Maine Window Tint Laws – Simple Guide

If you drive in Maine and want tinted windows, there are specific rules you have to follow. This guide explains the Maine window tint laws in clear, everyday language so you can stay comfortable and legal.

Quick Rules at a Glance

• Applies to: Any motor vehicle that must be registered in Maine and is driven on public roads.
• No reflective film: No window on the vehicle may be
  composed of, covered by, or treated with any reflective material
  (no mirror or chrome look).
• Windshield:
  • You cannot add tint that makes the main part of the windshield darker
    than the original glass.
  • You may use sun-screening or tinting material:
    • Above the AS-1 line marked on the glass, or
    • If there is no AS-1 line, in a 5-inch strip across the top of the windshield.
• Front side windows (driver & front passenger):
  • Must allow at least 35% light transmittance (about 35% VLT) net of glass and film.
  • Must use two-way glass, so people can see into the car and you can see out.
  • Film cannot be reflective.
• Side windows behind the driver & rear window:
  • By default, these also must be at least 35% VLT and non-reflective.
  • Exception: If your vehicle has two outside mirrors (one on each side),
    the 35% VLT rule and two-way glass rule do not apply to:
    • Side windows behind the driver’s seat, and
    • The rear window.
  • With dual mirrors, Maine effectively allows very dark tint on these rear windows.
• Two-way glass required up front:
  The front windshield, front door windows and the windows
  at either end of the rear passenger seat must be two-way glass so a person outside can
  clearly see the occupants and interior.
• Light transmittance certificate:
  If your windows are tinted with after-market film or non-factory glass, you must have a
  light transmittance certificate and show it at inspection, and on request to police.
• Medical exemption:
  The Chief of the Maine State Police may grant a medical exemption for people whose health is
  harmed by sunlight, allowing darker tint than normal if you carry an exemption certificate.
• Penalty:
  A violation of the tint law is a traffic infraction with a minimum
  forfeiture of $100, plus you will usually be ordered to correct the tint.

Short version: keep front side windows at 35% VLT or lighter with no reflective film,
use only a top strip on the windshield, and if you want very dark tint on the back,
make sure you have two outside mirrors and the proper certificate.

What 35% VLT Means

Maine uses light transmittance (often called VLT – Visible Light Transmission)
to measure window tint darkness.

• VLT is the percentage of visible light that passes through the glass and film together.
• High VLT (for example 70%) = light tint, easy to see through.
• Low VLT (for example 15%) = dark tint, hard to see through.

When the law says 35% net of glass and material, it means the
final result after the film is applied to the glass must let at least
35% of light through, measured with an approved meter.

Windshield Tint Rules

Maine is strict about the windshield, because it is your main view of the road.

• You cannot darken the main part of the windshield beyond the original factory glass.
• The only legal after-market tint is:
  • Above the AS-1 line marked on the glass, or
  • Along a 5-inch strip at the top if there is no AS-1 line.
• This strip is usually non-reflective tint that cuts glare and sun.

Any tint that drops farther down the windshield can get you a ticket and may cause you to fail inspection.

Front Side Windows (Driver & Passenger)

The front door windows are checked often during traffic stops and inspections.

• They must have at least 35% VLT (not darker).
• They must use two-way glass:
  you can see out, and a person outside can clearly see the occupants and interior.
• No reflective or mirror-like film may be used.
• Typical “legal” films for the front doors in Maine are in the 35–40% range.

Darker films like 20% or 5% “limo” tint on the front doors are almost always too dark for Maine.

Back Side Windows & Rear Window

The rules for windows behind the driver are more flexible, especially if you have two side mirrors.

• By default, rear side windows and the rear window must meet the 35% VLT rule and the two-way glass rule.
• However, if your vehicle has two outside rear-view mirrors, one on each side, adjusted to show
  a clear view behind the vehicle, then:
  • The 35% VLT requirement does not apply to:
    • Side windows behind the operator’s seat, and
    • The rear window.
  • The two-way glass requirement for those rear windows also does not apply.

That is why you often see vehicles in Maine with lighter tint on the front doors
and very dark tint on the back half, as long as they have side mirrors on both sides.

Light Transmittance Certificate

Maine has an extra paperwork requirement that many states do not.

• If your vehicle has:
  • After-market tint film, or
  • Replacement windows that are not standard factory glass,

  then you must get a light transmittance certificate.

• This certificate can only be issued by a person authorized by the Chief of the State Police.
• You must:
  • Show the certificate to the inspection mechanic at your annual inspection, and
  • Produce it for a law enforcement officer on request.
• If you cannot show a certificate when asked, the law presumes your tint does not meet the light standards.

The tint shop that installs your film may arrange this certificate, but you are the one responsible for having it in the vehicle.

Medical Tint Exemptions

Some people are medically sensitive to sunlight and need extra protection.

• The Chief of the State Police may grant an exception if:
  • The health of the owner or a regular occupant of the vehicle is adversely affected by sunlight, and
  • A proper application is submitted with medical documentation.
• If approved, the owner receives a certificate of exemption that must be shown to law enforcement on request.
• This exemption can allow tint that would otherwise violate the normal 35% rule, including on the windshield in some cases.

Without a valid exemption certificate in the car, your tint will be judged under the regular rules, no matter what your condition is.

Violations & Penalties

Maine treats illegal tint as an equipment violation.

• It is illegal to:
  • Install tint that does not meet the standards,
  • Operate a vehicle that does not meet the standards,
  • Issue or use a false light transmittance certificate, or
  • Fail to return unused certificates when required.
• A person found guilty of violating the tint law commits a traffic infraction
  and must pay a forfeiture of at least $100 (plus fees and costs).
• Courts can also require that the illegal tint be removed or replaced so the car passes future inspections.

Is Your Tint Probably Legal in Maine?

Here is a fast checklist you can use as a rough guide:

• Windshield
  • Only a strip at the top, above the AS-1 line or in the top 5 inches?
  • No dark film across the main viewing area?
• Front side windows
  • Film labeled around 35–40% VLT? → Usually okay.
  • Film labeled 20% or 5%? → Very likely too dark.
  • No mirror-like or chrome look?
• Back side windows & rear window
  • Do you have two outside mirrors?
    • Yes: Rear side and rear windows can be very dark if the film is non-reflective.
    • No: Rear windows should stay around 35% VLT or lighter.
• Paperwork
  • Do you have a light transmittance certificate if you use after-market tint?
  • If you have a medical exemption, do you have the exemption certificate in the vehicle?

If your tint is close to the limit, the only sure way to know is to have it checked with a meter
by an authorized tester, inspection station, or law enforcement.

Important Legal Note

This page is a plain-language summary of Maine Title 29-A, §1916 (Reflective and tinted glass).
It is not formal legal advice and may not cover every special situation or future change in the law.

For a serious ticket, a court case, or a very custom tint setup, you should read the current statute
and talk with a Maine attorney, the Maine State Police, or your local inspection station.

Summary

To keep your windows cool and legal in Maine:

• Use only a top strip on the windshield (above AS-1 or top 5 inches).
• Keep front side windows at about 35% VLT or lighter, with no reflective film.
• If you want very dark tint on the back, make sure you have outside mirrors on both sides.
• Avoid mirror-like films on any window.
• Carry your light transmittance certificate, and any medical exemption, in the vehicle.

Follow these points and you can enjoy tinted windows in Maine without constantly worrying about inspection
or getting pulled over for illegal tint.