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Maine bars side or rear window material that passes less than 35% of light, net of glass and material, with no stated tolerance. Side windows behind the driver and the rear window have no figure if the vehicle has outside rear view mirrors on both sides, adjusted to show the highway behind. Reflective material is barred except in the windshield's top strip, allowed above the AS-1 line or, without one, 5 inches down.
Source: 29-A M.R.S. § 1916; 16-222 C.M.R. ch. 12 (State Police rules for after-market window tinting); 16-222 C.M.R. ch. 1 (Maine Motor Vehicle Inspection Manual). Summary last checked against these sources on September 28, 2026.
| Window | Rule |
|---|---|
| Windshield | The windshield may not be composed of, covered by or treated with material that reduces light transmittance more than the original installation window or an original replacement window (subsection 1(B)). The exception is sun-screening or window-tinting material above the AS-1 line in the top portion of the windshield or, if there is no AS-1 line, along a 5-inch strip at the top (subsection 2(A)(3)). That strip is exempt from all of subsection 1, including the reflective-material bar. The AS-1 line is the "AS", "1" and arrow marking that 49 CFR 571.205 requires on certain safety glazing. The statute states no percentage for film below that line. The State Police inspection manual says a tinted sunshield strip that extends no more than 5 inches from the top of the windshield is permissible (16-222 C.M.R. ch. 1). |
| Front side windows | A side window may not be composed of, covered by or treated with material that allows a light transmittance of less than 35%, net of glass and material (subsection 1(C)). The figure is for the glass and the film together, not the film's own rating. The statute states no tolerance. The front door windows must also contain 2-way glass that gives the occupants a clear view of the road and a person outside a clear view of the occupants and the interior (subsection 1(D)). |
| Rear side windows | The 35% net figure in subsection 1(C) and the 2-way glass rule in subsection 1(D) do not apply to side windows behind the operator's seat if the vehicle has 2 outside rear view mirrors, one on each side, adjusted so the operator has a clear view of the highway behind (subsection 2(B)). The statute states no light transmittance figure for these windows when that condition is met, and the condition applies to any motor vehicle. Without those mirrors, the 35% figure applies, and the windows at either end of a rear passenger seat must contain 2-way glass. A State Police rule effective in 1990, adopted under the former 29 M.R.S.A. 1369-A before section 1916 was enacted in 1993, says no aftermarket film may be installed on factory-tinted rear side and rear windows of multi-purpose vehicles, or on factory-tinted rear windows of pickups under 10,000 lbs GVWR, if the result is below 35% (16-222 C.M.R. ch. 12, section 3). Its text does not address the mirror exception. |
| Rear window | The rear window follows the same rule as the side windows behind the driver: no light transmittance figure applies if the vehicle has 2 outside rear view mirrors, one on each side, adjusted to give a clear view of the highway behind; otherwise material must allow at least 35% light transmittance, net of glass and material (subsections 1(C), 2(B)). |
| Reflective material | No window may be composed of, covered by or treated with any material that is reflective (subsection 1(A)). The mirror exception in subsection 2(B) does not lift this bar for the windows behind the driver. Subsection 2(A) does exempt the windshield's top tint strip and vehicles granted a medical exception from all of subsection 1. The statute states no reflectance percentage. |
| Light transmittance certificate and installers | The owner or operator of a vehicle with windows covered by or treated with tinting material, or with tinted windows not replaced in accordance with FMVSS 205, must acquire a light transmittance certificate and show it to the inspection mechanic at inspection (subsection 3). Certificates are issued by persons the Chief of the State Police authorizes to examine window glazing and tint material. A person may not install a replacement window or tinting material that fails subsections 1 and 2, or fail to issue a certificate after installing tint for compensation (subsection 4(A), (B)). If the operator cannot produce the certificate when a law enforcement officer asks, the vehicle is presumed not to comply (subsection 5). The certificate is shown on request; the statute does not say it is affixed to the vehicle. Installers keep copies of certificates for three years (16-222 C.M.R. ch. 12, section 1). The inspection manual exempts vehicles with tinted glass on the rear side windows and rear window from its certificate check at inspection (16-222 C.M.R. ch. 1). |
VLT (visible light transmission) is the percentage of visible light that passes through a window or film; a higher number means lighter tint. Most state limits are measured on the finished window (glass and film together). Where a rule is stated for the film itself, the table says so. Some states also limit reflectance, the share of light bounced back off the surface (a mirror-like look).
