AZ · tint law reference
Arizona window tint laws
Last verified September 14, 2026 · Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-959.01
Legal tint limits at a glance
VLT is the share of light the window must let through — a lower number is darker film, and the reading includes the factory glass.
| Window | Sedans | SUVs, vans & trucks |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Transparent material on the topmost portion only: its bottom edge must be at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat (measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest, seat in its rearmost and lowermost position, vehicle level), and it may not be red or amber. The statute uses this 29-inch measurement, not an AS-1 line (§ 28-959.01(A)(11)) | Same 29-inch rule as sedan |
| Front side | 33% VLT or lighter | 33% VLT or lighter |
| Back side | No VLT limit | No VLT limit |
| Rear | No VLT limit | No VLT limit |
Dual side mirrors required if the rear is tinted? Yes — this state requires dual outside mirrors when the rear window is tinted.
Is my tint legal here?
Film darkness and glass darkness multiply. Enter the film you are considering and the VLT of the bare glass to get the number a meter would read.
70 for tinted OEM glass, 80 for clear
Net VLT 14% 20% film × 70% glass
Pass/fail compares net VLT against the limits on this page only. Some states apply a measurement tolerance — see Measurement tolerance below — and none of this replaces a meter reading on your own glass.
The rest of the rule
Reflectivity
Front side wing vents and windows: luminous reflectance of 35% ±3%. Side windows to the rear of the driver and rear windows: luminous reflectance of 35% ±3% or less (§ 28-959.01(A)(1),(6))
Colors
Red and amber on the windshield strip (§ 28-959.01(A)(11)(b))
Medical exemption
yes - on application from a person who must be shielded from direct sun for medical reasons, supported by written attestation from a physician licensed under A.R.S. title 32, ch. 13, 14 or 17, the department may issue an exemption for a vehicle the person owns or is a habitual passenger in (§ 28-959.01(G)); administered by ADOT MVD Medical Review
Stickers & certification
No vehicle sticker is required, but each film manufacturer must certify to the ADOT director that its product meets the section's reflectivity and transmittance requirements (§ 28-959.01(D)), and anyone selling or installing the material must state conspicuously that installing it on the driver or passenger window may be illegal in some states (§ 28-959.01(F))
Measurement tolerance
±3%
Penalties
No fine or classification is stated in § 28-959.01
Notes
§ 28-959.01 makes no distinction between sedans and SUVs/vans/trucks - one rule set for all motor vehicles. Only the front side wing vents and windows carry a light-transmission number (33% ±3%); for side windows to the rear of the driver and for rear windows the statute imposes a luminous-reflectance cap only and no VLT floor, which is why back_side_vlt and rear_vlt are null for both body styles. Separately, § 28-959.01(A)(10) exempts the rear window outright if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both the left and right sides, each located to give the driver a view of the highway at least 200 feet to the rear. Corner stickers (7-inch square farthest from the driver, 5-inch square nearest), rearview mirrors, sun visors, and safety-monitoring/driver-feedback equipment mounted at the rearview mirror position are also excepted.
Arizona tint questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Arizona?
For a sedan in Arizona, front side windows must let at least 33% of light through, no number is stated for the back side windows, and none for the rear window. Lower VLT means darker glass, so those percentages are floors, not targets, and the meter reads the film and the factory glass together.
Is 20% tint legal in Arizona?
No, not on the front side windows. Arizona requires at least 33% VLT there and 20% is darker than that, before you even account for the factory glass, which makes the reading darker still. Behind the driver the statute states no VLT number, so 20% may be allowed on the back side and rear windows — read the notes on this page and confirm with the DMV.
Can I tint the windshield in Arizona?
Arizona's rule for the windshield: Transparent material on the topmost portion only: its bottom edge must be at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat (measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest, seat in its rearmost and lowermost position, vehicle level), and it may not be red or amber. The statute uses this 29-inch measurement, not an AS-1 line (§ 28-959.01(A)(11))
Does Arizona allow a medical exemption for darker tint?
What the source says: yes - on application from a person who must be shielded from direct sun for medical reasons, supported by written attestation from a physician licensed under A.R.S. title 32, ch. 13, 14 or 17, the department may issue an exemption for a vehicle the person owns or is a habitual passenger in (§ 28-959.01(G)); administered by ADOT MVD Medical Review Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.
Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in Arizona?
No vehicle sticker is required, but each film manufacturer must certify to the ADOT director that its product meets the section's reflectivity and transmittance requirements (§ 28-959.01(D)), and anyone selling or installing the material must state conspicuously that installing it on the driver or passenger window may be illegal in some states (§ 28-959.01(F))
Where this comes from
Statute cited: Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 28-959.01
Checked against the state's own statute or DMV page on September 14, 2026. Laws change; if you find a newer rule, email admin@getpeelboard.com.
Legal disclaimer: general information, not legal advice; verify with your DMV.