Legal tint in Arizona depends on which window you’re covering. Under ARS § 28-959.01, front side windows must let at least 33% of visible light through, rear side windows and the back window can be as dark as you want, and the windshield allows only a narrow transparent strip across the top. Every tinted window on the vehicle is also capped at 35% reflectance, and the statute carries a plus-or-minus three-percent tolerance on both numbers.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-959.01 – Materials on Windows or Windshield Exceptions Requirements Violation Definitions
Front Side Windows: 33% VLT
The driver and front passenger windows, including wing vents, must allow at least 33% visible light transmission. With the three-percent tolerance, officers using a portable tint meter will generally treat anything from 30% up as compliant.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-959.01 – Materials on Windows or Windshield Exceptions Requirements Violation Definitions
Banking on that tolerance is risky. Film degrades, meters vary, and a 29% reading on a hot afternoon still writes up as a citation. If you want to be safely legal, install a film rated at 35% or higher on the front sides.
Rear and Back Windows: No Darkness Limit
Behind the driver, Arizona lets you go as dark as you like. There is no minimum light transmission for the rear side windows or the back glass, so limo-dark film is permitted.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-959.01 – Materials on Windows or Windshield Exceptions Requirements Violation Definitions
One condition applies. If the back glass is dark enough that your rearview mirror is no longer useful, the car must have both left and right side mirrors, each giving a view of at least 200 feet behind the vehicle. Most factory setups already clear that bar, but check after any mirror replacement before you tint the rear.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-959.01 – Materials on Windows or Windshield Exceptions Requirements Violation Definitions
Windshield: Only a Top Strip
You can apply a transparent tint band across the top of the windshield, but its bottom edge must sit at least 29 inches above the driver’s seat. The measurement is taken from a point five inches in front of the bottom of the backrest, with the seat on its lowest setting and pushed all the way back, on a level surface. In practice this leaves room for a narrow band only.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-959.01 – Materials on Windows or Windshield Exceptions Requirements Violation Definitions
A common mistake is to line the strip up with the AS-1 line the manufacturer etched into the glass. The statute doesn’t mention AS-1. Measure from the seat.
The strip also can’t be red or amber. Those colors are reserved for brake, signal, and emergency lighting.
Reflectance Cap: 35% on Every Tinted Window
Whatever shade you choose, no tinted window on the vehicle may exceed 35% luminous reflectance, with the same three-percent tolerance. That rule rules out mirror-finish films but still permits most ceramic and carbon heat-rejection films, which rely on infrared blocking rather than metallic reflectivity.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-959.01 – Materials on Windows or Windshield Exceptions Requirements Violation Definitions
What a Tint Ticket Costs
Illegal tint is treated as an equipment violation. The usual outcome is a fix-it ticket: remove or replace the film, show proof of correction, and the fine is often dismissed or reduced. Ignore the ticket and the fine grows, with escalating consequences for repeat violations.
The statute sets no dollar amount, so fines vary by court. The bigger expense is almost always the film itself. Professional removal usually runs $50 to $150 for a full vehicle, and reinstalling a legal film on a four-door sedan ranges from roughly $150 to $900 depending on the shop and the product.
Medical Exemption for Sun-Sensitive Drivers
If a medical condition requires you to limit sun exposure, ARS § 28-959.01(G) lets you apply for an exemption that permits darker side and rear windows. Lupus, severe photosensitivity, and certain dermatological disorders can qualify. The exemption does not let you tint the windshield beyond the standard strip area.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-959.01 – Materials on Windows or Windshield Exceptions Requirements Violation Definitions
You’ll need a written certification from an MD, DO, NMD, or ophthalmologist stating that you need shielding from direct sunlight and that standard eye protection isn’t enough. Other medical professionals can’t sign the form.2Arizona Department of Transportation. Application for Window Tint Medical Exemption
Submit that certification with ADOT Form 40-1511 to the Motor Vehicle Division. The exemption is tied to specific vehicles by VIN, so list every car you drive or ride in regularly, including vehicles you don’t own. New cars can be added later without a fresh medical signature.2Arizona Department of Transportation. Application for Window Tint Medical Exemption
Keep a copy of the approved exemption in the vehicle. If you’re stopped for dark windows and can’t produce it, you’ll likely get a citation and have to clear it in court by presenting the paperwork.
What to Expect From a Tint Shop
Film manufacturers must certify to ADOT that their products meet Arizona’s light transmission and reflectance standards, and anyone selling or installing tint must tell the buyer that film legal here may not be legal in other states.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 28-959.01 – Materials on Windows or Windshield Exceptions Requirements Violation Definitions
There is no state requirement for a compliance sticker between the film and the glass, despite what some shop websites claim. A good installer will still meter every window before and after the job and may apply a label showing the measured VLT. The label can help during a stop, but the officer’s meter reading is what decides whether you’re legal.