NY · tint law reference

New York window tint laws

Last verified September 14, 2026 · NY Vehicle and Traffic Law § 375(12-a)

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.

New York window tint limits by window and vehicle type
Window Sedans SUVs, vans & trucks
Windshield At least 70% light transmittance, except that nonreflective material may be applied to the uppermost six inches. Non-transparent material (other than certificates or papers required by law) is prohibited on the front windshield and on sidewings or side windows forward of the operator's seat. At least 70% light transmittance, except that nonreflective material may be applied to the uppermost six inches. Non-transparent material (other than certificates or papers required by law) is prohibited on the front windshield and on sidewings or side windows forward of the operator's seat.
Front side 70% VLT or lighter 70% VLT or lighter
Back side 70% VLT or lighter No VLT limit
Rear 70% VLT or lighter 70% VLT or lighter

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

    No reflectance percentage is set. § 375(12-a)(b)(1) requires that material applied to the uppermost six inches of the windshield be nonreflective.

    Colors

    None. § 375(12-a) states no color restriction.

    Medical exemption

    Yes, for the windshield and front side window requirements (paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2)). Applicants file DMV form MV-80W "Application for Tinted Window Exemption" with a statement from a physician or nurse practitioner that the condition appears on the list maintained by the NYS Commissioner of Health; the DMV lists albinism, lupus erythematosus, xeroderma pigmentosum, photophobia, and other severe photosensitivity disorders. An approved applicant is issued a noticeable sticker.

    Stickers & certification

    Tinted-window measurement is a mandatory part of the annual New York State safety inspection (effective January 1, 2017). Medical exemption holders are issued a DMV sticker. No installer label is required for ordinary compliant tint.

    Measurement tolerance

    This state does not state a measurement tolerance in the sources we checked.

    Penalties

    The statute and the DMV page make it illegal to sell, offer for sale, install, or operate a vehicle with non-compliant glass, but neither states a fixed fine or point total.

    Notes

    The rear SIDE window 70% requirement in § 375(12-a)(b)(3) reaches only vehicles "classified as a station wagon, sedan, hardtop, coupe, hatchback or convertible" — trucks, vans, SUVs, and other multi-purpose vehicles are outside that clause and have no state minimum on their rear side windows. The rear window clause (b)(4) applies regardless of body style but does not apply where the vehicle has side mirrors on both sides adjusted to give the driver a clear and full view of the road and traffic behind, so on any mirror-equipped vehicle the rear window is effectively unrestricted; the 70% figure is retained here because the statute does state it. Paragraph (e) limits the subdivision to vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1992. Both secondary sources agree with this reading.

    New York tint questions

    What is the darkest legal tint in New York?

    For a sedan in New York, front side windows must let at least 70% of light through, back side windows at least 70%, and the rear window at least 70%. 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 70%.

    Is 20% tint legal in New York?

    No, not on the front side windows. New York 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 70% floor, so 20% is too dark there too.

    Can I tint the windshield in New York?

    New York's rule for the windshield: At least 70% light transmittance, except that nonreflective material may be applied to the uppermost six inches. Non-transparent material (other than certificates or papers required by law) is prohibited on the front windshield and on sidewings or side windows forward of the operator's seat.

    Does New York allow a medical exemption for darker tint?

    What the source says: Yes, for the windshield and front side window requirements (paragraphs (b)(1) and (b)(2)). Applicants file DMV form MV-80W "Application for Tinted Window Exemption" with a statement from a physician or nurse practitioner that the condition appears on the list maintained by the NYS Commissioner of Health; the DMV lists albinism, lupus erythematosus, xeroderma pigmentosum, photophobia, and other severe photosensitivity disorders. An approved applicant is issued a noticeable sticker. Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.

    Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in New York?

    Tinted-window measurement is a mandatory part of the annual New York State safety inspection (effective January 1, 2017). Medical exemption holders are issued a DMV sticker. No installer label is required for ordinary compliant tint.

    Nearby states

    Where this comes from

    Statute cited: NY Vehicle and Traffic Law § 375(12-a)

    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.

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