In New Hampshire, legal tint is measured by VLT — the percentage of light the filmed glass lets through. The numbers below are the darkest tint the law allows at each window position, labeled VLT MAX: install film darker than the listed VLT and the vehicle is out of compliance. Figures are compiled from official New Hampshire state sources; laws change, so confirm the current statute before you tint.
| Window | Darkest Legal (VLT MAX) | Reflectivity |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Prohibited — ¶I–III bar selling, inspecting, installing, or driving with aftermarket tinting on the windshield. One allowance: ¶V permits a strip not more than 6 inches wide at the very top of the windshield with light transmittance of 35% or more. The only other route to windshield tint is the medical permit (below). | |
| Front side windows | 70% — ¶III: where tint is applied behind the driver position, "the tinted windows to the left and right of the driver" must have light transmittance of not less than 70 percent | |
| Rear side windows | 35% — ¶III: "the rear windows" must have light transmittance of not less than 35 percent (the section writes one rear figure covering the side-rear and back glass together; see the MPV/pickup exception) | |
| Rear window | 35% — the same ¶III rear figure, except the rear windows of multipurpose passenger vehicles (as defined in 49 C.F.R. 571.3) and pickup trucks, which may instead carry the percentage 49 C.F.R. 571.205 allows for pre-market tinted rear windows — the federal factory standard, incorporated by reference; the state writes no number of its own for that glass |
How to Read These Numbers
- Windshield: The windshield rule controls the strip at the top of the glass and how far film or a visor band may extend down. Most states allow a non-reflective strip above the manufacturer's AS-1 line.
- Front side windows: Front side windows — driver and front passenger — are the most tightly regulated and the ones checked first at a traffic stop or inspection.
- Rear side windows: Rear side windows are usually allowed darker than the fronts, and on SUVs, trucks and vans they are sometimes exempt from the passenger-car limit.
- Rear window: The rear window rule often interacts with side mirrors: darker rear glass typically requires dual outside mirrors.
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New Hampshire Tint Law Questions
What is the darkest legal tint in New Hampshire?
For front side windows, New Hampshire allows tint down to 70% — ¶III: where tint is applied behind the driver position, "the tinted windows to the left and right of the driver" must have light transmittance of not less than 70 percent — the VLT MAX. Rear windows may allow darker film; check the table above for each position.
What happens if my tint is darker than New Hampshire allows?
Over-dark tint can draw a citation and, in many states, a fix-it order requiring the film to be removed and the vehicle re-inspected. Laws also change — verify the current statute before tinting.