What's legal on your windshield and side windows, in plain English, with the statute source. Reviewed October 2026.
Published September 21, 2026 · Updated October 21, 2026 · By John Le, owner of Phantom Tint
Before we tint a single window, almost every customer asks some version of the same question: how dark can I actually go? Here's the plain-English version, window by window, with the statute behind it. Planning a tint? Our cost guide and the ceramic films we install are the next stops.
All of it comes from Arizona Revised Statutes § 28-959.01. This is general information, not legal advice. Laws can change, so confirm against the statute or with the Arizona Department of Transportation before you tint, and we'll happily help you pick a shade that fits.
The part that trips people up most: the law measures light transmission through the film and your factory glass together, not the film alone. A lot of vehicles ship with slightly tinted glass already, so a film rated at 35% can end up measuring darker once it's actually installed. That's the main reason we don't just sell you a percentage off a chart. We look at your specific glass and recommend a shade that lands where you actually want it, legally, once it's on the car.
If you've been shopping around, you've probably seen percentages like 5%, 20%, 35%, 50% and 70% and weren't sure which way is darker. Lower is darker: a 5% film is very dark and barely lets light through, while 70% is nearly clear. Our ceramic films span that whole range, so whatever look you're going for, there's a shade that fits it and stays inside Arizona's rules.
Arizona has a medical exemption process through the Motor Vehicle Division, supported by a written attestation from a physician. If that applies to you, start with ADOT MVD for the current process, then loop us in so we can plan your install around whatever exemption you're issued.
You don't have to memorize any of this before you call. Tell us your vehicle when you request a quote, and we'll walk you through shades that fit both Arizona's rules and the look you're after. Want pricing first? See what window tint costs in Mesa.
Front side windows need light transmission of 33% plus or minus 3%. Back side windows and the rear window don't have a minimum light transmission listed, but reflectance is capped at 35% plus or minus 3%.
Only the top strip. Film is allowed on the topmost portion of the windshield, with the bottom edge at least 29 inches above the driver's seat, and it can't be red or amber.
Because the law measures light transmission through the film and your factory glass together. A lot of vehicles have slightly tinted glass from the factory, so a film rated at, say, 35% can measure darker once it's installed. It's why we recommend a shade based on your specific car instead of a number off a chart.
Arizona allows medical exemptions with a written attestation from a physician. Contact the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division for the current process, then let us know so we can plan the install around it.
Rear window tint is allowed if your vehicle has functioning outside mirrors on both sides that show the road behind you for at least 200 feet. Reflectance limits apply.
Yes. When you request a quote, tell us your vehicle and we'll recommend shades that fit Arizona rules and the look you want.
Tell us your vehicle and we’ll recommend the right film and darkness.