The short version
- Front side windows must let in at least 33% of light, with a 3% tolerance
- Back side and rear windows may be any darkness on all vehicles
- Dual side mirrors are required if the rear window is tinted
- No window may be more than 35% reflective
- ADOT offers a medical exemption using form 40-1511
Tint limits by window
Percentages are the minimum VLT allowed. A lower number is a darker tint.
| Window | Sedans & coupes | SUVs, trucks & vans |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Non-red/amber strip above the AS-1 line (29 in. above seat) | Non-red/amber strip above the AS-1 line (29 in. above seat) |
| Front side windows | 33% VLT (plus or minus 3%) | 33% VLT (plus or minus 3%) |
| Back side windows | Any darkness | Any darkness |
| Rear window | Any darkness (dual side mirrors required) | Any darkness (dual side mirrors required) |
Not sure what these percentages look like? See window tint percentage examples or read about the AS-1 line.
How Arizona compares
Arizona allows 33% VLT on the front side windows of a car. That is darker than 34 states allow and lighter than 15 states permit. If you want to see what 33% VLT actually looks like on glass, compare it in our tint percentage examples.
Arizona borders California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. Film that is legal here can get you a ticket in California, Nevada and Utah, where the front-window limit is stricter. Shops in Colorado and New Mexico can legally install darker film than Arizona allows, so check the meter reading if you tint across the border. Our guide to crossing state lines with tinted windows explains how out-of-state cars are treated.
| Neighboring state | Front sides | Back sides | Rear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona (this page) | 33% | Any | Any |
| California | 70% | Any | Any |
| Colorado | 27% | 27% | 27% |
| Nevada | 35% | Any | Any |
| New Mexico | 20% | 20% | 20% |
| Utah | 35% | Any | Any |
Sedans vs SUVs, trucks and vans
Arizona uses the same limits for every vehicle type: 33% VLT on the front side windows, any darkness on the back side windows and any darkness on the rear window, whether you drive a sedan, SUV, pickup or van.
Many SUVs and trucks leave the factory with dark privacy glass behind the driver. Because most states measure the combined reading of film plus glass, adding film over privacy glass drops the number further than the film label suggests. See how film and glass add up in our VLT guide.
Windshield tint in Arizona
The rule for the windshield is: Non-red/amber strip above the AS-1 line (29 in. above seat). The AS-1 line is a small mark etched near the top of the glass; our guide shows how to find the AS-1 line on your car.
Choosing film that passes in Arizona
Reflectivity is regulated too: front side, back side and rear windows may not be more than 35% reflective (plus or minus 3%).. Metallic films are the type most likely to run into reflectivity limits, while carbon and ceramic films are non-reflective. Compare them in types of window tint film.
Most installers in Arizona meter the glass before and after the install so you leave with a reading inside the limit. Ask for the meter reading on your receipt; it is useful if you are ever stopped.
Need an installer who knows these rules? Browse Arizona tint shops on TintingNearMe.com.
If you get a tint ticket
Civil traffic violation, often handled as a fix-it ticket: correcting the tint can avoid the fine. Arizona civil traffic penalties are capped at $250 plus surcharges.
No sticker required on the vehicle. Film manufacturers must certify to ADOT that their products meet the state's light transmission and reflectance limits. To see how Arizona stacks up, read window tint penalties by state. If you need darker film for a medical reason, the medical exemption guide covers what most states ask for.
Reflectivity and other rules
Reflectivity: Front side, back side and rear windows may not be more than 35% reflective (plus or minus 3%).
- Red and amber tint is not allowed on the windshield strip
- The 33% VLT and 35% reflectance limits each carry a plus or minus 3% tolerance
- VLT is measured through the film and the glass together (net)
- Rear window tint requires outside mirrors on both sides that show at least 200 feet behind
- Sellers and installers must disclose that front side window film may be illegal in other states
Stickers and certification
No sticker required on the vehicle. Film manufacturers must certify to ADOT that their products meet the state's light transmission and reflectance limits.
Penalties
Civil traffic violation, often handled as a fix-it ticket: correcting the tint can avoid the fine. Arizona civil traffic penalties are capped at $250 plus surcharges.
Compare penalties in every stateArizona medical exemption
People who must be shielded from direct sunlight for medical reasons can apply to ADOT MVD using the Application for Window Tint Medical Exemption (form 40-1511), certified by a licensed physician. ADOT's Medical Review Program reviews it, and an approved exemption covers vehicles the applicant owns or regularly rides in, under terms the director sets.
New to exemptions? Our medical exemption guide explains which conditions usually qualify and how the paperwork works in each state.
Connects you with a licensed doctor through MyEyeRx.
Watch: Arizona tint law videos
From our YouTube channel. Laws can change after a video is published; the limits on this page reflect the law as reviewed on November 2, 2026.
Video from 2024
Video from 2024
Video from 2025
More on the Window Tint Laws YouTube channel.
Arizona tint law questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Arizona?
Front side windows must be at least 33% VLT, with a 3% tolerance. Back side and rear windows may be any darkness on every vehicle type, as long as the car has outside mirrors on both sides when the rear window is tinted.
Is 5% tint legal in Arizona?
Yes on the back side and rear windows, as long as the vehicle has dual side mirrors and the film is no more than 35% reflective. No, on the front side windows, which must be 33% VLT.
How much is a tint ticket in Arizona?
Illegal tint is a civil traffic violation, usually written as a fix-it ticket. If you correct the tint, you can avoid the fine. Otherwise the civil penalty is up to $250 plus state surcharges, and the amount varies by court.
Can I get a medical exemption for darker tint in Arizona?
Yes. Fill out ADOT form 40-1511, the Application for Window Tint Medical Exemption, and have a licensed physician certify it. ADOT's Medical Review Program decides the application, and an approval covers vehicles you own or regularly ride in.
Does Arizona allow reflective tint?
Partly. Film on the side and rear windows may be up to 35% reflective, plus or minus 3%. Anything more mirror-like is illegal.
Sources and how we check
Governing law: A.R.S. § 28-959.01
- A.R.S. § 28-959.01 (Justia)
- ADOT - Window Tinting Exemption
- ABC15 - Window tinting: how dark is too dark
- Arizona Republic - What to know about vehicle window tint laws in Arizona
Tint laws change, and police and inspection stations can interpret them differently. Confirm with the Arizona DMV or state police before you tint. Found something out of date? Tell us.