A window tint exemption in Connecticut allows qualifying individuals to legally use darker window tint than normally permitted under state law, particularly on windows that are otherwise restricted by Connecticut tint regulations. This exemption is important for individuals with medical conditions that require additional protection from sunlight or UV exposure. Without an approved exemption, darker-than-legal tint may result in citations or inspection issues. With proper approval from the Connecticut DMV, however, it becomes a recognized medical accommodation.
The exemption qualification process involves two parts:
Some people ask whether a Connecticut exemption allows them to tint their windows as dark as they want. The answer is no. Connecticut medical tint exemptions still have safety limitations, and under DMV regulations, window tint below 20% light transmittance is generally considered unsafe unless specifically waived for good cause by the commissioner.
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 physician completes the medical documentation for your Connecticut DMV application.
It’s important for Connecticut drivers to understand the state’s window tint laws, even if you plan to pursue a medical window tint exemption. Connecticut has specific regulations that control how dark and reflective vehicle window tint can be in order to maintain driver visibility and roadway safety.
These restrictions mean that individuals needing darker tint for medical reasons must apply for a Connecticut medical window tint exemption through the DMV. With ForeverTint, we help connect you with a licensed physician and guide you through the documentation process required for Connecticut exemption approval.
Traditionally, getting a tint exemption in Connecticut 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.
Connecticut’s Form E-220 application includes written documentation from a physician or optometrist licensed in Connecticut stating that you must be shielded from the direct rays of the sun for medical reasons, the physician’s or optometrist’s signature and license information, and your own signed application to the DMV under penalty of false statement.
Once approved, the DMV provides a validated exemption form that must be kept in the vehicle at all times. It shows your tint has been approved for medical reasons, but it does not guarantee you will not be stopped or cited; officers retain discretion.
Connecticut does not recognize verbal explanations alone as proof of a medical tint exemption. The exemption must be approved through the Connecticut DMV and supported by proper medical documentation from a licensed physician or optometrist. Without a validated exemption form, darker-than-legal tint, especially on restricted windows, can still result in citations even if you have a legitimate medical condition.
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-99g(b): “Any person required for medical reasons to be shielded from direct rays of the sun or any person operating a motor vehicle belonging to such person or in which such person is a usual passenger shall be exempt from the provisions of this subsection. Applications for such exemption based upon such medical reason shall be made in writing to the commissioner and shall be supported by the written documentation of a physician or optometrist licensed to practice in this state.”
Under Connecticut Regulations § 14-99g-7, tint below 20% light transmittance is considered to impair driving safety unless the commissioner waives that limit for good cause.
Source: R.C.S.A. §§ 14-99g-1 to 14-99g-8 and Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-99g
Connecticut exempts a person who must be shielded from the direct rays of the sun for medical reasons, on a written application to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles supported by documentation from a physician or optometrist licensed in Connecticut. Once the DMV approves and validates the exemption, keep the validated form in your vehicle.
Yes, ForeverTint can connect you with an independent licensed physician for the medical review that Connecticut’s process requires. The exemption application must still be submitted to and approved by the Connecticut DMV before the exemption is valid.
If your vehicle has darker-than-legal tint and you cannot provide your validated Connecticut exemption documentation, law enforcement may still issue a citation. Connecticut requires drivers to keep the approved exemption form inside the vehicle at all times.
No, Connecticut medical exemptions do not automatically allow unlimited tint darkness. Under Connecticut regulations, tint below 20% light transmittance is generally considered unsafe unless specifically waived by the commissioner for good cause.
Yes, Connecticut requires applicants to submit their exemption request directly to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. A physician or optometrist recommendation alone is not enough without DMV approval and validation.
The process begins by obtaining a written recommendation from a Connecticut-licensed physician or optometrist after a medical evaluation. The completed application must then be submitted to the Connecticut DMV for review and approval before the exemption becomes valid.
Conditions involving sensitivity to sunlight, UV exposure, or bright light may qualify for a Connecticut tint exemption. Common examples include lupus, albinism, severe photosensitivity, melanoma, solar urticaria, and certain eye or skin conditions that worsen with sun exposure.
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.