Diving Into Las Vegas Window Tint Laws: Everything to Know

Nevada Window Tint Laws Explained

Nevada, and specially the City of Las Vegas, is no stranger to the sweltering sun. One of the sunniest places in the United States, Las Vegas receives over 300 days of sunlight annually. It goes without saying that many vehicle owners are looking for ways to protect themselves and their assets from the scorching heat, and one of the most popular ways is to get their vehicle windows tinted. While window tint not only helps to cool down the inside of a car, it also protects your upholstery, dashboard, and internal electronics from the harsh sun. However, when it comes to changing the tint on your vehicle, the Nevada window tint law has specific requirements that must be followed.
To understand Nevada’s tinted window restrictions, it is essential to understand the purpose behind these regulations. The law was enacted to ensure the safety and visibility of all drivers and passengers on the roads. When driving , it is imperative that a motorist have an unobstructed view of the roadway to avoid potential hazards such as oncoming vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists. Thus, although window tint is a popular custom among car enthusiasts and those hoping to add an extra layer of protection to their vehicle, there are restrictions on how reflective and dark the tint can be to ensure that the tint does not obstruct the driver’s view.
Given the heat and sunny weather in Nevada, it is no surprise that tinted windows are a common sight; however, the law still requires that window film used on your vehicle complies with the law. Failure to pay attention to the laws and regulations can lead to costly fines and additional fees associated with removing or replacing any illegal tint. Note that windshield tinting laws are very specific; if you are considering aftermarket tint for your windshield, it is critical that you get familiar with the law before getting your tint applied.

Legal Tint for All Vehicle Types

Legal tint limits for all vehicles in Nevada and Las Vegas:
Passenger Vehicles
Front Windshield Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line or the top 5 inches from the Top of the windshield, whichever is longer.
Front Side Windows Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Back Side Windows Must allow more than 5% of light in.
Rear Window The aftermarket window film must allow more than 5% of light in.
Multipurpose Vehicles The law defines a multipurpose vehicle as any vehicle which is designed by the manufacturer as a multipurpose vehicle and is registered as a multipurpose vehicle. 3rd row seating vehicles such as SUV’s and vans qualify as multipurpose vehicles.
Front Windshield Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line or the top 5 inches from the Top of the windshield, whichever is longer.
Front Side Windows Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Back Side Windows Must allow more than 5% of light in.
Back window The aftermarket window film must allow more than 5% of light in.
Drive-Away Window Must allow more than 20% of light in.
Trucks
Front Windshield Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line or the top 5 inches from the Top of the windshield, whichever is longer.
Front Side Windows Must allow more than 35% of light in.
Back Side Windows Must allow more than 5% of light in.
Back Window The aftermarket window film must allow more than 5% of light in.

Exceptions and Special Considerations

Exemptions and Special Cases Las Vegas has several exemptions that may apply for certain individuals when it comes to window tinting. One of these is for individuals with specific medical conditions that require more protection from the sun than the average person. In this case, a doctor or medical professional could apply for special permission with the DMV to have tinted windows, even if it did not meet the standard for tinting elsewhere. Another exemption could be in place if the tint is only applied to the top few inches of the windshield as a sun strip. Many sun strips are kept lighter than the standard NV legal tint for this reason and are not considered illegal. However, not every SUV, truck, or van will qualify for a window tint exemption if the windshield is completely tinted. This is because, as an example, those tinted pickups cannot be completely tinted to 50%. So if the tint was lighter across the windshield but darker along the top, it could result in the window tint being in violation of the law. Tint manufacturers and retailers can help provide a special exemption in some cases as well, but they must go through the same channels as the individual requesting the tint exemption. The tint application will still need to have a label on it to comply with Nevada window tint exemptions. These labeling requirements are even stricter for SUVs, trucks, and vans to help law enforcement identify any possible exceptions to the law when reviewing the tint through the windows. Darker films, such as ceramic shades, may not be accepted as tint in an exemption.

Penalties for Violation

The fines attached to the window tint laws are not as extreme as the repercussions of violating laws that pertain to tinting front windshields. These fines vary from $250 to $500, depending on the severity of the infraction – whether the tint was just over the legal limit, or if the tint was much darker than the law allows for. At the most severe end of the spectrum, tinting windscreens is a minimum $250 fine; however, up to two additional fine amounts are added per subsequent offense. Las Vegas Police can pull over any driver they suspect is driving with too-dark window tint, at which point they’ll determine whether or not the tint meets the specifications set out by law . If not, the driver will receive a citation for violating the law and have to pay the stated fines. Drivers who receive a citation in Las Vegas for window tinting that does not meet legal levels will also have to pay to have new, legal window tint applied to their car – the initial fine of $250 includes the cost of the tinting, as well as the labor associated with replacing it. Subsequent fines increase depending on how many first-time offenders the driver is issued. Therefore a driver in Las Vegas could walk away with three $1,000 tickets, if they catch all the same cops every time they tinted their windows too dark.

Finding a Compliant Tint Service

To ensure that your new tint is in compliance with local laws, it’s important to choose a company that uses high-quality materials, provides a warranty, and is knowledgeable about the window tint laws in Las Vegas. Before you select a tint service, be sure to ask a few questions about their processes and standards.
Does your company conduct a warranty inspection?
Warranties are only as good as the materials used. A warranty inspection conducted by the installer will enable you to purchase a warranty with confidence, knowing that the inspection was done professionally and that your film and installation passed with flying colors. If the inspectors find any issues, these should be addressed immediately, prior to installation of the warranty label.
Do you install every day?
This may sound like a strange question to ask, but the reality is that companies offering window tinting will often have other services — such as vehicle paint protection and detailing — that they provide as a large part of their business. For them, window tinting drives customers to those in-demand services that make up the bulk of their business. So while they may be able to do a window tint job for you on that one day of each week that they allow it, they’re much less likely to keep up with the latest techniques, products and technologies that are necessary to provide quality window tint installation and service.

Recent Amendments

Nevada has made two recent changes to window tint laws. As of January 1, 2021, medical exemption is no longer required to install window film on vehicles which will aid businesses such as Limousines, car services and Uber and Lyft. It will also allow people who want to avoid the Florida heat in the summer or the Nevada heat opposing it in the winter to apply tint on their window in order to mitigate the effects of air conditioning and keep the temperature down in their vehicles.
The second upcoming change Illegally tinted vehicles requiring a window tint certification certificate after January 1 , 2022. This is an attempt to eliminate the illegal retailer shops associated with window tint.
The third change is that Nevada examiners will no longer visually inspect the windshield. Instead they will shine a light meter on the tint before issuing the certificate. Businesses are responsible for ensuring the tint is being installed correctly and should be aware that the cost of certifying and recertifying the vehicle will be passed on to the customer.
Finally, there will be penalties for shops illegally certifying vehicles. Not only could the shop be fined, but the owners, managers, and installers can be held personally liable and could face jail time for repeated violations.