New Hampshire Windshield Mounting Laws (2026 Guide)

New Hampshire law permits dashcams, GPS units, and phone mounts on the windshield. RSA 265:79-c paragraph V says nothing in the hands-free law prohibits receiving turn-by-turn routing information from a screen mounted on the dashboard, windshield, or visor. Drivers must still position any device so it does not obstruct their clear view of the road under RSA 265:95.

New Hampshire takes a practical approach to windshield mounting laws. The state does not impose a blanket ban on all windshield-mounted devices. Instead, it prohibits items that obstruct the driver's view, while a separate statute leaves room for windshield-mounted navigation screens. Understanding where these rules overlap is important for anyone who uses a phone mount, GPS unit, or dashcam in the Granite State.

The primary statute governing windshield obstructions is RSA 265:95, titled "Obstruction to Driver's View or Riding Mechanism." Additional rules come from the hands-free driving law (RSA 265:79-c) and the tinted glass statute (RSA 266:58-a).

RSA 265:95: The Windshield Obstruction Law

RSA 265:95 is the core statute that controls what you can and cannot place on your windshield in New Hampshire.

What the Law Prohibits

Paragraph III(a) of RSA 265:95 states that no person shall drive on any way with "any sign, poster, sticker, or other nontransparent material upon or adjacent to the front windshield, side wings, or side or rear windows" if the material obstructs the driver's clear view of the road or any intersecting way.

The law also prohibits aftermarket tinting on the windshield as defined by RSA 266:58-a.

The key phrase is "which shall obstruct the driver's clear view." New Hampshire does not automatically ban every object attached to the windshield. The test is whether the item blocks or limits what the driver can see. A small transponder mounted near the rearview mirror is treated differently from a large poster covering half the glass.

Director Authorization

RSA 265:95 includes an exception for items "authorized by the director." This means the Director of the Division of Motor Vehicles can approve certain items for windshield placement. The statute does not name which items have been approved, and the DMV does not publish a list of them. Common windshield items such as toll transponders are therefore best understood as generally treated as permissible in practice under the obstruction test, rather than as items carrying a documented director authorization.

Rear Window Exception

Under paragraph III(b) of the same statute, stickers and other nontransparent materials are permitted on the rear window if the vehicle has exterior rearview mirrors on both sides that give the driver a clear view to the rear, and the materials are placed along the perimeter of the rear window so the inside rearview mirror still provides a view through the center portion.

Front Seat Occupancy Rule

Paragraphs I and II of RSA 265:95 also address physical obstructions. No more than three passengers may sit in the front seat if doing so blocks the driver's view or interferes with the steering mechanism. Passengers may not ride in any position that blocks the driver's forward or side view.

GPS and Phone Mounts on the Windshield

New Hampshire's hands-free driving law carves windshield-mounted navigation screens out of its prohibition. That carve-out comes from RSA 265:79-c rather than from the obstruction statute itself, which continues to apply on its own terms.

What RSA 265:79-c Allows

Paragraph V of RSA 265:79-c states that nothing in the section prohibits a driver, regardless of age, from:

• Receiving aural (spoken) routing information from a hands-free GPS device or navigation service through a mobile electronic device
• Receiving turn-by-turn routing information from the screen of a GPS device or navigation service through a mobile electronic device that is integrated into the vehicle or mounted on the dashboard, windshield, or visor of the vehicle

This means the hands-free law itself does not stand in the way of mounting a GPS device or smartphone on the windshield for navigation. The paragraph names the windshield alongside the dashboard and visor, but it operates as a carve-out from the hands-free prohibition, not as an approval of windshield placement under RSA 265:95.

Interaction Between the Two Statutes

Even though RSA 265:79-c permits windshield-mounted navigation devices, RSA 265:95 still requires that the device not obstruct your view. In practice, this means:

• A phone or GPS mount placed to one side of the windshield or below the rearview mirror is generally acceptable
• A large tablet or device placed directly in the driver's primary line of sight could still violate RSA 265:95
• The device must be positioned so the driver maintains a clear view of the road and intersecting ways

The safest approach is to mount any device as low on the windshield as practical, or to use a dashboard or vent mount instead.

The Hands-Free Driving Law (RSA 265:79-c)

Understanding New Hampshire's hands-free law is essential because it directly affects how you interact with any windshield-mounted device while driving.

What Is Prohibited

RSA 265:79-c prohibits any person driving a moving vehicle (or stopped temporarily in traffic) from using a hand-held mobile electronic device for:

• Reading, composing, viewing, or posting electronic messages
• Initiating, receiving, or conducting phone conversations by hand
• Initiating commands or requests to access the internet
• Manually typing data into a GPS or navigation device
• Manually entering data into any other portable electronic device

What Is Permitted

The law allows drivers to:

• Use Bluetooth-enabled or other hands-free devices for calls and information, as long as attention stays on the road
• Receive turn-by-turn GPS directions on a screen mounted to the windshield, dashboard, or visor
• Listen to spoken navigation directions from a hands-free device
• Activate, deactivate, or initiate a function of the phone with one hand (such as tapping to accept a call on a hands-free system)
• Use a non-cellular two-way radio with one hand
• Call 911 or emergency services in an emergency

Rules for Drivers Under 18

New Hampshire imposes stricter rules on drivers younger than 18. Under RSA 265:79-c, no person under 18 may use a cellular phone or mobile electronic device while driving, whether hands-free or not. The only exception is to report an emergency through the 911 system or directly to a public safety agency.

