Tint laws by state
Arizona tint laws: 33% on the front doors, the rest is yours
Arizona measures light transmission with the glass and allows 3 points either way. Enter the film and the glass: the calculator checks the front doors and shows the rear as free.
Legal only with the tolerance in Arizona
31.5% front side
| Meter reads | Law | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front side | 31.5% | 33% | tolerance |
| Rear side | – | any darkness | any |
| Back window | – | any darkness | any |
Darkest film on this glass: front side 47.2% · rear side any film · back window any film
Windshield: strip only
Statute: A.R.S. § 28-959.01 · Arizona
Read on October 24, 2026 on the official site azleg.gov.
Arizona regulates two things on the front doors: light and reflection. Under A.R.S. § 28-959.01, the side windows to the immediate right and left of the driver must let through at least 33% of the light, plus or minus 3%, and may not have a luminous reflectance above 35%, plus or minus 3%. The light transmission figure includes the glass, so a 35% film reads 28% on 80% factory glass and fails, while a 45% film reads 36% and passes. Behind the driver there is no light limit: the rear side windows can take any shade, and the back window too, provided the car has outside mirrors on both sides showing at least 200 feet to the rear. The reflectance limit still applies there. On the windshield, transparent material may cover the top as long as its bottom edge stays at least 29 inches above the undepressed driver's seat, and it may not be red or amber. A violation is a civil traffic violation with a penalty of up to $250 plus surcharges.
Tint ticket in your state
Highest fine written in the law
$250
| Front side windows | 33% |
| Meter tolerance | 3 points |
| Statute | A.R.S. §§ 28-121(B), 28-1598 |
Statutes read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · How the check works
Read on October 24, 2026 on the official site azleg.gov.
Light and reflection, both on the front doors
Many buyers in Arizona ask for heat control rather than darkness, and the law gives two limits for that. The light transmission must stay at 33% or more, plus or minus 3, with the glass. The reflectance may not pass 35%, plus or minus 3, which rules out strong mirror finishes but leaves room for ceramic and lightly reflective films. Here is what common films give on two glass readings:
| Film | On 75% glass | On 85% glass | Arizona front doors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50% | 37.5% | 42.5% | legal |
| 45% | 33.8% | 38.3% | legal |
| 40% | 30% | 34% | within the margin on 75%, legal on 85% |
| 35% | 26.2% | 29.8% | too dark on 75%, within the margin on 85% |
| 20% | 15% | 17% | too dark |
Behind the driver
The rear side windows have no light limit, only the reflectance cap. The back window is exempt when the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides giving a view of at least 200 feet to the rear, which nearly every current car has. Arizona does not split cars and SUVs: the same rule applies to every vehicle.
Measure before you choose a film
Two cars of the same model can carry glass with different readings, and a replaced door glass may not match the others. Ask the shop to read each bare front window before it cuts the film, then multiply: the calculator above does it for you. If the reading is not available, entering 70% gives the cautious answer, because it is the federal minimum for new glass.
What sellers must tell you
Film makers must certify their products to the director, and sellers and installers must state in a conspicuous way that installing film on the front side windows may be illegal in some states. There is no Arizona sticker to put on the glass, so keep the invoice with the film name and percentage.
Fine and how it is handled
A tint violation is a civil traffic violation. The penalty is capped at $250 by section 28-1598, and state law adds surcharges to that amount. The tool below shows the cap in Arizona and lets you compare it with any other state:
Tint ticket in your state
Highest fine written in the law
$250
| Front side windows | 33% |
| Meter tolerance | 3 points |
| Statute | A.R.S. §§ 28-121(B), 28-1598 |
Medical exemption
The Department of Transportation may exempt a person who must be shielded from the sun, on a physician's written attestation. The exemption covers the side and rear windows of the person's vehicle or of a vehicle in which the person often rides. Keep the document in the car.
Around Arizona
California allows only clear film on the front doors. Nevada asks for 35% there, Utah for 35%, New Mexico for 20% and Colorado for 27%. An Arizona car at the 33% line is too dark on the front for California, Nevada and Utah, and passes in New Mexico and Colorado. Figures read on the Arizona Legislature site on October 24, 2026.