In 2025, Mexico will tighten controls on the use of tinted car windows. The purpose of the measures — increasing road visibility, reducing the number of accidents and reducing opportunities for criminal activity using opaque vehicles. There is no uniform federal standard for glass tinting in the country: rules are regulated at the state and municipal level.
What is forced tint removal?
Removing film from tinted windows — This is a measure applied by local authorities if a vehicle does not meet light transmission criteria. Each region sets its own minimum percentage of transparency, but generally the requirements are as follows:
- Windshield: at least 70% light.
- Front side windows: at least 35%.
- Rear windows: restrictions vary by region, sometimes none.
If the vehicle does not meet the standards, traffic police inspectors are able to:
- impose a fine
- demand immediate removal of the film on site,
- receive a notification followed by confirmation of the correction.
Medical exemptions are available to drivers with skin conditions or photosensitivity, provided they have an official certificate and are registered with the local traffic authority.
How are checks carried out?
Control operations are organized at strategic points in cities and cover:
- Vehicle inspection: checking the windshield, front and side windows.
- Transparency measurement: Using a photometer to determine the percentage of light transmitted; In some municipalities, a visual assessment is possible.
- Administrative penalty: fines are assessed in UMA (conventional units of measurement and update, 1 UMA for 2025 is equal to 113.14 pesos).
Examples of regional practice
Mexico City
- Glass that obstructs visibility is prohibited.
- Fine: 5-10 UMA (565-1130 pesos).
- The film is not forcibly removed on the spot, but the driver is obliged to eliminate the violation before continuing to drive, in other words, in fact, remove the film himself.
Michoacan
- Fine: about 900 pesos.
- Violation results in immediate removal of the film on site.
Sinaloa
- Minimum transparency: 35% on front windows.
- Fine: 9 UMA (~1018 pesos).
- The film is not removed on the spot; the driver must correct the violation later.
Fines and consequences
- The fine ranges from 900 pesos to more than 1,100 pesos.
- Some municipalities practice immediate removal of the film, which requires tools and the option to safely remove the film on site.
- Violation without correction may result in repeated fines and administrative penalties.
Recommendations for drivers
- Before installing tint, check your local regulations, as well as the regulations of the states you plan to travel to.
- Do not use film with transparency less than 35% on front windows.
- Keep receipts and film installation certificates.
- If stopped, request a photometer measurement and an official receipt for the violation.
- In case of an unfair violation, record evidence (photo, time, place).
Compliance with these rules will help you avoid fines, ensure road safety, and reduce the risk of legal consequences.