Vehicle Law · Window Tint
Window Tint Laws in New Hampshire
The exact legal darkness allowed on every window of your vehicle in New Hampshire, 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 New Hampshire limit.
| Film shade | Front side | Back & rear |
|---|---|---|
| 70% (light) | Too dark | Legal |
| 50% | Too dark | Legal |
| 35% (factory look) | Too dark | Legal |
| 20% | Too dark | Too dark |
| 5% (limo) | Too dark | Too dark |
Where aftermarket tinting is applied to any window behind the driver, outside rear-view mirrors are required on both the left and right side of the vehicle (Saf-C 3217.06).
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 New Hampshire | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | No aftermarket tint on the windshield; a strip no wider than 6 inches at the very top is allowed provided its light transmittance is not less than 35%. | RSA 266:58-a; Saf-C 3217.06(… |
| Front side | No aftermarket darkening. | N.H. Admin. Code Saf-C 3217.… |
| Back side | At least 35% light transmittance where aftermarket tinting is allowed | RSA 266:58-a; Saf-C 3217.06 |
| Rear window | At least 35% light transmittance; dual outside rear-view mirrors required when any window behind the driver is tinted | RSA 266:58-a; Saf-C 3217.06(… |
| SUV / van rear | Not specified in statute. | RSA 266:58-a |
| Reflection | Reflective and mirrored aftermarket film is not permitted | RSA 266:58-a; Saf-C 3217.06 |
| Banned colors | Not specified in statute. | RSA 266:58-a |
| Medical exemption | AllowedAvailable (details in the medical exemption section below). | RSA 266:61-a, IX; N.H. Admin… |
| Meter tolerance | Not specified in statute. | RSA 266:58-a; Saf-C 3217.06 |
Penalties & how it's enforced
What happens if your tint is too dark.
RSA 266:58-a / Saf-C 3217.06 (current): The aftermarket tint rules were reworked through recent legislation and the accompanying rule updates (Saf-C 3217.06 and the Saf-C 2500 waiver rules), which set the 35% rear floor, keep aftermarket film off the windshield and front side windows, and route medical relief through a two-year waiver at 35%.
The medical exemption: how to qualify
For drivers with a documented light-sensitivity condition.
What New Hampshire drivers get wrong
New Hampshire is one of the strictest states on the two windows next to the driver: aftermarket film is not allowed there at all, and a vehicle carrying it is rejected at the annual inspection unless a medical waiver is on file. The windshield is off limits too, aside from a 6-inch strip at the top that must stay at 35% or lighter. Behind the driver you get room to work, down to 35%, with mirrors on both sides once you tint back there.
Common questions
Can I tint my front side windows in New Hampshire?
Not with aftermarket film. The inspection rule (Saf-C 3217.06) rejects any aftermarket tint on the windows to the immediate right and left of the driver unless you hold a medical waiver, which allows 35% there. Factory-tinted glazing that already meets standards is a separate matter.
How dark can the rear windows be in New Hampshire?
Aftermarket tint on the rear window and the back side windows must allow at least 35% of light. Once you tint any window behind the driver, the vehicle needs outside mirrors on both the left and right.
How does the medical tint waiver work in New Hampshire?
You apply with a form dated within the last six months plus copies of the affected vehicle registration(s). If approved, the waiver lets you run 35% film on the windshield and front side windows, is good for two years, and must be kept in the car (RSA 266:61-a, IX; Saf-C 2500).
Is windshield tint legal in New Hampshire?
Only a strip no wider than 6 inches at the very top, and it must stay at 35% or lighter. Any other aftermarket film on the windshield fails inspection unless a medical waiver covers it.
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.