Section 1916 applies to operating a motor vehicle required to be registered in Maine and to an inspection mechanic issuing a certificate of inspection for one (subsection 1). Subsection 1 does not apply to a certificate or other paper required or allowed by law to be displayed, or to the manufacturer's suggested retail price label (subsection 2(A)(1), (2)). The statute names no separate class for SUVs, pickups or vans: the exception for windows behind the driver depends only on having an outside rear view mirror on each side (subsection 2(B)). The 1990 State Police rule does name multi-purpose vehicles and pickups (see Rear side windows). The Chief of the State Police may adopt rules to implement the section (subsection 7).
The Chief of the State Police may grant an exception for a motor vehicle because the health of the owner or a person who usually occupies the vehicle is adversely affected by sunlight (subsection 2(A)(4)). On proper application, the Chief may give the owner a certificate of exemption, which must be displayed when a law enforcement officer asks. The statute states no minimum light transmittance for an exempted vehicle.
A person adjudicated of a violation of section 1916 commits a traffic infraction punished by a forfeiture of not less than $100 (subsection 6). At inspection, the State Police inspection manual tells the technician to reject a vehicle with tinted windows whose owner cannot provide a certificate of compliance, and any tint that fails the inspection standard must be removed; the manual exempts vehicles with tinted glass on the rear side windows and rear window from that certificate check (16-222 C.M.R. ch. 1).
A side or rear window may not be composed of, covered by or treated with material that allows less than 35% light transmittance, net of glass and material (29-A M.R.S. 1916(1)(C)). Side windows behind the driver and the rear window are exempt from that figure if the vehicle has 2 outside rear view mirrors, one on each side, adjusted to give a clear view of the highway behind (1916(2)(B)). Reflective material is barred on every window except the windshield's top tint strip (1916(1)(A), (2)(A)(3)). The statute states no tolerance.
If the vehicle has 2 outside rear view mirrors, one on each side, adjusted to give the operator a clear view of the highway behind, the 35% figure does not apply to side windows behind the operator's seat or to the rear window (1916(2)(B)), and the statute states no other figure for them. The reflective-material bar still applies. Without those mirrors, the 35% net figure applies to those windows too.
No. A vehicle may not be operated, and may not pass inspection, if a window is composed of, covered by or treated with any material that is reflective (29-A M.R.S. 1916(1)(A)). The bar covers the windows behind the driver too. It does not reach tint in the windshield's top strip above the AS-1 line, or a vehicle with a medical exception, because subsection 2(A) exempts both from subsection 1.
Only the top. Sun-screening or window-tinting material is allowed above the AS-1 line in the top portion of the windshield or, if there is no AS-1 line, along a 5-inch strip at the top (1916(2)(A)(3)). Below that, no material may reduce light transmittance more than the original or original replacement windshield (1916(1)(B)).
Yes. The owner or operator of a vehicle with tinting material must acquire a light transmittance certificate and show it to the inspection mechanic at inspection (1916(3)). A person who installs tint for compensation must issue one (1916(4)(B)). If you cannot produce the certificate when a law enforcement officer asks, the vehicle is presumed not to comply (1916(5)).
Yes. The Chief of the State Police may grant an exception when the health of the owner or a person who usually occupies the vehicle is adversely affected by sunlight, and may give the owner a certificate of exemption on proper application. The certificate must be displayed when a law enforcement officer asks (1916(2)(A)(4)).
A violation of 29-A M.R.S. 1916 is a traffic infraction punished by a forfeiture of not less than $100 (subsection 6).
Running a tint shop in Maine? See shop software for Maine.
This page summarizes Maine statute and regulation text for general information and is not legal advice. It covers passenger vehicles with aftermarket film (film added after the vehicle left the factory) and includes SUV, van and truck rules where the state sets different ones. Some vehicle types, such as limousines, buses, commercial and law-enforcement vehicles, and factory glass are treated differently in some states, and whether a vehicle registered in another state is covered depends on the state; see “Who this covers” above. Federal glazing rules (FMVSS 205, 49 CFR 571.205) apply separately from state law, and 49 U.S.C. 30122 bars manufacturers, distributors, dealers, rental companies and motor vehicle repair businesses from knowingly making inoperative any part of a device or element of design installed to comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard, so installers should check both. Laws change and enforcement varies; confirm current requirements with the state before tinting. Before tinting, ask the installer to measure your glass and confirm the finished window will meet the limit; afterward, ask for a reading on a light-transmission meter and keep it.