Understanding Car Window Tint Laws in Arizona: Everything You Need to Know

Arizona’s Tint Law Explained

Our eyes are precious, and unlike other parts of the body, they contain no sunlight-defense mechanism. Our eyelids increase sunlight protection, but since they act independently, this defense is never completely effective. That’s where window tint comes in. Tint functions as sunglasses for the car, reducing glare and cutting harmful UV rays by 99 percent. Cooler vehicle interiors also reduce daily exposure. That’s why most states enforce window tint laws—Arizona among them. But what happens when driver and passenger comfort conflicts with visual inspection? For example, darkness on the workshop window means more UV exposure for the tint technician. Likewise, regular drivers face issues with night visibility and bystanders may miss seeing a motorist who’s parked even just a few feet away. Understanding these conflicts helps put tint laws into perspective.
Tints are regulated according to percentages of light transmission (VLT). Visible Light Transmission (VLT) is the measure of visible light that passes through car windows. It directly affects the amount of visible light that comes through the tinted window and is measured as a percentage. For instance, a tint that is "35% VLT" allows 35% of light in and blocks 65% of light. To understand how tint is measured, know that this numerical figure is the percentage of percent of visible light allowed through the tinted glass. The VLT percentages can vary from state to state , and the laws differ for passenger vehicles and multi-passenger vans (sections of the law that refer to vans also apply to SUVs, pickup trucks, and vans). The Arizona Window Tint Law covers tint on the windshield, sides, and rear window of cars and SUVs, vans, and trucks. The regulations are highly precise and include a range of specifics such as allowable tint reflectivity percentages, reflective tint specifications, and application instructions.
According to Arizona Revised Statute § 28-957, Arizona permits tinted windshields under strict circumstances. For a non-reflective tint, no more than the top 4 inches can be tinted. The permitted tint darkness is 33%. The windshield tint can reflect up to 10% of the sun’s rays. LunarFilm’s RoadVision ARA colorless tint fits the Arizona tint law for non-reflective films. This film applies only to the top 4 inches of the windshield. If you want to tint the full windshield for better daytime visibility, there are products that meet regulations for reflectivity and darkness.
Front windows must allow more than 33% of the light through. The tint must be non-reflective with a maximum tint reflection of 10%. RoadVision ARA tints are approved for car windows in Arizona with a maximum VLT of 33%, 10% reflectance, and a minimum VLT of 50%. LunarFilm is an installer-only product and is not available for consumer purchase.
These can contain any darkness as well as reflectiveness. The only stipulation mandated by law is that there must be a side mirror on those windows.

Legal Tint Darkness for Windows

Cars in Arizona must always have at least 25% of incoming light visible through the front side windows. The back side windows and rear window in a vehicle may be tinted with any darkness level.
However, this does not necessarily mean that cars can have dark window tints on their front windows. The tint levels on the front side windows of cars must also comply with VLT percentage limits. Cars manufactured after 1959 and with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) below 8,500 pounds may only use tint with a VLT above 33% on their front side windows. This means that only 33% or more of the visible light spectrum can pass through the tint into the vehicle.
The windshields on cars are also regulated under the law. Arizona law only permits a strip of tinted film along the upper edge of the windshield. The tint on this strip may have any darkness level. However, obvious and harshly dark tint levels are illegal even on this small part of the car. The bottom of the windshield may not have any tint whatsoever.
Under Arizona law, the only kind of vehicle that may obtain a variance to legally use tinted windows on the front side windows is an SUV. A specialized medical exemption form must be submitted to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) for a legible prescription from a doctor or a healthcare professional stating that the individual requires the tint for a "medical purpose."

Fines and Violations

Those caught using window tint that is too dark may be fined anywhere from $300 to $500. The fines amounts to $10 for each unit of darkness over standard limits, the maximum allowed for regular cars. If you own a van, your fine will be a minimum of $50. Police can pull over drivers who use windshield tint too dark or reflective. If your window tint is heavier than the window film tint film and is darker than 30% reflective, the driver can be stopped by law enforcement. A citation will then be issued that must be resolved in municipal court. If it is determined that your tint is in fact darker than the legal limit, you will be required to remove the tint immediately. Failure to remove the tint will result in another trip to municipal court and a hefty fine, plus the added expense of paying for a tow truck. The police must inform drivers of their infraction so that they are able to comply with the law. The courts require that the ticket includes the level of tint found, the window placement, the legal limit for that location, and finally, the number of units over the limit. It is important to understand the risk you take should you violate tinting laws. Until a traffic patrol or police officer stops you, you may not even be aware of how tinted your windows truly are. This is why it’s crucial you abide by the law, use products that meet state standards, and stay within guidelines.

