NM · tint law reference
New Mexico window tint laws
Last verified September 13, 2026 · NMSA 1978 § 66-3-846.1
Confirm this one. We could not confirm every detail on the state's own site. Confirm with your state DMV before relying on this.
Legal tint limits at a glance
VLT is the share of light the window must let through — a lower number is darker film, and the reading includes the factory glass.
| Window | Sedans | SUVs, vans & trucks |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Nonreflective material only, not red/yellow/amber, confined to the top of the windshield not extending below the AS-1 line or more than 5 inches from the top, whichever is less | Nonreflective material only, not red/yellow/amber, confined to the top of the windshield not extending below the AS-1 line or more than 5 inches from the top, whichever is less |
| Front side | 20% VLT or lighter | 20% VLT or lighter |
| Back side | 20% VLT or lighter | 20% VLT or lighter |
| Rear | 20% VLT or lighter | 20% VLT or lighter |
Dual side mirrors required if the rear is tinted? Yes — this state requires dual outside mirrors when the rear window is tinted.
Is my tint legal here?
Film darkness and glass darkness multiply. Enter the film you are considering and the VLT of the bare glass to get the number a meter would read.
70 for tinted OEM glass, 80 for clear
Net VLT 14% 20% film × 70% glass
Pass/fail compares net VLT against the limits on this page only. Some states apply a measurement tolerance — see Measurement tolerance below — and none of this replaces a meter reading on your own glass.
The rest of the rule
Reflectivity
Side/rear window sun screening material must be 'nonreflective'; statute does not state a numeric reflectance percentage limit
Colors
Red, yellow, or amber banned on windshield sun screening material only; no color restriction stated for side/rear window material
Medical exemption
Exempt from penalty if the person carries a signed affidavit from a physician or optometrist licensed in NM stating the sun screening material is medically necessary; affidavit must be in the vehicle when driven
Stickers & certification
Installer/manufacturer must certify to the Motor Vehicle Division that material meets nonreflectivity and light-transmission requirements, and must permanently affix a label of no more than 1.5 sq. in. between the film and each glazing surface (lower left corner) showing manufacturer, date, and VLT%
Measurement tolerance
This state does not state a measurement tolerance in the sources we checked.
Penalties
Violation is a penalty assessment misdemeanor (amended 2018, ch. 74, §33; originally a petty misdemeanor with a fine up to $75 under the 1997 enactment)
Notes
Statute (66-3-846.1) makes no distinction between sedans and SUVs/vans/trucks — the same 20% VLT and mirror-equipped requirement applies to 'any motor vehicle.' Side/rear window tint is only permitted on vehicles equipped with one right and one left outside rearview mirror. Text confirmed by reading the actual bill text of the 2018 amending act (HB0271) and the 1997 original enactment (HB0649), both hosted on the official NM Legislature site (nmlegis.gov); could not load the New Mexico Compilation Commission's official codified-statute site directly (403/connection errors), so citation and exact current codified wording rely on the official legislative bill text rather than the compiled code page.
New Mexico tint questions
What is the darkest legal tint in New Mexico?
For a sedan in New Mexico, front side windows must let at least 20% of light through, back side windows at least 20%, and the rear window at least 20%. Lower VLT means darker glass, so those percentages are floors, not targets, and the meter reads the film and the factory glass together.
Is 20% tint legal in New Mexico?
On the front side windows, yes on paper: New Mexico allows 20% VLT or lighter there, and a film that measures 20% meets that floor. The catch is the measurement — an officer reads the film and the glass together, so a 20% film over typical 70% factory glass measures about 14% and would fail. Verify with a meter after install.
Can I tint the windshield in New Mexico?
New Mexico's rule for the windshield: Nonreflective material only, not red/yellow/amber, confined to the top of the windshield not extending below the AS-1 line or more than 5 inches from the top, whichever is less
Does New Mexico allow a medical exemption for darker tint?
What the source says: Exempt from penalty if the person carries a signed affidavit from a physician or optometrist licensed in NM stating the sun screening material is medically necessary; affidavit must be in the vehicle when driven Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.
Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in New Mexico?
Installer/manufacturer must certify to the Motor Vehicle Division that material meets nonreflectivity and light-transmission requirements, and must permanently affix a label of no more than 1.5 sq. in. between the film and each glazing surface (lower left corner) showing manufacturer, date, and VLT%
Where this comes from
Statute cited: NMSA 1978 § 66-3-846.1
- nmlegis.govhttps://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/18%20Regular/bills/house/HB0271.html
- nmlegis.govhttps://www.nmlegis.gov/sessions/97%20Regular/bills/house/HB0649.html
Checked against the state's own statute or DMV page on September 13, 2026. Laws change; if you find a newer rule, email admin@getpeelboard.com.
Legal disclaimer: general information, not legal advice; verify with your DMV.