However, drivers under 18 are still permitted to receive GPS navigation directions, both audio and on-screen, from a properly mounted device. The GPS navigation exemption in paragraph V applies "regardless of age."

Penalties for Hands-Free Law Violations

These fines are in addition to any applicable penalty assessments added by the court. Repeat violations within a 24-month window escalate quickly.

Dashcam Mounting Rules

New Hampshire does not have a specific statute addressing dashboard cameras or video event recorders. Dashcams are treated like any other windshield-mounted device under the general obstruction rule in RSA 265:95.

A dashcam is permitted as long as it does not obstruct the driver's view of the road. The safest placement is behind the rearview mirror, where the camera has a clear view of the road but does not block the driver's sightline.

Audio Recording Considerations

New Hampshire is an all-party consent state for audio recording under RSA 570-A:2. If your dashcam records audio inside the vehicle, all occupants must be informed and consent to the recording. Video-only recording of the road ahead does not require consent from other parties.

Windshield Tinting Rules (RSA 266:58-a)

New Hampshire's tinted glass law, RSA 266:58-a, restricts aftermarket tinting on vehicle windows and is referenced directly in the windshield obstruction statute.

Windshield Tinting

Aftermarket tinting on the windshield is prohibited in New Hampshire. It is unlawful to sell, inspect (when inspections were active), or drive a vehicle registered in the state with aftermarket tinting on the windshield.

Exception: A tint strip up to 6 inches wide at the very top of the windshield is permitted, as long as the light transmittance of the strip is at least 35%.

Other Window Tinting Standards

When aftermarket tinting is applied to windows behind the driver, the vehicle must have exterior rearview mirrors on both sides.

Medical Exemption

Individuals who need darker tinting for medical reasons may apply for a special permit that exempts them from the standard tinting restrictions on the windshield and front side windows.

Toll Transponders and Other Permitted Items

Certain items are commonly found on New Hampshire windshields and are generally considered permissible:

• E-ZPass transponders: New Hampshire's turnpike system uses E-ZPass, and the transponder is designed to be mounted on the windshield behind the rearview mirror. The NH E-ZPass program provides installation instructions that place the tag to the right of and behind the rearview mirror. That is installation guidance, not a director authorization, so the placement still has to satisfy the obstruction test in RSA 265:95.
• Items authorized by the director: RSA 265:95, III(a) puts items the Director of Motor Vehicles authorizes outside the obstruction rule. New Hampshire does not publish a list of the items that have been authorized.
• Factory-installed components: Items installed by the vehicle manufacturer (such as rain sensors, automatic dimming mirrors, and heads-up display projectors) are not considered aftermarket additions.

Penalties for Windshield Violations

RSA 265:95 violations carry a flat $75 fine. The fine applies to any of the three paragraphs of the statute, including the windshield obstruction provision, the front-seat crowding rule, and the passenger positioning rule.

Safety Glass Requirement (RSA 266:58)

Under RSA 266:58, any motor vehicle manufactured or assembled on or after January 1, 1936 must be equipped with safety glass in all partitions, doors, windows, and windshields. Safety glass is glass that has been treated or combined with other materials to reduce the risk of injury when cracked or broken compared to ordinary sheet glass or plate glass.

Driving with a severely cracked or damaged windshield could result in a citation, as the glass may no longer meet the safety glass standard or may obstruct the driver's view under RSA 265:95.

Vehicle Inspection Changes (2025-2026)

New Hampshire's legislature enacted a repeal of the mandatory annual vehicle inspection program effective January 31, 2026, under the 2025 legislative session, but that repeal is still tied up in federal court. The program's former inspection vendor sued under the Clean Air Act, and a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on January 27, 2026 ordering the state to keep the program running. New Hampshire appealed, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit stayed that injunction, so as of this update the program is suspended rather than finally ended: inspection stations are not currently authorized to issue state inspection stickers, and vehicles are not required to obtain an annual state inspection, but the litigation remains pending and the outcome could still change.

However, drivers remain responsible under existing law for keeping their vehicles safe to operate. A windshield that is cracked, obstructed, or improperly tinted can still result in a citation under RSA 265:95 or RSA 266:58-a during a routine traffic stop, even without the formal inspection program in place.

More New Hampshire Laws

• New Hampshire Dashcam Laws
• New Hampshire Window Tint Laws
• New Hampshire GPS Tracking Laws
• New Hampshire Lemon Law