Arizona exempts front side windows from its tint ban at 33% light transmission plus or minus 3%, with 35% plus or minus 3% reflectance; the statute states no light-transmission limit for the back side windows or the rear window, which are instead exempt on a reflectance test, and the rear window is also exempt if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides showing at least 200 feet behind. Reflectance is a condition on the front side windows (35% plus or minus 3%), the rear side windows and the rear window (35% plus or minus 3% or less, unless the rear window uses the mirror route, which sets no reflectance condition), and red or amber material is not covered by the windshield-strip exception. This comes from Arizona Revised Statutes 28-959.01.
Arizona VLT limits by window
- Front side windows (driver + front passenger): exempt when the material plus glazing has 33% light transmission ±3% and 35% luminous reflectance ±3%. The statute does not word the 33% figure as a minimum.
- Back side windows: no VLT minimum, but they are exempt only at luminous reflectance of 35% ±3% or less. Rear window: no VLT minimum if it meets that same reflectance test, or if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides giving a clear view at least 200 feet to the rear (A.R.S. 28-959.01). The dual-mirror exemption applies to the rear window only, not to the rear side windows.
- Windshield: a strip is allowed at the top of the glass if its bottom edge is at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat.
- Reflectivity and color: front side windows are exempt at 35% ±3% luminous reflectance, and rear side windows and the rear window at 35% ±3% or less (the rear-window mirror route sets no reflectance condition); the windshield strip cannot be red or amber, and the statute states no reflectance figure for the strip.
Medical exemptions
Arizona's Department of Transportation may issue a medical exemption on application from a person who must be shielded from direct sun for medical reasons, supported by a written attestation from a licensed physician (A.R.S. 28-959.01(G)). It covers the side and rear windows of that person's vehicle or one they regularly ride in. The statute doesn't say whether the exemption must be carried in the vehicle, so ask ADOT MVD.
Enforcement and penalties
Illegal tint is a civil traffic violation in Arizona (A.R.S. 28-121, since section 28-959.01 sets no different classification). A civil penalty generally may not exceed $250, plus court surcharges (A.R.S. 28-1598).
What this means when you're quoting a job
Arizona's lack of a light-transmission limit on rear windows is a real selling point for a state with 110°F summers, but the front-window 33% ±3% figure plus the 35% ±3% reflectance conditions still catch installers who default to whatever's popular in a stricter neighboring state. A window tint shop software tool with Arizona's actual front-window and reflectivity limits in the quote builder keeps a heat-focused sale from accidentally becoming an illegal one up front.
Frequently asked questions
What is the darkest legal tint in Arizona? Front side windows are exempt at 33% VLT plus or minus 3% with 35% plus or minus 3% reflectance; the statute does not word this as a minimum. It states no VLT limit for the back side windows (which need reflectance of 35% plus or minus 3% or less) or the rear window (which needs that reflectance test or dual outside mirrors giving a 200-foot view to the rear).
Is 5% tint legal in Arizona? Not on the front side windows — 5% is well below the 33% plus or minus 3% figure that exemption is built on. The statute states no VLT limit for the back side windows or the rear window, but they must meet the reflectance test (the rear window can alternatively use the dual-mirror route).
Can I get mirrored or reflective tint in Arizona? Front side windows are exempt at 35% plus or minus 3% luminous reflectance (alongside 33% plus or minus 3% light transmission), rear side windows at 35% plus or minus 3% or less, and the rear window on that same test or through the dual-mirror route, which sets no reflectance condition. Red or amber is not covered by the windshield-strip exception.
Is Arizona tint enforcement strict? The statute is the same statewide and does not vary by city. How strictly officers enforce it in a given area is not set out in the statute, so this page makes no claim about it.
Do I need dual mirrors for dark rear tint in Arizona? Not necessarily. The rear window is exempt either through the dual-mirror route (outside mirrors on both sides showing the highway for at least 200 feet to the rear) or on the reflectance test (35% plus or minus 3% or less). The mirror route doesn't extend to the rear side windows, which need reflectance of 35% plus or minus 3% or less.
This is general information based on Arizona's public statutes and reporting on A.R.S. 28-959.01, not legal advice — enforcement can vary and laws change over time, so confirm specifics with the Arizona MVD or a licensed attorney before you install, buy, or contest a citation.
Related
- State-by-state window tint laws (VLT limits) - Arizona shop market + VLT summary - Window tint percentages: what VLT, 5%, 20%, 35% mean - California window tint law: VLT limits & exemptions