Maine Window Tint Laws
Published by TintLegal. Content corrected September 19, 2026. Individual source-check dates appear alongside the rules; this is AI-assisted source research, not professional legal review.
Start with the correct window and vehicle
For ordinary vehicle without qualifying dual mirrors, front-side requirement: >= 35% combined VLT. Rear-side requirement: >= 35% combined VLT. Rear window: >= 35% combined VLT.
A whole windshield and its upper visor strip have separate rules. Read the conditions below before choosing film. A “no VLT minimum” entry does not remove other restrictions.
Window and vehicle requirements
Window positions only; shading does not simulate tint or visibility. Ordinary vehicle without qualifying dual mirrors:
- A — Whole windshield: Applied tint prohibited. The visor strip is a separate table row.
- B — Front side: >= 35% combined VLT
- C — Rear side: >= 35% combined VLT
- D — Rear window: >= 35% combined VLT
Ordinary vehicle without qualifying dual mirrors
Rear glass follows 35% unless the mirror exception applies.
| Window | Requirement | Conditions and evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Front side | >= 35% combined VLT | 29-A §1916(1–6) (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Rear side | >= 35% combined VLT | 29-A §1916(1–6) (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Rear window | >= 35% combined VLT | 29-A §1916(1–6) (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Full windshield | Applied tint prohibited | Applied material must not reduce windshield transmission below original glazing. 29-A §1916(1–6) (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Windshield visor strip | No VLT minimum — conditions apply | Nonreflective strip exception. Strip remains above AS-1, or within the top five inches if no AS-1 line exists. 29-A §1916(1–6) (checked 2026-09-19) |
Vehicle with two properly adjusted exterior mirrors
Confirm both exterior mirrors are present and adjusted.
| Window | Requirement | Conditions and evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Front side | >= 35% combined VLT | 29-A §1916(1–6) (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Rear side | No VLT minimum — conditions apply | Both exterior mirrors are fitted and adjusted to provide the rearward view specified in the official rule. 29-A §1916(1–6) (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Rear window | No VLT minimum — conditions apply | Both exterior mirrors are fitted and adjusted to provide the rearward view specified in the official rule. 29-A §1916(1–6) (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Full windshield | Applied tint prohibited | No reduction beyond original windshield transmission. 29-A §1916(1–6) (checked 2026-09-19) |
| Windshield visor strip | No VLT minimum — conditions apply | Strip remains above AS-1, or within top five inches if no AS-1 line exists. 29-A §1916(1–6) (checked 2026-09-19) |
Check a tint VLT requirement
Use a measured combined glass-plus-film VLT reading. A film label alone cannot tell you the installed VLT. This is a limited check, not a certificate of complete compliance.
Choose your state, class and window, then enter the measured VLT.
Read the state rules and official sources
Estimate combined VLT from film and glass specifications
Approximation: glass VLT × film VLT ÷ 100. For example, 80% glass × 35% film = 28%. An estimate is not a calibrated measurement and is never used as a passing calculator result.
Restrictions beyond darkness
Reflective material is prohibited generally. Installation/transmittance certificate required. Rear-side and rear mirror exception does not remove front-side 35% minimum.
Window positions: front-side means beside the driver/front passenger; rear-side means behind the driver; rear window means the back-facing glass. The tables separate full-windshield coverage from an upper strip. Vehicle marketing names alone do not resolve statutory classifications.
Medical exemptions
Apply to Maine State Police Traffic Division using the official medical-waiver application with qualifying clinician certification. Approval is required; selecting a condition in a calculator does not grant a waiver.
Authority: Maine State Police.
Renewal: Not yet verified; confirm with the issuing authority.
Official application or instructionsCompare verified medical instructions . Do not treat a medical diagnosis as automatic approval.
Tickets and costs
§1916(6) specifies a traffic-infraction forfeiture of not less than$100. This is a statutory minimum, not a fixed total including court costs.
Official sources and research limits
- 29-A §1916(1–6)
Front 35% combined; rear 35 unless two adjusted outside mirrors; no reflectivity; strip aboveAS-1 or five inches if absent. Medical approval by State Police; traffic forfeiture minimum 100 dollars.
Source checked 2026-09-19. Effective date not independently established; see source history.
- State Police medical waiver application
Application requires Maine physician, physician assistant or optometrist certification, submitted to State Police Traffic Division; retrieved application content read.
Source checked 2026-09-19. Effective date not independently established; see source history.
Unknown entries identify specific research gaps. They are not assertions that tint is prohibited or unrestricted. Contact the official motor-vehicle agency to resolve an unclear classification before installation.
Practical questions
Does a 35% film label mean the window measures 35%?
No. With 80% glass, 35% film estimates to 28% combined VLT. Measure the installed combination; understand VLT and estimates .
Does passing the calculator prove full compliance?
No. It checks the verified numerical rule and explicitly confirmed conditions for the selected case. Reflection, color, certification, special uses and approved exemptions may need separate assessment.
Neighboring state research
Use the same vehicle classification when comparing. Nonresident applicability has not been established across these states; crossing a border is not automatically a violation or an exemption.
- New Hampshire — ordinary passenger front: >= 70% combined VLT
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