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An Alabama medical exemption is issued by ALEA, not by a doctor. ALEA sets the exemption’s conditions and limitations and issues a windshield decal with a unique identification number for each vehicle the exempt person operates. Without an exemption, tint darker than Alabama’s limits can result in a citation. The process involves two parts:
Some drivers ask whether an Alabama medical exemption lets them tint their windows as dark as they want. Alabama law does not set a fixed darkness for exempt vehicles; ALEA sets the conditions and limitations of each exemption. For light-sensitive porphyria, the exemption applies to the windshield and window areas the physician lists in the written statement.
ForeverTint connects you with an independent licensed physician who reviews your medical history by chart review or, occasionally, a brief phone call. If you qualify, the signed physician statement is delivered electronically so you can include it with your ALEA application.
It’s important for Alabama drivers to understand the state’s window tint laws—even if you don’t currently qualify for a Medical Window Tint Exemption. Alabama sets specific limits on how dark and reflective your vehicle’s window tint can be. These regulations are designed to maintain visibility and safety for both drivers and law enforcement while still allowing reasonable sun protection and privacy.
These limits mean that tint darker than the standard limits requires an exemption from ALEA. ForeverTint helps you find out whether you qualify for the physician statement that supports your application. Eligibility is determined by a licensed physician based on your medical history, and ALEA decides whether to grant the exemption.
Traditionally, getting a tint exemption in Alabama meant making an in-person doctor’s appointment, explaining your condition, and handling paperwork yourself. ForeverTint streamlines this entire process online:
*If the physician determines you do not qualify, you receive a full refund.
An independent licensed physician decides whether your condition qualifies. Conditions a physician may consider include:
Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which ultraviolet light can trigger skin rashes, joint pain, and fatigue. Physicians commonly advise people with lupus to limit UV exposure, including the UVA light that passes through car side windows.
Porphyrias are a group of disorders in which certain compounds build up in the body and react to light, causing blistering, burning pain, and skin damage after sun exposure. Avoiding sunlight is a central part of managing the cutaneous forms.
Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare genetic disorder that prevents the body from repairing DNA damage caused by ultraviolet light. People with XP burn after minimal sun exposure and face a greatly increased risk of skin cancers and eye damage.
People with albinism produce little or no melanin, the pigment that helps protect skin and eyes from ultraviolet light. They are highly prone to sunburn and skin damage and often experience significant light sensitivity and glare.
Photosensitivity dermatitis is an abnormal skin reaction to sunlight that can cause redness, itching, swelling, and rash on exposed skin. It can be linked to an underlying condition or to medications, and limiting UV exposure helps prevent flare-ups.
A personal history of melanoma or other skin cancers means ongoing UV exposure is a serious concern. Dermatologists routinely advise these patients to reduce sun exposure wherever possible, including time spent driving.
Some eye conditions, such as uveitis, certain retinal disorders, and sensitivity following eye surgery, cause pain or impaired vision in bright light. A licensed physician or optometrist can assess whether reducing light exposure while driving is medically necessary.
Cockayne syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that causes extreme sensitivity to sunlight, along with other developmental and health effects. Strict sun protection is part of everyday care.
Bloom syndrome is a rare inherited disorder that causes sun-sensitive skin, often with a facial rash after sun exposure, and an increased lifetime risk of cancer. Limiting UV exposure is a standard precaution.
Vitiligo causes patches of skin to lose their pigment, leaving those areas without natural protection from ultraviolet light. Depigmented skin burns easily, so physicians often recommend extra sun protection.
Some autoimmune conditions, such as dermatomyositis, cause skin and muscle symptoms that worsen with sun exposure. Certain medications used to treat autoimmune disease can also increase sensitivity to light.
Healing burns, skin grafts, and scar tissue are more vulnerable to sun damage, and UV exposure can cause scars to darken. Physicians typically advise protecting these areas from direct sunlight.
Other diagnosed conditions, including sun sensitivity caused by medications, can make sun exposure a health concern. Describe your condition during intake, and an independent licensed physician will review your medical history and decide whether darker tint is medically necessary for you.
Under Code of Alabama Section 32-5C-4, the application must be supported by a written statement from a physician licensed to practice medicine in Alabama stating that you are required for medical reasons to be shielded from the direct rays of the sun. ALEA may set additional conditions and limitations when it issues the exemption.
A physician’s statement by itself is not an Alabama exemption. Without an exemption issued by ALEA, tint that exceeds Alabama’s legal limits can result in a citation, even if your medical condition is legitimate. An exemption does not guarantee you will not be stopped or cited; officers retain discretion.
Code of Alabama Section 32-5C-4(a): “The Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), upon application from a person required for medical reasons to be shielded from the direct rays of the sun, may issue an exemption from this chapter for any motor vehicle owned by the person or in which the person is a habitual passenger. The application shall be supported by written statement of that fact from a physician licensed to practice medicine in this state. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b), the exemption may be issued with the conditions and limitations prescribed by ALEA.”
Section 32-5C-4(c): ALEA issues each person granted an exemption a decal with a unique identification number, to be placed on the windshield of each motor vehicle the exempt person operates.
Source: ALEA, Alabama Tinting Regulations (Code of Alabama Section 32-5C-4)
Alabama lets ALEA issue a medical exemption to a person who must be shielded from the direct rays of the sun for medical reasons. The application must be supported by a written statement from a physician licensed in Alabama. Without an exemption, tint darker than the state’s limits can lead to a citation.
ForeverTint connects you with an independent licensed physician who reviews your medical history and, if you qualify, signs the written statement Alabama requires. The exemption itself is issued by ALEA after you apply with that statement.
Keep your exemption paperwork with you and the ALEA decal on your windshield. If an officer cannot verify your exemption, your tint may be treated as non-compliant and you may be cited. Even with an exemption, officers retain discretion.
No. Alabama law does not set a fixed darkness for exempt vehicles. ALEA sets the conditions and limitations of each exemption, and your tint must stay within them.
Yes, you apply to the state. Alabama medical exemptions are issued by ALEA, not the DMV, on an application supported by a written statement from a physician licensed in Alabama. ALEA issues a windshield decal to each person granted an exemption.
First, an independent licensed physician reviews your medical history. If you qualify, the physician signs a written statement, which you submit with your application to ALEA. If ALEA grants the exemption, it issues a windshield decal.
Conditions that may qualify typically involve sensitivity to sunlight or UV light, such as lupus, porphyria, or other diagnosed photosensitivity conditions. A licensed physician decides whether you must be shielded from the sun for medical reasons, and ALEA decides whether to grant the exemption.
Having a medical recommendation from a doctor for darker window tint does not guarantee you will not get a ticket. An officer can still give you a ticket at their own discretion.