new hampshire tint laws
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New Hampshire Tint Laws
New Hampshire automobile window film laws have been in place since 1990 and are some of the most direct and easy to understand in the country, as all vehicles are held to the same restrictions and in fact all windows that are allowed to have window tint must adhere to the same set of rules. While many states have different specific regulations for windows on the front sides of the vehicle as from rear side windows and different rules for windows of different vehicle types (sedan vs. SUV, for example), in New Hampshire auto tint laws are all one and the same.
You can make sure that your car, truck, or SUV has legal window tint in New Hampshire by knowing the VLT – or visible light transmission – percentage of your car tint. VLT simply refers to how clear/light or opaque/dark (see through or private, in simplest terms) a vehicle window is.
If your tint is not too dark, you should be safe from New Hampshire window tint tickets provided you always use non-reflective tint. Which indeed you should add to your vehicle. Car window film is a wise investment for any motorist who cares about the short-term performance and looks of a car and the longer-term interior looks and re-sale value of a vehicle. Car tint adds privacy and improved looks the same day it’s applied and it reduces interior heat even on the hottest days of New England summer day, making your car cooler and cheaper to own thanks to reduced fuel consumption by the air conditioning. Over time, window film rejects 99% of the ultraviolet light responsible for interior fading and cracked upholstery and faded hard surfaces, so your car will retain its looks and its value for many years, with the tint paying for itself over time.
The issue is not whether or not vehicle window tint is a wise investment; it’s simply an issue of making sure your car window tint is legal in New Hampshire so you don’t risk the cost of a window tint ticket for illegal tinting.
Please note: The accuracy, completeness, adequacy or currency of the content is not warranted or guaranteed. We are not lawyers or a law firm and we do not provide legal advice. We recommend you consult a lawyer or other appropriate professional if you want legal advice.
CLICK ON INDICATORS TO VIEW TINT LAWS FOR SPECIFIC WINDOWS
laws for suvs, trucks, & vans
Front Windows
All Vehicles
New Hampshire prohibits tint from being applied to the front windows.
Rear Passenger Windows
Includes rear window and rear passenger
Any shade of tint can be used for trucks, SUVs, and vans ONLY
Rear Window
Includes rear window and rear passenger windows
Any shade of tint can be used for trucks, SUVs, and vans ONLY
Windshield Visor
ALL VEHICLE TYPES
Any (non-reflective) shade of tint can be used 6" from the top of the windshield.
laws for sedans & coupes
Front Windows
ALL VEHICLE TYPES
Includes Trucks, SUVs, Vans, Sedans, Coupes, & Hatchbacks
New Hampshire prohibits tint from being applied to the front windows.
Rear Passenger Windows
for Sedans, Coupes, & Hatchbacks
35% Tint (VLT%)
Rear Window
for Sedans, Coupes, & Hatchbacks
35% Tint (VLT%)
Windshield Visor
ALL VEHICLE TYPES
Any (non-reflective) shade of tint can be used 6" from the top of the windshield.
% of Tint or Visible light transmission (VLT) is the measurement used to assess the amount of light passing through a piece of glass. This is the percent of visible light that passes through the film and glass to give you a net transmission percentage. The lower the VLT%, the darker the window.
Law Enforcement uses a tint meter which measures the Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of window film and glass for illegal tint.
Windshield: Several states allow medical exemptions for drivers or passengers who frequently travel in the vehicle. These exemptions usually require a licensed physician in that state to sign a waiver. Please visit your states .gov site for details.
AS-1 Line: This is the line extending from the letters AS-1, found on most motor vehicle windshields, running parallel to the top of the windshield.
New Hampshire Statutes section 266:58-a: Tinted glass.
Click above to download the Nationwide Medical Exemptions Window Tinting Directory.
If you’re driving a truck or SUV built in the last decade, chances are it’s equipped with factory tinted glass on all windows behind the front doors.
Many owners of vehicles like this often choose to only have the front windows tinted to match the back because they believe that they are already set with the rear windows.
UV Protection
While this factory tint improves the looks of the vehicle, and offers rear passengers some privacy, it does very little to help reduce the heat entering through the glass or protect them from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Heat Rejection
The same also goes for heat rejection. Some assume that the level of heat rejection they will on the front glass is already present in the rear glass because of the factory tint. Nothing can be further from the truth. Other than having the tinted look, these windows do very little to stop the heat.
To find out what options you have to protecting your passengers and vehicles interior, click here.