Before you book window tinting in Saratoga Springs, it helps to know what New York actually allows. The short answer is that the windshield and the front side windows have to let at least 70% of outside light through, and the rest depends on what kind of vehicle you drive. Upstate Auto Detailing goes over those limits for your specific car before any film is ordered.
Here is the rule window by window, how inspection checks it, and what to do if you have a medical reason for darker glass.
The 70% rule, window by window
The rule comes from New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 375, subdivision 12-a, and the DMV's tinted windows page repeats it in plain terms. Light transmittance is the share of outside light that gets through the glass. A film labeled 35% lets through about 35%, so it's well under the line for the front of the car.
| Window | What New York allows |
|---|---|
| Windshield | At least 70% light transmittance, except a strip along the top six inches |
| Front side windows | At least 70% light transmittance |
| Rear side windows | At least 70% on a station wagon, sedan, hardtop, coupe, hatchback or convertible |
| Rear window | At least 70%, unless the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides that give the driver a clear view behind |
Check the label in your door before you pick film for the back
The rear side window line only names certain body types. The DMV says a vehicle counts as one of them when the Federal ID label on the left front door panel reads Passenger Car. Open the driver's door and read that label before you decide how dark the back windows go. If yours says something different, the rear side window rule in 12-a doesn't list your body type, but the windshield and front side windows still have to meet 70%.
The rear window follows the same 70% rule unless the vehicle has mirrors on both sides. Almost every modern car does, but it's worth knowing the condition is written into the law.
Inspection checks tint every year
Since January 1, 2017, New York inspectors have to examine tinted windows as part of the regular vehicle inspection, according to the DMV. So a front window that's too dark isn't a problem that waits for a traffic stop. It comes up at sticker time.
The test looks at the window as it is, with the glass and anything on it together. Factory glass already blocks a little light, which is why a film's own percentage doesn't tell you the whole story. The DMV page also notes that installing glass that doesn't comply is illegal, not only driving with it. That's one reason we look at your car before talking about film.
Medical exemptions
If you have a medical condition that calls for darker glass, the DMV takes applications on form MV-80W, the Application for Tinted Window Exemption. The DMV lists qualifying conditions, among them albinism, lupus erythematosus, porphyria and severe drug photosensitivity. Under the law the exemption covers the windshield and front side windows, and the DMV issues a sticker for the shielded window. Get the exemption approved before you have the darker film fitted.
Older vehicles
The restrictions took effect on January 1, 1992. A 1991 or older model year vehicle doesn't violate the subdivision if its windows met the rules as they stood on December 31, 1991.
Cutting heat without going darker
Because the front windows have to stay light, how much heat a film keeps out comes down to what it's made of more than how dark it looks. Ceramic film rejects the most heat for a given darkness. Our post on carbon vs ceramic window tint goes through the trade-offs, and the window tinting in Saratoga Springs page covers removal of old film, rear glass and curing.
Sources: New York State DMV, Tinted windows; New York Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 375, subdivision 12-a. Both read October 14, 2026. This is a summary of the rule, not legal advice.
Common questions
Start here for the practical questions that come up most often.
Is 35% tint legal in New York?
Not on the windshield or the front side windows. New York requires at least 70% of outside light to pass through those windows, and a 35% film lets through far less than that.
Can I tint my windshield in New York?
Only a strip along the top. The law allows material below 70% light transmittance on the uppermost six inches of the windshield. The rest has to let at least 70% of outside light through.
Do the rear side windows have to be 70% on an SUV?
The 70% rule for rear side windows applies to vehicles the DMV classes as a station wagon, sedan, hardtop, coupe, hatchback or convertible, which it identifies by the words Passenger Car on the Federal ID label on the left front door panel. Check your label before choosing film for the back.
How do I get a medical exemption for darker tint in New York?
Apply to the DMV with the Application for Tinted Window Exemption, form MV-80W. The exemption covers the windshield and front side windows and is limited to conditions on the state's approved list.
How much does window tinting cost in Saratoga Springs?
Upstate Auto Detailing prices window tinting by quote. The vehicle, the windows being done, the film and whether old tint has to come off all change the job.
Not sure what's legal on your vehicle? Ask us for a free tint quote or call (518) 363-6812. We'll check New York's limits for your car before anything is ordered. Our Saratoga Springs page has more on the shop at 40 North St.