In Nevada, the front side windows must let at least 35 percent of light through. The rear side windows and the back glass can be as dark as you like, provided the vehicle has an outside mirror on each side. The windshield can carry film only on a strip at the top. Those rules come from NRS 484D.440.
This guide from Ace Built Automotive, a Las Vegas auto shop, goes through the law one window at a time and then covers the exemptions.
Legal limits by window
- Windshield: film only on a strip at the top, and it cannot be red or amber
- Front side windows: at least 35 percent light transmission, with nonreflective film
- Rear side windows: any darkness, if the vehicle has an outside mirror on each side
- Rear window: any darkness, under the same mirror condition
The statute does not set separate limits for sedans, SUVs, and trucks. The same numbers apply to any vehicle that is required to be registered in Nevada.
What 35 percent means
Tint darkness is stated as visible light transmission, or VLT. The number is the share of light that passes through the window, so a lower number is darker. A 5 percent film is nearly black, and a 50 percent film is light.
The Nevada limit applies to the glass and the film together. The statute refers to the total light transmission of the window, including the safety glass. Factory glass is not clear, so a film rated at 35 percent can read lower once it is on the window. As an example, glass that passes 80 percent of light combined with a 35 percent film gives about 28 percent (0.80 x 0.35).
The law allows a tolerance of 7 percent on the 35 percent figure. In the example above, the finished window sits at the edge of that tolerance. The reading on the finished glass is what counts, so ask for it before you leave the shop.
Rear windows and the mirror rule
Nevada sets no minimum for the rear side windows or the rear window. The condition is that the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides, each showing the road for at least 200 feet behind. Nearly every modern vehicle meets that. If a side mirror is missing or broken, dark rear glass is no longer covered by the exemption.
Very dark rear glass also reduces what you can see while reversing at night. Think about how you use the vehicle before you choose a 5 percent film.
The windshield
Film is allowed only on a strip across the top of the windshield. The statute defines the strip by measurement: its bottom edge must be at least 29 inches above the driver’s seat, measured with the seat in its lowest and rearmost position. Many guides describe this as the AS-1 line marked on the glass.
The strip cannot be red or amber. Film on the rest of the windshield is not covered by any exemption in the statute, and that includes light films that reduce light transmission only slightly.
Reflective film
The front side window exemption applies to nonreflective film. A mirror-finish film on the front doors falls outside it, even when the film is light enough to pass on darkness.
Exemptions to the limits
Factory glass
Glass that was tinted by the manufacturer as standard or optional equipment is exempt. This is why the privacy glass on many SUVs and trucks is legal as delivered. Film added over it still counts toward the total on the front side windows.
Older vehicles
A vehicle of model year 1993 or older may be driven with film that was applied before July 1, 1993.
Medical permits
Nevada issues a window tint exemption for drivers with a medical need. The application goes to the Nevada Highway Patrol, and a Nevada-licensed physician must complete part of it. The form states that no exemption darker than 20 percent VLT will be approved. A permit runs for four years for a temporary condition or indefinitely for a permanent one. It has to be carried in the vehicle, and it does not transfer when the vehicle is sold.
Separate exemptions exist for ambulances, hearses, and certain law enforcement vehicles.
Vehicles from other states
The prohibition is written for vehicles required to be registered in Nevada. A new resident’s car comes under the Nevada limit once it has to be registered here. Film that was legal in the previous state may need to be changed on the front doors.
What happens if the tint is too dark
An officer may check the glass with a tint meter during a traffic stop and issue a citation. NRS 484D.440 states that a violation is not a moving traffic violation for purposes of the demerit point statute (NRS 483.473). The higher cost is usually practical, because the illegal film has to come off before legal film can go on.
How to choose a legal shade
Heat rejection depends more on the type of film than on its darkness. A ceramic tint at a legal shade can block more heat than a darker dyed film, so staying legal on the front doors does not mean a hot cabin.
A common setup is a legal film on the front doors and a darker one behind them. Our window tint in Las Vegas service installs film that meets NRS 484D.440. If the vehicle already has film, say so when you ask for a quote. New film placed over old film darkens the window further, and the old film usually has to be removed first.
Tint is often booked alongside other appearance work. If you are also planning car wraps in Las Vegas, both jobs can be scheduled for the same visit.
Frequently asked questions
1) Is 20 percent tint legal on front windows in Nevada?
No. The front side windows must transmit at least 35 percent of light. A 20 percent film is legal on the rear side windows and the rear window, or on the front with an approved medical permit.
2) Is 5 percent limo tint legal in Nevada?
On the rear side windows and the rear window, yes, if the vehicle has an outside mirror on each side. It is not legal on the front side windows.
3) Can I tint my whole windshield?
No. The statute allows film only on a strip at the top of the windshield, and that strip cannot be red or amber.
4) Does factory privacy glass count as tint?
Factory glass supplied as standard or optional equipment is exempt. If you add film to a front side window, the glass and the film are measured together.
5) Will a tint citation put points on my license?
NRS 484D.440 says a tint violation is not a moving traffic violation for purposes of NRS 483.473, the demerit point statute. Ask the court listed on the citation how your case will be handled.
Conclusion
The short version is 35 percent on the front doors, any shade behind them, and a strip at the top of the windshield. The finished reading on the glass is the number that matters.
To pick a film that stays inside those limits, request a free quote from Ace Built Automotive or call 702.476.9191. The shop is at 5390 S. Decatur Blvd. in Las Vegas