State tint law
New Mexico window tint law
Laws change and enforcement varies by area. Confirm with the New Mexico DMV before you install.
How dark can window tint be in New Mexico?
Darkness is measured as visible light transmission (VLT): the percentage of light that gets through. A lower number means darker tint.
| Window | Cars | SUVs and vans |
|---|---|---|
| Windshield | Non-reflective tint is allowed above the manufacturer's AS-1 line or on the top 5 inches of the windshield. | |
| Front side windows | Must let in more than 20% of light. | |
| Back side windows | Must let in more than 20% of light. | Any darkness is allowed. |
| Rear window | Must let in more than 20% of light. | Any darkness is allowed. |
Picked a legal shade? You can tint it yourself with a precut car tint kit from SnapTint, our DIY kit partner.
How reflective can tint be?
- Front side windows
- Must be non-reflective.
- Back side windows
- Must be non-reflective.
Other New Mexico tint rules
- Restricted colors
- Red, yellow and amber are not allowed on the tint strip at the top of the windshield. The law names no colors for the other windows.
- Side mirrors
- Dual side mirrors are required if the back window is tinted.
- Film certification
- Film manufacturers must certify the film they sell in the state. Ask your installer for certified film.
- Sticker
- A sticker identifying legal tint is required between the film and the glass on the driver's side window.
- Medical exemption
- No state permit: carry an affidavit from a physician or optometrist licensed in New Mexico that your condition makes darker tint necessary.
Enforcement and penalties in New Mexico
- Enforcement
- Each tinted window needs the maker's label in its lower left corner, and installers must apply it. Film that breaks the law may not be sold.
- Penalties
- A penalty assessment misdemeanor (N.M.S.A. 66-3-846.1(I)): a fixed fine from the state schedule.
How the New Mexico tint law has changed
The changes we could document, newest first, each with its source. Where we only know that our older records differ from today's law, we say so rather than guess a date.
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Enforcement Police confirm they follow the 20% state limit
San Juan County officials said deputies follow state law and that most Farmington patrol cars are tinted within the limit, to protect equipment from heat.
Source: TintCenter blog, Mar 22, 2012
Films of 20% VLT or lighter: legal on every window of a car in New Mexico. Darker films for the rear windows are in the full collection. All car window film.
Where to find the New Mexico tint law
These are the laws, rules and other sources we found for New Mexico. We list all of them rather than picking one, so you can read them yourself and decide. Laws change, so check the current text before you install.
- Statute New Mexico Statutes § 66-3-846.1 (opens in a new tab) Justia
- Statute New Mexico Statutes § 66-3-846.1 (opens in a new tab) FindLaw
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TintCenter news about the New Mexico tint law
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New Mexico Tint Laws Observed by Police ForceFrom our 2012 archive; the limits above are the current law.