Nevada sets its window tint rules in NRS 484D.440. The law treats each window differently, so a shade that is legal on the rear glass can earn a ticket on the front doors. This guide covers the rules one window at a time, based on the statute and the state’s exemption regulations.
Ace Built Automotive installs window tint in Las Vegas at our shop on S. Decatur Blvd. Tint law is one of the first things we go over with customers before any film is chosen.
Front Side Windows: 35 Percent With a 7 Percent Tolerance
The windows to the immediate left and right of the driver can be tinted only if two conditions are met. The film must be nonreflective, and the window must let through at least 35 percent of visible light, with a tolerance of 7 percent.
The 35 percent applies to the film and the glass together. Factory glass already blocks a small amount of light, so a film labeled 35 percent reads slightly darker once it is installed. Check the reading with the film on the glass, not the number on the film box.
Rear Side Windows and the Back Glass
The statute sets no darkness limit for the side windows behind the driver or the rear window, as long as the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides. Each mirror must give the driver a view of the road at least 200 feet behind the vehicle. Nearly every modern passenger vehicle meets this with its factory mirrors.
On these windows, 20 percent and 5 percent film are common choices.
Windshield Tint Strip
Tint on the windshield is allowed only along the top of the glass. The statute measures the limit from the driver’s seat. The bottom edge of the strip must sit at least 29 inches above the seat, measured from a point 5 inches in front of the bottom of the backrest, with the seat in its rearmost and lowest position and the vehicle on level ground. The strip cannot be red or amber.
Many guides refer to the AS-1 line printed on most windshields. Nevada’s statute sets the limit with the 29-inch seat measurement instead, so check the strip against that measurement.
Reflective and Mirrored Film
On the front side windows, the law requires nonreflective film. The statute doesn’t give a reflectivity percentage, so mirrored or metallic-looking film isn’t an option for the front doors. Some websites quote a specific reflectivity limit for Nevada, but that number doesn’t appear in NRS 484D.440.
If heat is the main concern, ceramic film blocks heat without a mirrored look. Our comparison of ceramic tint vs regular tint covers how the two films perform in desert heat.
Exceptions Written Into the Law
A vehicle sold new with tinted glass as standard or optional equipment, and that met federal rules at the time, is legal as built. This covers the factory privacy glass on many SUVs and pickups.
Vehicles from model year 1993 or older are also exempt from the driving prohibition if the tint was applied before July 1, 1993.
Medical and Other Exemptions
Nevada issues permits for darker tint in limited cases under NAC 484D.285. For a medical exemption, the applicant provides a sworn statement from their treating physician that a medical condition requires the tint, along with their own sworn statement that they are the primary driver of the vehicle. The same regulation covers ambulances, hearses and certain law enforcement vehicles.
Applications go to the Nevada Highway Patrol, Department of Public Safety, in Carson City on form DO-200. The form states that no exemption darker than 20 percent VLT will be approved, and the approval letter must be kept in the vehicle.
What Happens If Your Tint is Not Legal
The statute applies both to installing illegal film and to driving a vehicle that has it. A driver can be cited for tint a previous owner installed, so check the tint before buying a used car.
A tint violation is not a moving traffic violation in Nevada, so it does not add demerit points to your driving record. The fine is set by the court that handles the citation, and the film usually has to be removed or replaced to bring the vehicle into compliance.
Legal Shade Choices by Window
A common legal setup in Nevada is 35 percent on the front side windows, a darker shade on the rear side windows and back glass, and a strip along the top of the windshield. Because the front doors are capped at 35 percent, film type affects heat rejection there more than shade does.
At our shop, we go over the legal shade for each window with you before any film goes on, and every job starts with a free quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the darkest legal tint on front windows in Nevada?
Front side windows must let through at least 35 percent of light, measured through the film and glass together, with a 7 percent tolerance. The film must also be nonreflective.
2. Can I tint my rear windows any shade in Nevada?
Yes, if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides that show the road at least 200 feet behind. The statute sets no darkness limit for the rear side windows or the back glass in that case.
3. Is windshield tint legal in Nevada?
Only a strip along the top of the windshield. Its bottom edge must be at least 29 inches above the driver’s seat, measured as NRS 484D.440 describes, and it cannot be red or amber.
4. Can I get a medical exemption for darker tint?
Yes. You apply to the Nevada Highway Patrol with form DO-200 and sworn statements from your physician and yourself. The state will not approve tint darker than 20 percent VLT under an exemption.
5. Will a tint ticket add points to my driving record?
No. Nevada treats a tint violation as a non-moving violation, so it carries no demerit points. You will usually need to remove or replace the film.
Conclusion
The front doors are limited to 35 percent nonreflective film, while the rear glass has no darkness limit when the vehicle has proper side mirrors.
For a legal tint setup on your vehicle, call 702.476.9191 or request a free quote.
This guide summarizes Nevada law for general information and is not legal advice. Check the current text of NRS 484D.440 before installing tint.