New Hampshire Window Tint Laws

Darkest legal tint for Cars in New Hampshire

 

  • Windshield: Non-reflective tint of 35% VLT is allowed on the top 6 inches of the windshield
  • Front Side windows: No tint can be applied to front side windows.
  • Back Side windows: Must allow more than 35% of light in.
  • Rear window: Must allow more than 35% of light in.

 

Darkest legal tint for SUV and Vans in New Hampshire

 

  • Windshield: Non-reflective tint of 35% VLT is allowed on the top 6 inches of the windshield
  • Front Side windows: No tint can be applied to front side windows.
  • Back Side windows: Must allow more than 35% of light in.
  • Rear window: Must allow more than 35% of light in.

 

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 Hampshire automobile window film laws have been in place since 1990 and are some of the most direct and easy to understand in the country, as all vehicles are held to the same restrictions and in fact all windows that are allowed to have window tint must adhere to the same set of rules. While many states have different specific regulations for windows on the front sides of the vehicle as from rear side windows and different rules for windows of different vehicle types (sedan vs. SUV, for example), in New Hampshire auto tint laws are all one and the same.
 
You can make sure that your car, truck, or SUV has legal window tint in New Hampshire by knowing the VLT – or visible light transmission – percentage of your car tint. VLT simply refers to how clear/light or opaque/dark (see through or private, in simplest terms) a vehicle window is.
 
If your tint is not too dark, you should be safe from New Hampshire window tint tickets provided you always use nonreflective tint. Which indeed you should add to your vehicle. Car window film is a wise investment for any motorist who cares about the short-term performance and looks of a car and the longer-term interior looks and re-sale value of a vehicle. Car tint adds privacy and improved looks the same day it’s applied and it reduces interior heat even on the hottest days of New England summer day, making your car cooler and cheaper to own thanks to reduced fuel consumption by the air conditioning. Over time, window film rejects 99% of the ultraviolet light responsible for interior fading and cracked upholstery and faded hard surfaces, so your car will retain its looks and its value for many years, with the tint paying for itself over time.
 
The issue is not whether or not vehicle window tint is a wise investment; it’s simply an issue of making sure your car window tint is legal in New Hampshire so you don’t risk the cost of a window tint ticket for illegal tinting.
 

Legal Windshield Tint in New Hampshire

 
New Hampshire car tint laws regarding windshield window tint apply the same to cars (sedans and coupes, e.g.) as to MPVs (or multi-purpose vehicles like sport utilities, trucks, and vans) and mandate that tint on windshields must not be more than six inches below the top of the windshield. Windshield tint in New Hampshire must be a maximum darkness of 35% VLT, a visible light transmission percent you will notice plays a large role in the state.
 

Vehicle Window Tint Laws in New Hampshire

 
Understanding car window tint rules in New Hampshire is quite simple as long as you know about the VLT rating of tints. The front side windows, meaning those by the driver and shotgun seat, cannot be tinted with any sort of window film that darkens the glass in any perceptible way.
 
All other side windows, meaning the back seat, third and additional rows, and cargo area rear side windows, and the rear window, also called the rear windshield, are held to the same limit of 35% VLT at the darkest.
 
No reflective, metallic, or mirrored tints may be used on any windows of any vehicles registered in New Hampshire, though at present all window tint colors are legal in the state. (This is contrary to tint laws in many states which usually ban red, yellow, amber, and often metallic window tints as well.)
 

Other Window Tint Rules and Exemptions in NH

 
Your vehicle is only required to have dual side mirrors if your rear window is tinted or otherwise obscured, though of course side view mirrors are a common-sense hardware. Also common sense is applying a sticker proving any window tint on your vehicle is legal so you can quickly avoid a window tint ticket, though window film stickers are not required by New Hampshire law, they are merely recommended.
 
Manufacturers, sellers, and installers of car tint in Hampshire do not need to certify the window film they offer in the state as meeting state guidelines, but you should double check with your tint vendor to ensure you are not risking getting a tint that may get you a ticket.
 
New Hampshire window tint ticket costs vary but the fees can add up quickly into the hundreds of dollars, but window ticket infractions are assessed as non-moving traffic violations and are not criminal matters.
 
If you feel you need darker tint than is allowed by New Hampshire tint laws you can apply for a medical exemption for darker tinting as well as for legal window tint applied on the front side windows beside the driver. This tint may also be allowed in some cases for commercial needs such as for people whose jobs involve long hours driving where darker tint may not be needed to mitigate the effects of a specific health issue (glaucoma, e.g.) but to reduce the potential health damage caused by long-term UV exposure. Talk to a doctor and then consult with a state official or DMV employee if you want a window tint exemption.
 
In New Hampshire car window tint is a great way to protect your car from long term damage and to make it a cooler and more comfortable place to be every day you drive. Legal car window tint is affordable and can be installed same-day in many cases, and quickly in all cases. And while high quality auto window film will last for years, it is not permanent and can always be removed.