Arizona’s Tint Window Law Exceptions

Exempt from the Arizona tint laws is any window tint and sun screening device used by a person with medical conditions who can provide a medical certificate to a law enforcement officer. The certificate must be signed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist that provides certain contact information for the doctor; a brief medical history for the person with the medical condition; the color of tinting recommended because of the medical condition; and if the eye doctor has a letter head. You must then present that medical certificate along with identification within 30 days of any traffic stop to the law enforcement entity that made the traffic stop. This does not indicate that the color of tinting needed for the medical condition fits within the shade of light in the front windows. Essentially an exemption is granted or not granted on review of the presented medical certificate.
Any person may apply to the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), Motor Vehicle Division for a Certificate of Exemption. A duly licensed physician shall determine the necessity of issuing such a Certificate and shall complete and sign an Exemption Application form that provides certain information about the certificate being issued. The application for exemption from the tinting requirements is submitted to the MVD for review and approval. The Certificate of Exemption shall be displayed in the vehicle at all times along with the Medical Doctor’s letterhead. A Certificate of Exemption shall not be transferred from one vehicle to another without approval; and is valid for the vehicle, in the name of the individual.

How to Choose Compliant Tint

When choosing window tint that is in compliance with the law, the most important factor is to measure the VLT (Visible Light Transmission) after installation to ensure it does not fall below the minimum threshold established by Arizona law. Arizona’s laws apply only to the front windows of your car—those that are next to your rear view mirror and your front side windows. These are the two sets of windows Arizona law regulates and requires specific transparency levels.
Like other car owners, some may only want to replace the front side windows, and not the rear side windows, given that the latter generally don’t have a specific level of transparency. Whether you want to keep your existing tint on the back side and rear windows or change all of them to match is up to you.
A common misconception about window tint is that if the existing tint is darker than the window tint that is being installed , the installation shop will be able to install the new tint on all of the window panes so the car can be "completely matched." This is not true, since the law states that if the front side windows were tinted beyond the legal limit, they have to be unrolled and the new tint must be installed only on the lower portion of the window with a shade that allows the VLT of the tint to be measured within the legal limit.
It is always advisable to have your tint work done by a professional installer who is knowledgeable and experienced in tinting cars in your state. They will know how to accurately check if your tint meets legal standards and will make sure it follows local laws so you can stay out of future trouble.

Arizona Window Tints: Recent Legislative Changes

As with all legal matters, tint laws are always subject to change. It is essential for vehicle owners and tint companies to keep abreast of the latest developments.
In 2017, two noteworthy points of legislation were introduced in Arizona. The first was House Bill 2076, also known as the "Tint Bill". Under provisions set by this bill, exceptions in tint legislation were made for "Event Lenses", which are designed to enhance the performance of cameras, cell phones, iPads, tablets and handheld computers by reducing the effects of glare or haze. These lenses must have 12% or more visible light transmission, and their use must be clearly indicated on a sticker in the upper corner of the windshield. This sticker may be either factory or aftermarket, and must be at least 1 square inch in area.
These lenses must be placed on the car’s window within 4 inches of the outer edge, with the portion close to the window edge tinted and the rest of the area clear. These have high-end applications in upscale vehicles, and are now manufactured by the likes of Range Rover, Jaguar, Land Rover and Tesla.
The other piece of tint legislation was House Bill 2145, which proposed the removal of the clear strip on the front window of passenger vehicles. This strip had previously been allowed to be tinted as long as it was at least 8 inches from the top of the window line. However, the strip was not in accordance with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations on Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 205, otherwise known as FMVSS No. 205. Therefore, the tint requirements for this portion of the window did not meet the federal requirements for the vehicle as a whole. Arizona is a state that adopts Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards without any further additions or modifications, as detailed in A.R.S. § 28-947.
At the present time, however, House Bill 2145 has not yet been passed. If it is passed, however, it will allow tint companies to be knowledgeable about the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Guidelines.

Further Resources

Arizona Department of Transportation – Tint Laws
The official Arizona Department of Transportation resources provide detailed information on tint specifications, vehicle equipment regulation, and information about vehicle registration.
Arizona Revised Statutes – Title 28
The Arizona Revised Statutes offer the legal text of Arizona’s tint laws and regulations .
Wikipedia – Window Tints and Films
While not completely up to date on legislation, the general overview of the types of films and their legalities by state provides a lot of great information.
Swat Window Tinting – Arizona Tint Law Infographic and PDF
Detailed infographic and PDF for every state in the country, including the Arizona tint laws.