Understanding Arizona Window Tint Percents: The Complete Guide

What You Need to Know about Arizona Tint Laws

Arizona tint laws are important pieces of legislation that every driver of a vehicle must understand. They are put in place for the safety of everyone on the road, and this is why it is absolutely essential to familiarize yourself with the tinting rules that apply to your vehicle.
Window tinting laws vary by state, and even by county or municipality in some places. It can be difficult for an individual driver to know the legal limits for tint in every one of these locations. It can also be a bit of a hassle to track down exactly what those rules are. However, understanding the window tinting laws in your area is a vital aspect of vehicle ownership that every driver in the state of Arizona must pay close attention to.
The laws regulating window tinting vary by type of window, so it’s crucial not to overlook any details. Here is a brief overview of the tinting laws for passenger vehicles in the state of Arizona:
The front windshield of a passenger vehicle must have no tint (although a strip of tint is allowed in the top most 5 inches of the window, so long as it meets other requirements) . The tint must allow at least 33 percent of light through (called "VLT" or "visible light transmission") and should not be applied past a certain point called the AS-1 line, which is typically between 29 and 30 inches from the bottom of the windshield.
For the windshield, tint that reflects light outward is not allowed (although mirrors are fine for side mirrors and rear windows). The tint must stay within the manufacturer’s specifications for tint, with a tolerance level of five percent.
For the front passenger windows, tint must allow at least 33 percent of light through, and the reflective balance does not allow for any mirrors.
For the rear windows, the tint must allow a minimum VLT of 5 percent. Major manufacturer tint is permitted for sedans, and manufacturers may recommend up to 50 percent VLT. Total darkness is allowed for SUVs and vans.
Total darkness is permitted for all vehicles for the rear window, including SUVs, vans and sedans.

Current Percent Legal in Arizona

The current legal tint percentages in Arizona mandates that the driver’s and front passenger’s windows must be no more than 33% (AS-1) on top portion of windshield, and all other windows must be no more than 50% (AS-1) including the back window. All windows must have some amount of light transmittance and reflectiveness. For the Arizona legal tint laws, after-market window tint films to the front windows of a vehicle comes in 5, 20, 35 and 50% selectivity. The maximum reflectiveness on the windshield, back beside and rear window is 5%. An Arizona law enforcement officer can tell the reflectiveness of a window by looking through it and not measuring the percentage. When the Arizona legal tint film is installed correctly on the front windows the reflectiveness will be equal to the back windows so as not to cause any distractions or safety problems. Note that there are no special exceptions for medical requirements and the same percentages apply to individuals with community service jobs, such as fire truck drivers, police officers, mail carriers, etc.

Illegal Tint Penalties

If you’re pulled over and have too dark of window tint or illegal tint on your vehicle, you can be issued fines. Police officers have strict guidelines to follow with respect to the amount allowed and the application of tint to the windows of a vehicle. You may be subject to non-compliance fines if your window tint is too dark. Not all police officers will issue you a fine on your first offense. Sometimes they will simply warn you and allow you to have the window tint levels measured. A ticket can be issued, though, and is likely to happen if the infraction is severe enough.
If your window tint is deemed to be illegal in Arizona, you will be issued a notice of non-compliance. This notification gives you 10 days to bring your vehicle into compliance with the law. You will be given a new inspection notice card, and a time is provided for you to recheck the tint levels on your vehicle. You may also be fined anywhere from $50 to $250. The second infraction within 24 months could result in a fine of $500 while the third offense carries a penalty of up to $2,500. It is also possible that the motor vehicle may be impounded in addition to the fines.

Exceptions to Arizona Tint Law

Exceptions to Arizona Tint Laws
Aside from medical exceptions, not too many things are exempt from auto window tint laws. That said, there are a couple of exceptions to Arizona laws which you should be aware of.
Medical Exemptions
Medical exemptions are the most common type of tint exception in Arizona. By requesting a Medical Exemption, you are basically stating that you or one of your passengers has an ocular condition which requires protection from the direct sunlight. As a result, you will be exempt from the standard tint laws and this provision will be stated on your certificate of registration.
Again , you must have a Medical Exemption Certificate and Certification Label to legally have darker window tints on your vehicle. It’s important to keep these two items on you at all times in case of law enforcement questions.
Except for exempt medical conditions, any light transmittance less than the allowed percent for tinting materials is no longer permitted.
Vehicle Accessories
If your vehicle is from outside of the United States (i.e. foreign manufactured), it is not subject to the same tint rules as American vehicles. This law ensures that owners of foreign made vehicles can legally tint of their choice.

How to Update Your Tint to Pass Arizona Law

The first step to ensure your tint is legal is to take a measurement at a well-lit location. You can use any one of the numerous tint meters on the market today. If you have shrubbery or other obstructions in or near the window, it will increase the accuracy of your reading. These meters shoot a beam through the tint and measure the amount of light transmitted through the tint. If you have a vehicle professional tint your windows, the vehicle professional should check the tint with a meter as well before you drive the vehicle to ensure that it is legal. Arizona law enforcement officers also carry meters so they can measure your tint on all of your windows.
If a vehicle owner finds that the tint is over the limits set by Arizona statutes, there are steps that can be taken to remove the tinting. The method generally depends on how closely the tint was applied. If you find the tint is legal, it is recommended that you document the absence of the tint, such as having a police officer witness the measurement and write a statement to that effect. This is particularly important if your vehicle has been pulled over for a suspected tint violation. You will also be able to prove that your vehicle meets the statutory requirements and you weren’t pulled over for that reason.

Which Tint is Right for Your Vehicle

When choosing the right tint shade for your automobile, there are a number of factors that can influence your decision, all of which have to be balanced with the legal window tint levels as set forth by law. Among these is the climate in which you reside. In general, and most apparent in the summer, the darker the tint, the more heat it blocks out. For this reason, many people who live in very hot climates will choose a darker shade of tint for the windows of their automobiles than will a person who resides in a temperate or mixed climate.
Yet another issue to consider is the size and color of your vehicle. If you drive a small blue Volkswagen , you may not want to have a really dark tint on the windows. Similarly, if you drive a limosine, a dark tint may just make it look like a wedding transport gone wrong. Consider your vehicle’s color and size when choosing the tint shade for your windows.
Most importantly, don’t forget to think about your own personal preference. Just like some people like olive green, while others like burnt orange, they may also have favorite colors for their window tint. As long as you’re not breaking any laws, go with something you like when adding tint to your windows.