In Arizona, front side windows must let in at least 33% of light (33% VLT), but the rear side windows and back glass can be tinted as dark as you want, including very dark 5% film. The windshield can only have non-reflective tint above the manufacturer's AS-1 line, usually the top 6 inches.
What Does 33% VLT Actually Mean?
VLT stands for visible light transmission, the percentage of light allowed through the glass and film combined. A 33% VLT front window lets a third of outside light in, which looks like a medium shade, not jet black. This is the darkest legal option for the front driver and passenger windows in Arizona.
Can the Back Windows Be Darker Than the Front?
Yes. Arizona law places no VLT restriction on rear side windows or the rear windshield, so many Tempe drivers run 5% tint back there for maximum heat and privacy. The front windows stay at the 33% minimum because officers and other drivers need to see into the cabin for safety.
What About the Windshield?
Arizona only allows non-reflective tint on the windshield above the AS-1 line, a factory-etched marking usually found about 6 inches down from the top of the glass. Anything below that line on the windshield itself must stay clear, though a lot of Phoenix-area and Tempe drivers add a UV-blocking clear film there instead, which carries no darkness at all but still cuts heat.
Is There a Reflectivity Limit Too?
Arizona also caps reflective or mirrored tint on front side windows at no more than 20% reflectivity, so a heavy chrome or mirror look up front isn't street legal. Colored tints like red or amber are not allowed anywhere on the vehicle.
Why Does Tint Matter So Much in Arizona Heat?
Phoenix-area summers regularly push surface temps past 150°F on dashboards and seats, and a quality tint job blocks a large share of that solar heat before it ever hits the cabin. Beyond comfort, UV exposure is what fades interiors, cracks dashboards, and bakes leather, so tint is really an interior protection product here as much as a style choice.
Does Tint Help the Paint Too?
Tint protects what's inside the glass, but Arizona's intense year-round UV is just as hard on the paint outside. That's why a lot of our Tempe customers pair tint with a ceramic coating, since the bonded nano-ceramic layer blocks UV oxidation and makes monsoon dust and hard water spots rinse off instead of etching into the clear coat.
What's the Smart Tint Setup for a Tempe Daily Driver?
A common, fully legal setup is 33% on the front doors, something darker like 20% or even 5% on the rear doors and back glass, and a UV-blocking clear film across the windshield. This keeps you compliant for inspections and traffic stops while cutting heat and glare everywhere that matters.
Revamped Customs installs legal, professional-grade window tint at our Tempe, Arizona shop, and we offer the same ceramic coating and PPF protection at our Pleasant Grove, Utah location for customers dealing with road salt and canyon rock chips instead of desert sun. Call 602-520-0853 for a free quote in Tempe, or 801-703-5101 for our Utah shop.
