Legal Tint in NY: New York Window Tint Laws for 2026
Short answerPartly. Under Vehicle and Traffic Law § 375(12-a), the legal tint in NY for a windshield and front side windows must let in at least 70 percent of light. Rear side windows on cars follow the same limit. A rear window can be darker if both side mirrors work. Darker tint is not legal up front.
Last verified: October 26, 2026 against Vehicle and Traffic Law § 375 and NY DMV tinted window guidance
What is the legal tint in NY? New York measures tint by how much light passes through the glass, called light transmittance. The state limit is 70 percent. That number surprises many drivers, because many popular films are darker than that.
This page explains which windows the rule covers, what the percentages mean, how inspections work, who can get a medical exemption and what is changing in Albany. It covers state law only and is general information, not legal advice.
Key facts
- Windshield: at least 70 percent light transmittance. Tint is allowed only on the top six inches.
- Front side windows: at least 70 percent, on every vehicle.
- Rear side windows: at least 70 percent on cars the DMV classifies as a “Passenger Car.”
- Rear window: can be darker only if the car has outside mirrors on both sides that give a clear view behind you.
- Inspections: tint has been checked at the yearly safety inspection since January 1, 2017.
- Medical exemption: available through DMV Form MV-80W for listed conditions.
What is the legal tint in NY?
The legal tint in New York State is 70 percent or lighter on the windshield and front side windows. In plain terms, 70 percent or more of the outside light must pass through the glass, so the glass may block no more than 30 percent. Vehicle and Traffic Law § 375(12-a) sets this rule.
The percentage is the light that gets through, not the light that is blocked. A “20 percent” film lets only 20 percent of light in, so it is much darker than the law allows. A 70 percent film looks nearly clear.
| Window | Minimum light transmittance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | 70 percent | Tint allowed only on the uppermost six inches |
| Front side windows (beside the driver) | 70 percent | Applies to all vehicles |
| Rear side windows | 70 percent | Station wagon, sedan, hardtop, coupe, hatchback or convertible |
| Rear window | 70 percent | Can be darker if both outside mirrors give a clear view behind |
Is 35 tint legal in NY?
No, not on the windshield or front side windows. A 35 percent film lets in only 35 percent of light, which is darker than the 70 percent minimum. The same answer applies to 30 percent, 20 percent and 5 percent (“limo”) tint on those windows.
A darker tint can be legal on a rear window if your car has outside rear-view mirrors on both sides that give a full, clear view of the road behind. On a passenger car, the rear side windows still have to meet the 70 percent rule.
What is the darkest tint you can legally have?
The darkest legal tint on a New York windshield or front side window is 70 percent light transmittance. The test applies to the finished window, so if you add film to glass that is already tinted, the combined result must still be 70 percent or higher.
Film type does not change the test. The law looks at how much light passes through, so a ceramic film, a dyed film or a color-shifting “chameleon” film is legal only if the finished window measures 70 percent or more.
Which windows does the tint law cover?
The rule covers the windshield, the front side windows, the rear side windows on passenger cars and the rear window. Each has its own wrinkle, so it helps to check your own vehicle.
Rear side windows on SUVs, vans and trucks
The rear side window rule names station wagons, sedans, hardtops, coupes, hatchbacks and convertibles. The DMV says your vehicle counts if the Federal ID label on the left front door panel reads “Passenger Car.” If your label says something else, the rear side window rule may not apply to you, but the windshield and front side window limits still do.
Headlights and tail lights
Section 375(12-a) covers window glass. It does not mention headlight or tail light covers. Lamp covers and tints fall under separate lighting rules in the Vehicle and Traffic Law, so a “smoked” lamp cover is a different question from window tint.
Stickers and signs on glass
The same subdivision bars signs, posters and other nontransparent material on the windshield and on the side windows near the driver. The exception is papers the law requires.
How does a NY inspection check window tint?
Inspection stations check tint as part of the yearly safety inspection. Chapter 444 of the Laws of 2016 amended Vehicle and Traffic Law § 301 to add window tint to the inspection, and it took effect on January 1, 2017.
Inspectors test windows under the DMV’s Part 79 procedures. The state’s rules also make it illegal to sell, install or operate a vehicle with glass that does not comply.
What are the penalties for illegal window tint in New York?
Illegal tint is a vehicle equipment violation, and the general penalty clause for Section 375 sets a fine of up to $150, up to 30 days in jail, or both (Vehicle and Traffic Law § 375(32)(a)).
Tint shops face the same law. Selling, offering for sale or equipping a vehicle with noncompliant glass is also barred, so a shop that installs 20 percent film on a front window is breaking the rule too.
Who can get a medical tint exemption?
