A window tint exemption in Louisiana may allow qualifying individuals to legally use window tint that would otherwise violate the state’s standard tint limitations. This process is especially important for drivers with medical conditions that make them highly sensitive to sunlight or UV exposure. Without proper approval, darker tint that falls outside Louisiana’s legal limits can result in citations and fines. With the proper medical documentation and state approval, however, darker tint may become legally authorized under Louisiana’s exemption process.
The exemption qualification process involves two parts:
Some people ask whether a Louisiana exemption lets them tint their windows as dark as they want. The statute sets no minimum light transmission for exempt windows, but the exemption does not cover the windshield below the top six inches (except for light-sensitive porphyria when the physician specifically authorizes it), and it must be approved by the Louisiana State Police.
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, your completed physician documentation is delivered directly to your inbox so you can move forward with the Louisiana State Police submission process.
It’s important for all Louisiana drivers to understand the state’s window tint laws, even if you may later pursue a Medical Window Tint Exemption. Louisiana has specific regulations that control how dark and reflective your vehicle window tint can be. These laws are designed to maintain driver visibility and roadway safety while still allowing drivers to benefit from heat reduction, glare protection, and privacy.
These restrictions mean that if you are seeking darker-than-standard tint for medical reasons, you may need to complete Louisiana’s medical tint approval process through physician documentation and Louisiana State Police review. ForeverTint helps simplify this process by connecting you with a licensed physician who understands Louisiana’s medical tint requirements and can determine whether your condition may qualify for additional sun protection accommodations.
Traditionally, getting a tint exemption in Louisiana 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 La. R.S. 32:361.2, the owner, spouse, or a family member must have a physical or medical condition involving the effects of the sun, supported by an affidavit signed by a physician or optometrist. The Louisiana State Police affidavit must be notarized. LSP reviews the request, and the state issues a decal for each covered vehicle. Exemptions are generally reviewed every three years and do not transfer to a new owner.
A copy of the affidavit must be kept in your vehicle at all times. Presenting it with your decal shows your tint is covered by an approved exemption, but it does not guarantee you will not be stopped or cited; officers retain discretion.
Louisiana does not rely on verbal explanations alone when it comes to darker-than-legal window tint for medical purposes. Drivers seeking additional tint protection should have properly completed medical documentation and follow the Louisiana approval process to help demonstrate that the darker tint is medically necessary. Without proper approval and supporting documentation, tint beyond Louisiana’s legal limits, especially on front side windows, can still result in citations and fines even if your medical condition is legitimate.
Louisiana’s tint limits are in La. R.S. 32:361.1. Since August 1, 2025, front side windows and side windows behind the driver must allow at least 25% light transmission, the rearmost window at least 12%, and reflectance may not exceed 20%. Under La. R.S. 32:361.2, those limits do not apply to a Louisiana-registered vehicle when the owner, spouse, or a family member has a physical or medical condition involving the effects of the sun, supported by an affidavit signed by a physician or optometrist. A copy of the affidavit must be kept in the vehicle, the Department of Public Safety and Corrections issues a decal for each covered vehicle, and the exemption does not apply to the windshield below the top six inches (except for light-sensitive porphyria when specifically authorized).
Source: La. R.S. 32:361.1 and La. R.S. 32:361.2
Louisiana’s tint limits do not apply to a Louisiana-registered vehicle when the owner, spouse, or a family member has a physical or medical condition involving the effects of the sun, supported by an affidavit signed by a physician or optometrist. The exemption must be authorized by the Louisiana State Police, and the state issues a decal for each covered vehicle.
ForeverTint connects Louisiana drivers with an independent licensed physician who reviews whether a medical condition involving the effects of the sun is present. If you qualify, the physician documentation can be used in the Louisiana State Police exemption process, which must approve the exemption.
If your vehicle has darker tint than Louisiana law normally allows and you cannot provide proper documentation or proof of approval, law enforcement may issue a citation. Louisiana drivers pursuing medical tint accommodations should keep all supporting paperwork and approval documentation inside the vehicle at all times.
No. The exemption does not cover the windshield below the top six inches (except for light-sensitive porphyria when specifically authorized), and it must be approved by the Louisiana State Police. Follow the terms of your approval.
The exemption is handled by the Louisiana State Police rather than the DMV. The physician’s affidavit is submitted to LSP, and if the exemption is approved, the state issues a decal for each covered vehicle.
A licensed physician or optometrist completes the notarized medical affidavit confirming a condition involving the effects of the sun. The affidavit is then submitted to the Louisiana State Police for review and approval before the darker tint is covered.
Conditions commonly associated with Louisiana medical tint requests include lupus, albinism, porphyria, photophobia, severe light sensitivity, and other medical conditions aggravated by UV exposure or sunlight. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis by a licensed medical provider reviewing your condition and symptoms.
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.