Windshield visor strip aside, New York’s 2025 meter test
zeroes in on 70 percent VLT. Fail just one front pane and your inspection
sticker, registration renewal, and weekend road trip evaporate together. The
surest defense? Run the article’s six-step drill: confirm vehicle class,
measure the glass you have, check the legality sticker, test both mirrors, scan
for metallic sheen, and keep any medical waiver in the glove box.
A two-inch FMVSS label on the driver’s door jamb decides whether every side
window must meet 70 percent or only the front pair. “Passenger Car” keeps the
whole cabin bright; “Multipurpose Vehicle,” “Truck,” or “Van” buys unlimited
darkness behind the B-pillar—provided both mirrors work. Ignore the label and
you might copy a neighbor’s SUV tint that passes while your sedan flunks next
month’s inspection.
Save Time: Meter Before You Tint
Factory glass often sits near 75 percent. Add a “light” 50 percent film and the
stack crashes to 37 percent, squarely illegal. Reputable installers meter the
bare glass, pick a compliant film, and print paperwork that proves your numbers
the instant a trooper flicks on a handheld meter. That twenty-second reading
can spare you the four-figure spiral of removal labor, re-inspection fees, and
surcharge-happy insurers. Bonus: it also clears up confusion over the
now-optional insurance photo inspection some carriers still request.
Want the full checklist and waiver details?
