In New Mexico, 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 Mexico state sources; laws change, so confirm the current statute before you tint.
| Window | Darkest Legal (VLT MAX) | Reflectivity |
|---|---|---|
| Front side windows | 20% — side wings and side windows at the immediate right and left of the driver, nonreflective, on a vehicle with both outside rearview mirrors (§66-3-846.1(B)(2)) | |
| Rear side windows (cars) | 20% — side windows behind the driver carry the same figure on a passenger car (§66-3-846.1(B)(2)) | |
| Rear windshield (cars) | 20% — the rearmost window carries the same figure (§66-3-846.1(B)(2)) | |
| Windshield | Top strip only: nonreflective material, not red, yellow or amber in color, along the top of the windshield only, extending no further down than the ASI line or five inches from the top of the windshield, whichever is closer to the top (§66-3-846.1(B)(1)) | |
| Compliance label | Each manufacturer provides a label of no more than one and one-half square inches, installed permanently and legibly between the sun screening material and each glazing surface, in the left lower corner of each surface viewed from outside, stating the manufacturer's name, the date the material was manufactured, and the percentage of light transmission; installers may not install material without permanently affixing the label (§66-3-846.1(C)–(D)) |
How to Read These Numbers
- 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 (cars): 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 windshield (cars): 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.
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New Mexico Tint Law Questions
What is the darkest legal tint in New Mexico?
For front side windows, New Mexico allows tint down to 20% — side wings and side windows at the immediate right and left of the driver, nonreflective, on a vehicle with both outside rearview mirrors (§66-3-846.1(B)(2)) — 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 Mexico 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.