Who Can Drive with Tinted Windows in Armenia?

In Armenia, vehicles belonging to diplomatic and consular representations are allowed to drive with tinted windows. This information was provided by the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Armenia in response to a written inquiry from Sputnik Armenia.

Earlier, it was noted that vehicles from the embassies and diplomatic representations operating in Armenia were being driven with tinted windows that clearly exceed the allowed limit. We inquired with the Ministry of Internal Affairs whether any exemptions were granted to them.

The ministry responded that the permissible levels of light transmission for vehicle windows are stipulated by the technical regulations of the Customs Union on the safety of motor vehicles. According to one of the subparagraphs of the same regulation, the enforcement of the technical regulation does not extend to diplomatic and consular representations, international (interstate) organizations (which benefit from privileges and immunities in accordance with universally recognized principles and norms of international law), as well as vehicles belonging to employees of these representations (organizations) and their family members.

At the same time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs informed that high-ranking officials of Armenia and their accompanying vehicles do not have such exemptions.

It should be recalled that the decision to impose fines for vehicles with tinted windows exceeding the established limits came into effect on June 1, 2023. Although driving with tinted windows had been prohibited by Armenian legislation much earlier, fines were not enforced because the police were not equipped with devices to measure the level of tinting.

The permissible level of light transmission for windows is based on the existing standard of the EAEU, which stipulates that the light transmission of vehicle windshields must be no less than 75 percent, while the side front windows must be no less than 70 percent.