NY · tint law reference
New York window tint laws
Last verified September 13, 2026 · NY Vehicle and Traffic Law § 375(12-a)
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 | Must allow at least 70% light transmittance, except nonreflective tint is allowed on the uppermost 6 inches | Must allow at least 70% light transmittance, except nonreflective tint is allowed on the uppermost 6 inches |
| Front side | 70% VLT or lighter | 70% VLT or lighter |
| Back side | 70% VLT or lighter | No limit stated |
| Rear | 70% VLT or lighter | 70% 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
Not addressed in VTL 375(12-a); no reflectivity percentage limit stated in the statute
Colors
Not specified in the statute text
Medical exemption
Available via a physician's or nurse practitioner's statement that the applicant's condition appears on a list of medical conditions maintained by the NYS Commissioner of Health (form MV-80W per DMV); an approved applicant is issued a noticeable sticker
Stickers & certification
Medical exemption holders are issued a DMV sticker; no general certification/sticker requirement for standard compliant tint is stated in the statute
Measurement tolerance
This state does not state a measurement tolerance in the sources we checked.
Penalties
Statute and DMV page state it is illegal to sell, offer for sale, install, or operate a vehicle with noncompliant glass, but neither the statute text nor the DMV page specifies a fixed fine/point amount in the material reviewed
Notes
Rear SIDE window 70% VLT requirement (VTL 375(12-a)(b)(3)) applies only to vehicles 'classified as a station wagon, sedan, hardtop, coupe, hatchback or convertible' — trucks, vans, SUVs, and other multi-purpose vehicles are not covered by that clause and so have no state minimum on rear side windows. The rear window clause (b)(4) and the windshield/front-side-window clauses (b)(1)-(b)(2)) apply to 'every motor vehicle' regardless of body style, and the rear window 70% rule does not apply if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides. Confirmed via the official NY State Senate's codified-law page for VTL 375, cross-checked against the NY DMV's official tinted-windows page.
New York tint questions
What is the darkest legal tint in New York?
For a sedan in New York, front side windows must let at least 70% of light through, back side windows at least 70%, and the rear window at least 70%. Lower VLT means darker glass, so those percentages are floors, not targets, and the meter reads the film and the factory glass together. SUVs, vans and trucks are listed separately: front side 70%, back side no stated number, rear 70%.
Is 20% tint legal in New York?
No, not on the front side windows. New York requires at least 70% VLT there and 20% is darker than that, before you even account for the factory glass, which makes the reading darker still. The back side windows have a 70% floor, so 20% is too dark there too.
Can I tint the windshield in New York?
New York's rule for the windshield: Must allow at least 70% light transmittance, except nonreflective tint is allowed on the uppermost 6 inches
Does New York allow a medical exemption for darker tint?
What the source says: Available via a physician's or nurse practitioner's statement that the applicant's condition appears on a list of medical conditions maintained by the NYS Commissioner of Health (form MV-80W per DMV); an approved applicant is issued a noticeable sticker Confirm the current process with the agency named before you have film installed.
Do I need a tint sticker or certificate in New York?
Medical exemption holders are issued a DMV sticker; no general certification/sticker requirement for standard compliant tint is stated in the statute
Where this comes from
Statute cited: NY Vehicle and Traffic Law § 375(12-a)
- dmv.ny.govhttps://dmv.ny.gov/inspections/tinted-windows
- nysenate.govhttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/VAT/375
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.