NH · tint law reference
New Hampshire window tint laws
Last verified September 14, 2026 · RSA 266:58-a; RSA 266:61-a, IX (medical permit)
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 | Aftermarket tint on the windshield is unlawful to install, sell, inspect, or drive with, with one exception: a strip no wider than 6 inches located at the very top of the windshield, whose light transmittance must be at least 35%. New Hampshire has no AS-1-line carve-out. | Aftermarket tint on the windshield is unlawful to install, sell, inspect, or drive with, with one exception: a strip no wider than 6 inches located at the very top of the windshield, whose light transmittance must be at least 35%. New Hampshire has no AS-1-line carve-out. |
| Front side | 70% VLT or lighter | 70% VLT or lighter |
| Back side | 35% VLT or lighter | No VLT limit |
| Rear | 35% VLT or lighter | 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
Not addressed. RSA 266:58-a contains no reflectance percentage and no prohibition on mirrored or metallic film.
Colors
None. The statute states no color restriction.
Medical exemption
Yes. RSA 266:61-a, IX lets the commissioner waive RSA 266:58-a and issue a special permit to a person who for bona fide medical reasons requires aftermarket tinting on the windshield or on the windows to the left and right of the driver. The waiver "shall only authorize the use of after market tinted windows with a light transmittance of not less than 35 percent." The commissioner may consult a designated medical review board, and the required medical certification may come from a provider licensed in New Hampshire or from a licensed provider affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs regardless of state of licensure.
Stickers & certification
Medical special permit under RSA 266:61-a, IX; the commissioner adopts administrative rules under RSA 541-A. No installer label or compliance sticker is required for ordinary compliant tint.
Measurement tolerance
This state does not state a measurement tolerance in the sources we checked.
Penalties
RSA 266:58-a, VI: "Any natural person or any other person who violates the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a violation" — a non-criminal offense. The statute sets no dollar amount; the $62/$124 figures circulated by secondary sites are not in the statute.
Notes
Rear windows of multipurpose passenger vehicles (as defined in 49 C.F.R. 571.3) and pickup trucks are excepted from the 35% floor and may instead meet whatever percentage 49 C.F.R. 571.205 allows for pre-market tinted rear windows — which for windows not requisite for driving visibility is effectively any darkness. Where aftermarket tinting is applied to any window to the rear of the driver, outside rear view mirrors are required on both the left and right side. Both secondary sources checked still publish a flat 35% rear figure for SUVs and vans and miss this carve-out. RSA 266:58-a was last amended by 2024, ch. 48, § 1 (eff. Sept. 12, 2024); RSA 266:61-a by 2026, ch. 253, § 1 (eff. Aug. 31, 2026).
New Hampshire tint questions
What is the darkest legal tint in New Hampshire?
For a sedan in New Hampshire, front side windows must let at least 70% of light through, back side windows at least 35%, and the rear window at least 35%. Lower VLT means darker glass, so those percentages are floors, not targets, and the meter reads the film and the factory glass together. SUVs, vans and trucks are listed separately: front side 70%, back side no VLT limit, rear no VLT limit.
Is 20% tint legal in New Hampshire?
No, not on the front side windows. New Hampshire requires at least 70% VLT there and 20% is darker than that, before you even account for the factory glass, which makes the reading darker still. The back side windows have a 35% floor, so 20% is too dark there too.
Can I tint the windshield in New Hampshire?
New Hampshire's rule for the windshield: Aftermarket tint on the windshield is unlawful to install, sell, inspect, or drive with, with one exception: a strip no wider than 6 inches located at the very top of the windshield, whose light transmittance must be at least 35%. New Hampshire has no AS-1-line carve-out.
Does New Hampshire allow a medical exemption for darker tint?
What the source says: Yes. RSA 266:61-a, IX lets the commissioner waive RSA 266:58-a and issue a special permit to a person who for bona fide medical reasons requires aftermarket tinting on the windshield or on the windows to the left and right of the driver. The waiver "shall only authorize the use of after market tinted windows with a light transmittance of not less than 35 percent." The commissioner may consult a designated medical review board, and the required medical certification may come from a provider licensed in New Hampshire or from a licensed provider affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs regardless of state of licensure. Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.
Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in New Hampshire?
Medical special permit under RSA 266:61-a, IX; the commissioner adopts administrative rules under RSA 541-A. No installer label or compliance sticker is required for ordinary compliant tint.
Where this comes from
Statute cited: RSA 266:58-a; RSA 266:61-a, IX (medical permit)
- gc.nh.govhttps://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXI/266/266-58-a.htm
- gc.nh.govhttps://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXI/266/266-61-a.htm
- tinting-laws.comhttps://www.tinting-laws.com/new-hampshire/
- tintlaws.comhttps://www.tintlaws.com/new-hampshire
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.