Only exempted vehicles can have tinted front windscreens

-regulations issued by Minister to take effect on Thursday

Minister of Home Affairs, Oneidge Walrond, yesterday unveiled the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic (Tint) Regulations 2025 which will take effect on January 1, 2026 and only exempted vehicles will be allowed to have a tinted front windscreen.

Under the new regulations, the previous requirement for 65% Visible Light Transmission (VLT) has been scrapped in favour of more practical standards that no longer require a special permit for basic use.

In a statement issued yesterday, Walrond highlighted that after reviewing public feedback from a November 28 announcement, the government adjusted the initial 35% proposal to allow for even greater flexibility on side and rear windows. The finalized standards are:

• Front Windscreen: No tint allowed, except for a top visor not         exceeding 6 inches. This is seen as an important change as          members of the public have complained about not being able to see drivers behind the steering wheel.
• Front Side Windows: Minimum  25% VLT.
• Rear Side Windows: Minimum 20% VLT.
• Rear Windscreen: Minimum 20% VLT.
• Mirrored/Reflective Tint: Strictly prohibited on all surfaces.

“It was evident that our country had outgrown what was, in effect, a ban on tint,” Walrond stated yesterday, noting that over 70% of vehicles were previously non-compliant. “This new regime introduces clarity, consistency, and fairness for all road users.”

To ensure fair application of the law, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will be equipped with approved tint meters, removing the “ambiguity” of visual inspections. Those found in violation of the new standards—including both vehicle owners and the businesses that install the illegal tint—will face a fine of $30,000.

The Minister warned that while these fines are intended to be a deterrent rather than punitive, the government will monitor enforcement patterns and may increase penalties if compliance remains low.

Recognizing the transition required for thousands of motorists, the Ministry has declared a three-month amnesty period beginning January 1, 2026. During this window, the GPF will set up voluntary testing sites nationwide.

“I encourage all motorists to take full advantage of the amnesty period to test their vehicles and make adjustments without penalty,” the Minister urged. Full enforcement and ticketing will commence immediately following the conclusion of the amnesty.

While the universal standards apply to the general public, specific exemptions remain for high-profile or high-risk categories.

These are:

• Vehicles used by the President and Prime Minister
• Designated senior government officials
• The Police Force, Defence Force, Fire Service, and Prison Service
• Emergency services, including ambulances
• Diplomatic and consular missions
• Licensed private security agencies
• Individuals with certified medical conditions requiring reduced  exposure to sunlight
• Businesses engaged in high-risk cash handling or security-       sensitive operations.

Applications for exemptions must be submitted using the prescribed system to the Minister of Home Affairs who shall consider the application and may issue or refuse to issue an exemption certificate.

In the case of exemptions on medical grounds, applications must be supported by certification from a registered medical practitioner.

All such waivers will now be recorded in a digital national tint registry to prevent the “unscrupulous practices and manipulation” that Walrond noted had plagued the previous manual approval system.

Addressing concerns regarding double standards,  Walrond reiterated her directive to the Guyana Police Force. Earlier this month, she warned ranks to lead by example.

“Ranks who have tints on their private vehicles that do not comply with the law must remove them immediately,” she stated. “Those empowered to enforce the law must be the first to uphold it.”

The Ministry of Home Affairs expects the new regulations to strengthen public trust and enhance safety by allowing law enforcement to clearly see into vehicles while providing citizens with the protection from sunlight they have long requested.

On November 28, the  Ministry of Home Affairs had announced a new vehicle tint policy which would allow no less than 35% light penetration for all users without any application process. Walrond, in a live video posted to her Facebook page, explained that the reform followed a noticeable spike in tint waiver applications and concerns over individuals exploiting the previous approval system.

“I’ve observed an exponential increase in requests for tint waivers. At the same time, I’ve received numerous complaints regarding unscrupulous practices and individuals who have sought to abuse the existing system,” she stated. According to Walrond, the old mechanism had become “burdensome, inconsistent, and vulnerable to manipulation,” prompting a comprehensive evaluation with the Guyana Police Force and other technical experts.

Under the new policy announced on November 28, three clearly defined tint waiver categories based on risk assessment were to be introduced, along with a universal standard for basic tinting with no waiver required.

“There will be a universal provision for basic tint without waiver, which stipulates that all motor vehicles will now be allowed tint with no less than 35% light penetration,” she had said then.