Yes, you can tint your windshield in Arizona, but only a strip across the top. The rest of the windshield has to stay clear. State law lets you apply tint material above a line measured 29 inches above the driver’s seat, and that strip cannot be red or amber.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28, Section 28-959.01 – Materials on Windows or Windshield
Where the Tint Strip Has to Stop
Many tint shops talk about the “AS-1 line,” a marking most manufacturers etch into the glass near the top of the windshield. Arizona’s statute doesn’t use that line. It uses a measurement instead: the bottom edge of the tint has to sit at least 29 inches above the driver’s seat when the seat is in its lowest and rearmost position, measured from a point five inches in front of the bottom of the backrest, with the vehicle on level ground.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28, Section 28-959.01 – Materials on Windows or Windshield
On most passenger cars, that measurement lands close to where the AS-1 marking already is, so installers often use the marking as a shortcut. That’s fine as a practical guide, but if a citation ever gets contested, the legal question is the 29 inches, not the etched line.
Color matters too. The tint on the strip can’t be red or amber.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28, Section 28-959.01 – Materials on Windows or Windshield Neutral shades of gray, charcoal, or bronze are the usual choices and don’t run into that problem.
Why the Rest of the Windshield Has To Stay Clear
Below the permitted strip, no aftermarket tint or transparent film may be applied to the windshield at all. Arizona’s general rule bars any material on the windshield that reduces the driver’s clear view or lowers light transmittance.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28, Section 28-959.01 – Materials on Windows or Windshield So a full-windshield tint, even a light one, is not legal, and neither is a ceramic film across the main viewing area.
This is stricter than the rules for the rest of the car. Front side windows have a 33% visible-light-transmission limit (with a three-point tolerance), and back side windows and the rear windshield have no darkness limit at all beyond a 35% reflectance cap.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28, Section 28-959.01 – Materials on Windows or Windshield The windshield is the one piece of glass where “just a little tint” is not on the table.
Does a Medical Exemption Cover the Windshield?
No. This is the part that catches people off guard. If you have a condition like lupus, severe photosensitivity, or certain skin disorders, you can apply through the Arizona Department of Transportation for a medical exemption that lets you run darker tint than the standard limits. But the exemption covers only the driver side window, the passenger side window, and the rear windows. It does not authorize tinting the windshield below the permitted strip.2Arizona Department of Transportation. Application for Window Tint Medical Exemption
The application has to be signed by an MD, a DO, an NMD (naturopathic medical doctor), or an ophthalmologist. Optometrists and nurse practitioners don’t qualify. The certifying doctor has to confirm that you have a condition requiring protection from direct sunlight and that eye-protective devices alone aren’t adequate. If you add another vehicle later, a supplemental form adds it to your existing exemption without a new medical certification.2Arizona Department of Transportation. Application for Window Tint Medical Exemption
So if you have a medical need to shield your face from sun while driving, the exemption helps with the side windows, and a compliant top strip helps with overhead glare. There is no legal path to darkening the driver’s main forward view.
What Happens if You Tint the Windshield Anyway
A window tint violation in Arizona is generally a low-level offense. The most common outcome after a stop is a corrective citation, sometimes called a fix-it ticket, requiring you to remove or replace the illegal tint. Once the windshield is back in compliance, you show proof of correction to the court and the citation is typically dismissed. You may still owe a small court processing fee.
Ignoring the ticket is where it gets expensive. Arizona’s fine ceiling for a petty offense is $300.3Arizona Legislature. Arizona Code 13-802 – Fines for Misdemeanors An unresolved citation can also lead to a failure-to-appear charge and eventually a license suspension, which costs far more to untangle than the tint itself. Professional tint removal usually runs $100 to $500 depending on how many windows are involved, so fixing the problem quickly is almost always cheaper than fighting it.
One more thing worth knowing if a shop talked you into a full windshield tint: Arizona law requires anyone who sells or installs window tint to clearly disclose that the product may be illegal in some states.1Arizona Legislature. Arizona Revised Statutes Title 28, Section 28-959.01 – Materials on Windows or Windshield If an installer skipped that disclosure and put non-compliant film on your windshield, that requirement may matter in a dispute over who pays for removal.