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A New Hampshire medical waiver permit is issued by the Division of Motor Vehicles (Department of Safety), not by a doctor. With a permit, tint on the windshield and the windows to the left and right of the driver must still let in at least 35% of light. Without one, aftermarket windshield tint is not allowed (except a narrow top strip), front side windows must let in at least 70% of light, and darker tint can result in a citation or a failed inspection. The process involves two parts:
Some drivers ask whether a New Hampshire medical waiver lets them tint their windows as dark as they want. It does not. A permit only authorizes aftermarket tint on the windshield and the windows to the left and right of the driver with a light transmittance of at least 35%, and only on the vehicles listed on the permit. Windows behind the driver must still meet the standard 35% limit.
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 medical provider section of your DSMV 603 application is delivered electronically so you can complete the rest of the application and submit it to the DMV yourself.
It’s important for all New Hampshire drivers to understand the state’s window tint laws, even if you do not currently qualify for a Tinted Window Medical Waiver. New Hampshire has specific regulations that control how dark vehicle window tint can be, particularly on the windshield and front side windows. These laws are intended to maintain visibility and roadway safety while still allowing limited tinting for privacy and heat reduction.
These limits mean that tint on the windshield or front side windows darker than New Hampshire allows requires a medical waiver permit from the DMV. ForeverTint helps you find out whether you qualify for the physician certification that supports your application. Eligibility is determined by a licensed physician based on your medical history, and the DMV decides whether to grant the waiver.
Traditionally, getting a physician certification for a New Hampshire tint waiver meant making an in-person doctor’s appointment. ForeverTint moves the physician review 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.
To apply for a New Hampshire medical waiver, you submit:
The application goes to the Department of Safety, DMV Director’s Office, by fax or mail. There is no fee, and the director must respond within 20 days of receiving the application.
A permit covers no more than 2 vehicles. It expires 2 years from the date it is issued, or 4 years if the medical provider certifies that the condition is likely to last at least 4 years. You can renew during the month before it expires by submitting a new application. New Hampshire rules require the permit to remain in the permitted vehicle at all times and to be shown to a law enforcement officer or inspection station on request.
A physician’s certification by itself is not a New Hampshire waiver. Without a permit issued by the DMV, aftermarket tint on the windshield or front side windows beyond the legal limits can result in a citation or a rejected inspection, even if your medical condition is legitimate. A permit does not guarantee you will not be stopped or cited; officers retain discretion.
RSA 266:58-a, III-a: “Persons who require for medical reasons after market tinting on the windshield or on the windows to the left and right of the driver may apply for a special permit pursuant to RSA 266:61-a, IX.”
RSA 266:61-a, IX: “The commissioner may waive the requirements of RSA 266:58-a and issue a special permit to a person who for bona fide medical reasons requires after market tinting on the windshield or on the windows to the left and right of the driver and who applies for such permit. Such waiver shall be granted in accordance with this section and shall only authorize the use of after market tinted windows with a light transmittance of not less than 35 percent. In reviewing the application for a permit under this paragraph, the commissioner may seek the advice and recommendation of a medical review board designated by him or her for such purpose. Any medical certification or documentation required for a waiver under this section may be provided by a medical provider licensed in this state or by a licensed medical provider affiliated with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), regardless of the state of licensure.”
RSA 266:58-a, III: “The light transmittance of after-market tinted windows to the left and right of the driver where they are allowed shall not be less than 70 percent, and the light transmittance of after-market tinted rear windows where they are allowed shall not be less than 35 percent…”
Saf-C 2503.05 to 2505.01: A permit is issued for no more than 2 vehicles, expires 2 years from issuance (4 years if a medical provider certifies a lasting medical necessity), and must remain in the permitted vehicle at all times.
Source: New Hampshire law, RSA 266:58-a (medical waiver: RSA 266:61-a, IX and Saf-C 2500)
New Hampshire bans aftermarket windshield tint (except a top strip no wider than 6 inches at 35%), requires front side windows to let in at least 70% of light, and requires windows behind the driver to let in at least 35% (RSA 266:58-a). Under RSA 266:61-a, IX, a person who needs tint on the windshield or front side windows for bona fide medical reasons may apply for a special permit. A permit allows tint on those windows down to 35% light transmittance. Without a permit, darker tint can lead to a citation.
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 and signs the medical provider section of form DSMV 603. You then complete the rest of the application and submit it to the New Hampshire DMV yourself, and the DMV decides whether to grant the waiver.
New Hampshire rules require the medical waiver permit to remain in the permitted vehicle at all times and to be shown to a law enforcement officer or inspection station on request. If your windshield or front side window tint exceeds the standard limits and you cannot show a valid permit, you can be cited, and an inspection station will reject the vehicle. Even with a permit, officers retain discretion.
No. A New Hampshire medical waiver permit only authorizes aftermarket tint on the windshield and the windows to the left and right of the driver with a light transmittance of at least 35%. It applies only to the vehicles listed on the permit, up to 2 vehicles. Windows behind the driver must still let in at least 35% of light.
Yes. A physician’s certification is required, but it is not the waiver itself. You submit form DSMV 603 with the medical provider’s section, copies of your vehicle registration(s), and the registered owner’s signature to the Department of Safety, DMV Director’s Office. The DMV decides whether to grant the waiver and, if it does, issues a permit (form DSMV 473).
First, a licensed physician reviews your medical history and, if you qualify, completes the medical provider section of form DSMV 603 within the 6 months before you apply. Then you submit the application with copies of your vehicle registration(s) to the DMV Director’s Office by fax or mail. If the director grants the waiver, you receive a permit valid for 2 years, or 4 years if the provider certifies a lasting medical necessity.
New Hampshire rules cover medical conditions aggravated by sun exposure, including extreme light intolerance, sun allergy, melanoma, lupus, and porphyria. Other conditions a physician may consider include xeroderma pigmentosum, albinism, photosensitivity dermatitis, and light-sensitive eye conditions. An independent licensed physician decides whether your condition qualifies, and the DMV decides whether to grant the waiver.
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.