all if your only goal is blocking UV light.

The state of Arizona is rather lax when it comes to demonstrating the legality of car window tint. You are not required to put stickers or labels on tinted windows that make clear that the tint is legal nor do window film manufacturers or vendors have to officially certify the window tint that they produce, sell, or install. It is the duty of the motorist to select a legal window tint for their vehicle according to state rules and regulations.

Window Tint Violation Penalties in Arizona

In Arizona a first window tint offense is a very minor issue. If a police officer suspects your car’s window tint on the front side windows is darker than allowed by law, he or she can use a tint meter to determine the actual darkness of the window film. If it turns out your window tint is too dark under Arizona laws, then you will be issued a so-called fix it ticket, officially known as an Equipment Repair Order – this is the same thing as would happen with a break light that was not functioning or a damaged side view mirror.
 
You will be assessed a very small fine and given a window of time in which you need to have the illegal window film removed and get legal tint applied to the windows (or to leave them without tint) and then prove that you have remedied the issue. If you fail to fix the tint, then a larger fine is likely to follow, as is a fine with a second and other subsequent window tint violations.
 
If you get in trouble for illegal window tint in Arizona, you may have recourse to get the tint replaced at no charge if you had requested legal window tint only to get window film that was too dark installed on your vehicle. Bring proof of your citation to the company that installed the window film to discuss the matter. Also make sure to retain all receipts and paperwork associated with window film installation as you may need to present them to a court to assist your case if you ever feel you are being wrongfully cited for a window film violation.

The percent of visible light allowed through your car windows is called VLT: Visible Light Transmission. The percentage of light allowed through your film and glass in Arizona is very specific and different for passenger car such as a sedan vs a multi-purpose passenger and recreational vehicle. The lower the % of the tint, the darker your window will be as the VLT is referring to the amount of light being let in.

Window Tinting Exemption in Arizona

Arizona law states the amount and manner of window tinting a motor vehicle may have to be lawfully operated in this state. It is a violation of law to operate a motor vehicle that does not meet these window tinting requirements(link is external). Specific questions should be directed to your local law enforcement agency.
 
If you are required for medical reasons to be shielded from the direct rays of the sun, you may receive an exemption from the window tinting requirements. The exemption is granted for any vehicles that you own as well as other vehicles in which you are a regular passenger.
 
To apply for the exemption, complete an Application for Window Tint Medical Exemption (link is external), form #40-1511, certified by a medical provider. The application will be forwarded to the Medical Review Program.

Arizona Window Tinting Exemption Form

https://azdot.gov/content/application-window-tint-medical-exemption

Frequently Asked Questions about Arizona Window Tint Laws

Question: What percentage tint is legal in Arizona?
Answer: 33%
 
In Arizona, the front side windows must allow more than 33% of light in. This is why the standard for the front side windows, which are the driver side and passenger side windows you need to see out of to drive, is 35% tint. This ensures that you are within the law.
 
Question: Is Arizona strict on window tint?
Answer: In Arizona, tinted windows are permitted; but the darkness of the tint is strictly regulated. This is measured in terms of Visible Light Transmission percentage (VLT%) – the percentage of light that is allowed through the window glass and film. For front side windows, the VLT% has to be 33%
 
Question:Can you get pulled over for tints in Arizona?
Answer: Arizona’s Window Tinting Law only dictates that your rear and back side windows have 35% reflective tint. … However, an officer can still pull you over if your rear tinted windows obstruct your view or distract you from your driving.
 

What is the darkest legal tint in Arizona?
Answer: Window tint darkness in Arizona

Windshield: Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.
Front Side windows: Must allow more than 33% of light in.
Back Side windows: Any darkness can be used.
Rear Window: Any darkness can be used.
 
What percent is limo black tint?
Answer: Limo tint is 5% or darker which means the film is blocking at least 95% of the light that would normally pass through the window which is how it gets it privacy darkness. Most manufacturers make 5% as their darkest shades however a few have lines that go as dark as 2%, blocking out 98% of the light transmission.