Guyana’s new vehicle tint rules have been formally gazetted, setting clear national standards for permissible window tint levels, enforcement procedures and penalties under the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Tint) Regulations 2026.
The regulations were published in the Official Gazette, Legal Supplement B, on Jan. 1 and will come into operation on March 31, 2026, giving motorists a three-month period to bring their vehicles into compliance before enforcement begins.
Under the new rules, front windscreens are not permitted to have tint applied, while front side windows must allow a minimum of 25% visible light transmission (VLT). Rear side windows and rear windscreens must each allow at least 20% VLT, according to the schedule attached to the regulations.
The law also prohibits mirrored, metallic or reflective tinting and places limits on windscreen visors, restricting their size and requiring a minimum VLT of 25%.
The regulations empower the Commissioner of Police to authorise trained officers to conduct roadside tint inspections using approved tint-measuring devices certified by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards. Tint readings taken with approved meters will be admissible as evidence in court proceedings.
A margin of error of plus or minus three per cent is allowed when determining compliance with the prescribed VLT levels.
Exemptions may be granted for specific categories of vehicles and individuals, including ambulances, vehicles used by the President and Prime Minister, security and defence agencies, diplomatic missions, senior government officials designated by the Minister, and persons with certified medical conditions requiring reduced exposure to sunlight. Businesses engaged in high-risk cash handling or security-sensitive operations may also apply.
Applications for exemptions must be submitted in writing to the Minister of Home Affairs, with medical exemptions requiring certification from a registered medical practitioner. Approved exemptions will be recorded in a national tint registry maintained by the ministry.
Violations of the regulations will attract fines of $30,000, including for motorists operating vehicles with illegal tint and for businesses that install or offer to install tint that does not meet the legal requirements.
Regulation 103A of the previous Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Regulations has been revoked and replaced by the new framework.
The regulations were made on Jan. 1, 2026, by Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond, and will be fully enforced following the March 31 commencement date.