Back in 1994, Arizona put into effect laws regarding car window tinting to regulate how much darkness or reflectiveness is allowed on car windows. To avoid any issues with law enforcement, it’s important to ensure that your car’s window tint adheres to these regulations. To help you stay on the right side of the law, I’ve gathered all the information and documentation related to car window tinting in AZ. Be sure to familiarize yourself with these regulations, including any additional rules and regulations, to avoid receiving fines or other penalties.
Auto window tinting involves understanding two key elements – Visible Light Transmission (VLT) and Visible Light Reflection (VLR). In just a moment, we’ll talk about each of these in turn, beginning with VLT.
1. Legal Window Tint Darkness in AZ (VLT)
Window Tint Darkness Visible light transmission (VLT) is a measure of the amount of light that passes through a film. It’s measured in percentages and can fluctuate anything from 0% to 100%. The higher the percentage, the more visible light is transmitted through the film.
Each state in the US has its own set of laws for tinted windows in vehicles. It’s important to note that what may be permissible in one state could be illegal in another. For example, in Arizona, the amount of light that can pass through tinted glass differs from other states, and it also varies for different types of vehicles, such as passenger cars and multi-purpose vehicles. To avoid any legal trouble, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with AZ’s tinting laws and ensure that you comply with them.
Tint darkness laws for passenger vehicles (sedans) in Arizona:
Windshield: To comply with AZ windshield tint law, you can use a non-reflective tint above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.
Front Side windows: You can use up to 33% tint darkness.
Back Side windows: You can use any darkness for backside windows.
Rear Window: You can use any darkness for rear windows.
Tint darkness laws for multi-purpose vehicles (SUVs and vans) in Arizona:
Windshield: To comply with AZ windshield tint law, you can use a non-reflective tint above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.
Front Side windows: You can use up to 33% tint darkness.
Back Side windows: You can use any tint darkness for backside windows.
Rear Window: You can use any tint darkness for rear windows.
2. Legal Window Tint Reflection in AZ (VLR)
For window tinting, it’s also important to understand the concept of Window Tint Reflection or visible light reflection (VLR), which measures the amount of light that a window film reflects. This measurement is expressed as a percentage, ranging from 0% to 100%. The lower the VLR percentage, the less visible light will be reflected into the car, resulting in more sunlight being blocked.
In Arizona, the laws regarding window tinting also consider the percentage of visible light reflection allowed when using tint. It’s crucial to pay close attention to this regulation to ensure that your car’s window tinting adheres to the allowable VLR percentage. So, be sure to keep this in mind when considering window tinting for your car in Arizona.
Tint reflection laws for passenger vehicles (sedans) in Arizona:
Front Side windows: Front side windows must not be more than 35% reflective.
Back Side windows: Back side windows must not be more than 35% reflective as well.
Tint reflection laws for multi-purpose vehicles (SUVs and Vans) in Arizona:
Front Side windows: Front side windows must not be more than 35% reflective.
Back Side windows: Back side windows must not be more than 35% reflective as well.
Other AZ Window Tint Rules and Regulations:
If you’re planning to tint the windows of your car in Arizona, it’s essential to know that the state takes its window tinting laws seriously. Besides adhering to specific percentages of darkness and glare on each window, there are several other rules and regulations that you must follow to avoid legal penalties. For instance:
Side Mirrors: You require a dual side mirror on your vehicle if your rear window is tinted.
Restricted Colors: If you’re considering car window tinting in Arizona, you may wonder which colors are permitted by law. It’s important to note that certain shades, like red and amber, are not allowed in the state. However, you can use gray, green, bronze, and neutral smoke tint with no issues. So if you have your heart set on a smoke gray tint for your vehicle, you can make that choice with confidence.
Certificates: In Arizona, certification is not required for the film used to tint cars by manufacturers.
Stickers: As per the regulations, upon completing the window tinting process, you are not required to display any stickers to confirm compliance. This is quite impressive!
Medical Exceptions: Arizona state law permits medical exemptions for lower tint on all windows for individuals with certain clinical necessities. As required by the medical exemption law in Arizona, the driver of a vehicle with darker tinted windows must not only have the document issued by the window tint installer but also a clinical note from the specialist doctor providing details of the special needs.
Penalties For Non-Compliance: If the car window tinting is not done correctly, you may face a fine of up to $250.
Conclusion
According to Arizona Revised Statute 28-959.01, drivers who wish to tint their sedan, SUV, or van must adhere to specific guidelines. For windshield, Arizona laws permit you to use non-reflective tint above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line. The front side windows must have a visible light transmission (VLT) of at least 33%. On the other hand, there are no restrictions on the darkness of the back side windows and rear windows. However, if the back windshield is tinted, the law requires the use of dual side mirrors.
Disclaimer
The information on this site is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice or as a substitute for the advice of an attorney. No user of this site, or any other person or entity that may have received this information, shall rely upon the information contained ‌as creating an attorney-client relationship between such user and Car Glass Advisor. The rules and regulations pertaining to car window tint in Arizona may change at any time. Therefore, please contact a local lawyer licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.
Arizona Tint Law References:
- Alabama Code Title 32, Chapter 5C: Window tinting and medical exceptions
- Alabama Department of Public Safety – Window Tinting Regulations (.pdf file)
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency – Tinting Regulations