The short version
- Front side windows on all vehicles must allow at least 70% of light through
- Sedans also need 70% VLT on the back side windows; the rear window can be any darkness with dual side mirrors
- SUVs, vans and trucks may use any darkness behind the driver
- Tint is checked at every annual NY safety inspection
- Medical exemptions require DMV approval using form MV-80W
Tint limits by window
Percentages are the minimum VLT allowed. A lower number is a darker tint.
| Window | Sedans & coupes | SUVs, trucks & vans |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | 70% VLT; darker tint only on top 6 inches | 70% VLT; darker tint only on top 6 inches |
| Front side windows | 70% VLT | 70% VLT |
| Back side windows | 70% VLT | 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 New York compares
New York allows 70% VLT on the front side windows of a car. That is darker than 3 states allow and lighter than 41 states permit, and 5 other states use the same limit. If you want to see what 70% VLT actually looks like on glass, compare it in our tint percentage examples.
New York borders Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Vermont. Film that is legal here can get you a ticket in New Jersey and Vermont, where the front-window limit is stricter. Shops in Connecticut and Massachusetts can legally install darker film than New York 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York (this page) | 70% | 70% | Any |
| Connecticut | 35% | 35% | Any |
| Massachusetts | 35% | 35% | 35% |
| New Jersey | None | Any | Any |
| Pennsylvania | 70% | 70% | 70% |
| Vermont | None | Any | Any |
Sedans vs SUVs, trucks and vans
New York treats multi-purpose vehicles differently. A sedan or coupe can run 70% VLT on the back side windows and any darkness on the rear window, while SUVs, pickups and vans can run any darkness behind the driver and any darkness on the rear glass. The front side windows are the same for both (70% VLT). Your vehicle type is printed on the federal certification label in the driver’s door jamb.
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 New York
The rule for the windshield is: 70% VLT; darker tint only on top 6 inches. Measure down from the top edge of the glass. If your windshield also has an AS-1 mark, our AS-1 line guide explains how the two compare.
Choosing film that passes in New York
Reflectivity is regulated too: new York law sets no specific reflectivity percentage; the limits are based on light transmittance only.. 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.
With front windows this strict, the usual approach is a light ceramic film on the fronts. It keeps the cabin noticeably cooler and blocks UV without dropping below the legal reading, and you can still go darker behind the driver where the law allows.
Need an installer who knows these rules? Browse New York tint shops on TintingNearMe.com.
If you get a tint ticket
Illegal tint is a traffic infraction with a fine of up to $150 plus state surcharge. Since 2017, tint is also checked at annual safety inspection, and a vehicle with front side windows under 70% VLT fails inspection.
No tint sticker is required for drivers. If DMV tests a ticketed vehicle's windows and they conform, a small label attesting to compliance is affixed. To see how New York 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: New York law sets no specific reflectivity percentage; the limits are based on light transmittance only.
- Rear side window limits of 70% apply only to sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, wagons, convertibles and hardtops
- A rear window darker than 70% requires outside mirrors on both sides
- Selling or installing non-compliant tint is illegal
- No statutory tolerance on VLT readings under current law
- A bill (A5306/S9226) to allow 50% VLT on side and rear windows passed the Legislature in June 2026 but had not been signed as of this update
Stickers and certification
No tint sticker is required for drivers. If DMV tests a ticketed vehicle's windows and they conform, a small label attesting to compliance is affixed.
Penalties
Illegal tint is a traffic infraction with a fine of up to $150 plus state surcharge. Since 2017, tint is also checked at annual safety inspection, and a vehicle with front side windows under 70% VLT fails inspection.
Compare penalties in every stateNew York medical exemption
Apply to the NY DMV Medical Review Unit with form MV-80W (Application for Tinted Window Exemption), completed by a NYS-licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner within 60 days of submission, plus a copy of their license and the vehicle registration. Only listed photosensitivity conditions (such as lupus, albinism, porphyria or xeroderma pigmentosum) or other severe photosensitivity qualify. The exemption can cover the registered owner or a regular passenger.
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: New York 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
More on the Window Tint Laws YouTube channel.
New York tint law questions
What is the darkest legal tint in New York?
Front side windows must be 70% VLT on all vehicles. Sedans also need 70% on the back side windows, while the rear window can be any darkness with dual side mirrors. SUVs, vans and trucks may use any darkness on all windows behind the driver.
Is front window tint legal in New York?
Only very light tint is legal. The front side windows must let at least 70% of light through, so most aftermarket film will fail. A pending bill would allow 50% but has not become law.
Can I get a medical exemption in New York?
Yes. Submit form MV-80W to the DMV Medical Review Unit with certification from a NYS-licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner. Only specific photosensitivity conditions qualify.
How much is a tint ticket in New York?
A tint violation is a traffic infraction with a fine of up to $150 plus surcharges. The vehicle will also fail its annual safety inspection until the tint is fixed.
Do I need a tint sticker in New York?
No. Drivers are not required to display a tint sticker. DMV only affixes a compliance label if it tests a ticketed vehicle's windows and finds them legal.
Sources and how we check
Governing law: N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 375(12-a); inspection under VTL § 301
- NY DMV: Tinted windows
- NY DMV Form MV-80W Application for Tinted Window Exemption
- NY Senate S9226 (2025-2026) quoting VTL § 375(12-a)
- IWFA: New York passes legislation making 50% VLT legal (June 2026)
Tint laws change, and police and inspection stations can interpret them differently. Confirm with the New York DMV or state police before you tint. Found something out of date? Tell us.