Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in Maine
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in Maine, plus reflection limits, the medical exemption, and what a ticket costs.
How dark you can legally go
Visible-light transmission (VLT) allowed for each window.
Common tint shades, and whether they're legal here
What the shop sells, mapped to the Maine limit.
| Film shade | Front side | Back & rear |
|---|---|---|
| 70% (light) | Legal | Legal |
| 50% | Legal | Legal |
| 35% (factory look) | Legal | Legal |
| 20% | Too dark | Conditional |
| 5% (limo) | Too dark | Conditional |
Windows behind the operator and the rear window may go darker than 35% only when the vehicle carries two outside rear-view mirrors (§1916(2)(B)).
Film is sold by its own VLT, but police measure the installed darkness: the film combined with your factory glass. Ask the shop for the net, as-installed VLT before you buy.
The full rules, with the statute
Every limit and where it comes from in the code.
| Rule / window | Legal limit in Maine | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Non-reflective tint allowed only above the AS-1 line, or along a 5-inch strip at the top when there is no AS-1 line; the rest of the windshield may not have added tint that reduces light below the original installation | §1916(1)(B) |
| Front side | At least 35% net light transmittance on the front side windows; the exemption for darker glass reaches only the windows behind the operator | §1916(1)(C) |
| Back side | At least 35% unless the vehicle has two outside rear-view mirrors, in which case the windows behind the operator may be any darkness | §1916(1)(C) |
| Rear window | At least 35% unless the vehicle has two outside rear-view mirrors, in which case the rear window may be any darkness | §1916(1)(C) |
| SUV / van rear | No separate vehicle-class rule; the dual-mirror exemption for windows behind the operator applies to every vehicle the same way | §1916(2)(B) |
| Reflection | No reflective material on any window (flat ban, no percentage stated) | §1916(1)(A) |
| Banned colors | Not specified in statute; §1916 sets no color restriction, only reflectivity and the 35% floor | §1916 |
| Medical exemption | AllowedAvailable (details in the medical exemption section below). | §1916(4) |
| Meter tolerance | Not specified in statute | §1916 |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
29-A M.R.S. §1916 (no pending amendment): No 2025-2026 change to the tint limits. The 35% floor, the dual-mirror exemption for windows behind the operator, and the AS-1/5-inch windshield strip all remain as written in §1916.
The medical exemption: how to qualify
For drivers with a documented light-sensitivity condition.
What Maine drivers get wrong
Maine writes one 35% floor for every side and rear window, then quietly lifts it for the glass behind the driver whenever the car carries two outside mirrors. That is the detail aggregators miss: the front doors are locked at 35%, but a sedan with proper side mirrors can run the back windows as dark as the owner likes. The windshield gets only a strip of non-reflective tint above the AS-1 line, and any tinted car has to show a light-transmittance certificate at its annual inspection.
Common questions
Can I put dark tint on the back windows of my car in Maine?
Yes, if the vehicle has two outside rear-view mirrors. Section 1916(2)(B) lifts the 35% floor for the windows behind the operator and the rear window once dual mirrors are fitted, so those windows may be any darkness. Without dual mirrors, 35% still applies everywhere.
What is the legal front window tint in Maine?
The front side windows must allow at least 35% of light through (§1916(1)(C)). The dual-mirror exemption reaches only the glass behind the driver, so it does not loosen the front doors.
Does tint affect Maine vehicle inspection?
Yes. Maine has an annual safety inspection, and a vehicle with aftermarket tint must carry a light-transmittance certificate to show the inspection mechanic (§1916(3)). Without it, or below 35% where the floor applies, the tint fails.
Is there a medical exemption for window tint in Maine?
Yes. The Chief of the State Police may grant an exception for medical reasons under §1916(4), which allows darker glass tied to a certified condition beyond the standard limits.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.