Drivers with certain light-sensitive conditions can apply to the DMV for a tinted window exemption using Form MV-80W. The application needs a statement from a physician or nurse practitioner, and an approved vehicle gets a sticker to display.
Listed conditions include albinism, lupus erythematosus, porphyria, xeroderma pigmentosum, dermatomyositis, chronic actinic dermatitis, severe drug photosensitivity with long treatment, photophobia tied to an eye or nerve disorder, and any other severe photosensitivity that requires shielding from direct sun. Health Department rules that took effect on December 20, 2017 added conditions to the list.
What are the New York City rules?
New York City follows the state tint standard. The 70 percent limit in Vehicle and Traffic Law § 375(12-a) applies in all five boroughs, and city cars go through the same state inspection.
Pending bill: Assembly bill A5306 and Senate bill S9226 would lower the minimum light transmittance for side windows and the rear window from 70 percent to 50 percent, keep the windshield at 70 percent, and allow a margin of plus or minus 7 percent on measurements. The Senate passed A5306 on June 2, 2026, after the Assembly acted earlier in the year. As of October 26, 2026, the Senate’s bill page showed no signature or chapter number, so the 70 percent rule still applies. If it becomes law, it takes effect on the 60th day after that.
Real-world examples
- Brooklyn commuter with a used sedan: the front doors have 35 percent film from the previous owner. It fails the 70 percent test at inspection, and the film has to come off before the car passes.
- Upstate hatchback owner: the rear window is very dark, but the car has working outside mirrors on both sides. The rear window rule allows that, though the rear side windows still need 70 percent.
- Driver with lupus: darker front windows may be allowed after the DMV approves Form MV-80W and the sticker is displayed.
Timeline of New York window tint law
- January 1, 1992: the 70 percent tint rule in Section 375(12-a) applies to manufacturing, selling, equipping and operating vehicles in the state. Model year 1991 or older vehicles are excepted if their windows met the rule on December 31, 1991.
- January 1, 2017: tint checks added to yearly safety inspections under Chapter 444 of the Laws of 2016.
- December 20, 2017: Health Department rules add conditions that can qualify for a medical exemption.
- June 2, 2026: the Senate passes A5306, the bill that would lower the side and rear limit to 50 percent.
Myths and facts
- Myth: 35 percent tint is the legal limit in NY. Fact: The limit is 70 percent on front windows.
- Myth: Ceramic or chameleon film is exempt. Fact: The test is light transmittance, whatever the film type.
- Myth: A pending bill already changed the limit. Fact: Until a bill becomes law, 70 percent stays the rule.
What should you do if you are ticketed for tint?
Read the ticket for the exact section and window cited, and keep your registration and inspection records. The simplest fix is to remove the film or replace the glass, then keep proof of the repair. If you have a qualifying medical condition, apply for the MV-80W exemption.
You can contest a ticket by following the instructions on it. For other vehicle rules, see our driving and vehicles section.
Frequently asked questions
What percent tint is legal in NY?
Seventy percent is the minimum light transmittance for the windshield and front side windows. Rear side windows on passenger cars follow the same limit. The rear window can be darker if the car has outside mirrors on both sides that give a clear view behind.
Is 20 percent tint legal in NY?
No, not on the windshield or front side windows, and not on the rear side windows of a passenger car. A 20 percent film lets in only 20 percent of light. It may be allowed on a rear window if both outside mirrors give a clear view behind you.
Is 30 tint legal in NY?
No, for the same reason. Thirty percent tint is darker than the 70 percent minimum on front windows. It can only be considered on a rear window that qualifies under the two-mirror exception, and a medical exemption is a separate route.
Are tinted windows illegal in NY?
Not all tint is illegal. Light film that keeps the finished window at 70 percent or higher is legal, and a rear window may be darker with two working outside mirrors. Tint that makes front windows darker than 70 percent is not allowed.
Does tint have to pass inspection in NY?
Yes. Since January 1, 2017, inspection stations check how much light your windows let through. Noncompliant tint can lead to a failed inspection, and you will need to correct it before the car can pass.
Can I get darker tint with a doctor’s note?
Only through the DMV’s formal process. A note alone is not enough. You must file Form MV-80W with a physician or nurse practitioner statement for a listed condition, and display the sticker the DMV issues if approved.
What changed on this page
- October 26, 2026: first publication, checked against Vehicle and Traffic Law § 375, NY DMV tinted window guidance, Chapter 444 of the Laws of 2016 and the status of bills A5306 and S9226. Spotted a mistake? See our corrections page and editorial policy.
If this affects you
For inspection questions or a medical exemption, contact the New York State DMV. For a ticket you want to fight, talk to a New York-licensed traffic attorney. The New York State Bar Association lawyer referral service can help you find one. For more topics in this area, browse driving and vehicle laws.