Windshield Tint in Phoenix: What’s Allowed + What the “AS-1 Line” Means
Windshield Tint in Phoenix: What’s Allowed + What the “AS-1 Line” Means
In Phoenix, windshield tint is one of the most searched add-ons because it can cut down on harsh sun and that blinding glare bouncing off the road. But windshield tint is also where drivers get in trouble fast, because windshield tint law in Arizona is much stricter than side-window rules. If you’re looking up AS-1 line tint and what’s actually legal, here’s the simple breakdown.
Serving Phoenix + the whole Valley
Tint rules are statewide, so what applies in Phoenix is the same in Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, Avondale, Goodyear, and Buckeye. If you’re in the Valley, the windshield guidelines below are what you’ll be held to.
What the “AS-1 line” is (and why it matters)
The AS-1 line is a small marking placed by the windshield manufacturer, usually near the top of the glass. It shows the limit of the “top strip” area where tint is allowed. When people say AS-1 line tint, they mean a sun strip that stays above that line, so it doesn’t block your main viewing area.
What’s allowed on the windshield in Arizona
For most drivers, the legal option is straightforward: a non-reflective tint strip at the very top of the windshield, above the AS-1 line. Anything that drops down into the main windshield viewing area can put you in “not legal” territory.
Arizona also gets specific about how that upper strip is measured in the law (it references the bottom edge being a certain distance above the driver’s seat) and it restricts certain colors like red/amber.
Top strip tint: what it’s for
A top strip is mainly for sun glare—the kind that hits your eyes during morning and late afternoon drives. It’s a small change, but in Phoenix it can make a big difference when the sun is low and you’re heading east or west.
If you want the strip to look clean, ask for a straight cut that follows the AS-1 line, and make sure the film is non-reflective.
“Clear film” across the whole windshield: is it legal?
This is where people get confused. Shops sometimes talk about “clear heat-rejecting film” for the full windshield. Even if it looks light, full-windshield coverage can still be a legal problem in Arizona if it extends below the AS-1 line.
Even Arizona’s medical tint exemption program notes that the exemption does not apply to the windshield below the AS-1. So if someone is offering full windshield film, you’ll want to be very careful and understand the risk before you do it.
Inspection + enforcement (what to expect in Phoenix)
Arizona doesn’t run a typical yearly “safety inspection” program the way some states do, but Phoenix-area vehicles often do need emissions testing depending on location and vehicle details. Arizona Department of Transportation
Tint legality is usually something that comes up through law enforcement (traffic stops) rather than a routine “inspection lane” check.
Quick Phoenix tip before you tint the windshield
Don’t guess where the strip should stop. Ask the installer to point out the AS-1 line on your exact windshield and keep the tint above it. That’s the easiest way to get the glare help you want without turning your windshield tint into a headache later.
