Updated at: 10-06-2022 - By: Lucas

Do you want to know, “Can you get pulled over in New Mexico for tint?”

In the state of New Mexico, it’s important to know the rules about how dark your window tint can be and how reflective it can be.

New Mexico has more rules about window tinting that drivers should know about.

new mexico tint laws

In New Mexico, there are rules about how big each window on a passenger vehicle can be.

Most sedans, coupes, convertibles, hardtops, and hatchbacks are passenger vehicles. By law, a passenger vehicle is any vehicle with a motor that can carry ten people or less.

Front Windshield

A passenger car in New Mexico can only have a non-reflective tint above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line on the front windshield.

Only the top five inches of the windshield can have a tint.

Front Seat Side Windows

Up to 20% of the light can be blocked out of the side windows of the front seat.

Back Seat Side Windows

Like the side windows of the front seats, the side windows of the back seats of a passenger vehicle can be tinted up to 20% darker.

Rear Window

Lastly, the tint on the back window can be up to 20% darker.

new mexico tint laws

Your car is probably either a passenger vehicle or a vehicle that can be used for more than one thing.

You can find out what kind of car you have by looking for a Federal ID label on the inside of the driver’s door.

On this label, your Vehicle Identification Number and how it is classified will be written.

SUVs, RVs, pickup trucks, campers, minibuses, vans, and more can all serve more than one purpose.

Front Windshield

A multi-purpose vehicle in New Mexico can only use a non-reflective tint above the manufacturer’s AS-1 line.

The top five inches of the windshield can also have a tint that doesn’t reflect light.

Front Seat Side Windows

A multi-purpose vehicle’s front seat side windows can be up to 20 percent darker.

Back Seat Side Windows

On the back seat side windows of a multi-purpose vehicle, the darkness of the tint doesn’t have to be the same as it is on the front seat side windows or in a passenger vehicle.

Rear Window

Also, the back window of a vehicle that can be used for more than one thing can be tinted to any level of darkness.

Additional Window Tint Laws in New Mexico

In the state of New Mexico, there are some other laws about window tinting that can affect whether or not you get pulled over by the police, even if your tint levels are right.

Because of this, it’s important to know these rules and follow them.

In New Mexico, any car with tinted side or back windows must also have two side mirrors.

If not, the tint is against the law, and the driver has broken the law.

All cars can have coloured tints in New Mexico.

But drivers aren’t allowed to use red, orange, or yellow tints.

Also, every tinted window made by a certified company must have a sticker on it to show that it is legal.

Every window with tint must have this sticker between the film and the glass.

Medical Exemptions

In many states, you can get out of tinting laws if you have a certain medical condition.

Because of these exceptions, you can install a tint that is darker than what the rules allow.

For medical reasons, New Mexico law does allow window tinting.

But the law doesn’t say exactly how much VLT is allowed for these exemptions.

In New Mexico, any doctor or optometrist can write an affidavit that says window tinting is okay. This affidavit must be kept in the car at all times.

How is Tint Darkness Measured in New Mexico?

In the state of New Mexico, the darkness of the tint is measured by how much light it lets through the window.

This number is called the VLT, which stands for Visible Light Transmission.

The more light can get through the tint, the higher the VLT percentage.

The VLT limit is different in each state, so it’s important to know what it is in yours so you don’t get pulled over.

These limits can also be different for passenger cars and vehicles with more than one use.

How Reflective Can Tint be in New Mexico?

Some window tints have a metallic film on them, which bounces light and heat away from the car.

Even though this reflective feature can help drivers deal with less light and heat, each state also has rules about reflective tints.

In the state of New Mexico, drivers are not allowed to have reflective tint on their front windshields.

But there are no laws that say tint can’t be used on the side windows of passenger vehicles or vehicles with more than one purpose.

More Questions?

Laws about window tinting are put in place to keep people safe.

Dark tints can make it hard to find out what’s going on and can be dangerous for police during routine traffic stops.

Too dark of a tint can also be dangerous because it can make it hard to see.

Each state has its own laws about window tinting, and local police officers and other law enforcement officials may have their own ideas about what those laws mean.

To make sure you don’t break any laws in your state about window tinting, talk to your local DMV or police department to find out what the rules are.

Here is a helpful list of the law enforcement agencies in New Mexico.

Always know the rules of the road and how to stay safe.