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A Vermont medical tint exemption is a permit granted by the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles, not by a doctor. Without it, Vermont law (23 V.S.A. § 1125) does not allow tint or other material on the front side windows, and darker front side tint can result in a citation. The exemption covers only the side and vent windows to the left and right of the driver. The process involves two parts:
Some drivers ask whether a Vermont medical tint exemption lets them tint their windows as dark as they want. It does not: the DMV permit states the minimum light transmission allowed, the exemption covers only the front side and vent windows, and no tint may be applied to the windshield. The exemption ends when the vehicle is sold or transferred, and the seller must remove the tint.
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’s signed certification is emailed to you so you can print it and mail your application to the Vermont DMV.
It’s important for Vermont drivers to understand the state’s window tint law, even if you do not have a medical exemption. Vermont is one of the strictest states for front window tint: 23 V.S.A. § 1125 does not allow aftermarket tint on the windshield or the front side windows, while the rear windows may be tinted if the vehicle has mirrors on both sides.
These limits mean any aftermarket tint on the front side windows requires a medical exemption permit from the Vermont 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 exemption.
Traditionally, getting a physician certification for a Vermont tint exemption 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.
On Vermont DMV form VN-022, the licensed physician or optometrist completes and signs a medical section that includes:
You complete the applicant section, listing up to three vehicles with your primary vehicle first, and mail the form to Vermont DMV, 120 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05603. When it grants the exemption, the DMV states the minimum light transmission allowed and the permit dates. Vermont law requires the certification to be renewed every four years unless the condition has been certified as permanent and stable. Keep the permit in your primary vehicle and a copy in each additional listed vehicle; the permit is not transferable and ends when the vehicle is sold or transferred.
A physician’s certification by itself is not a Vermont tint exemption. Without a permit granted by the Vermont DMV, any aftermarket tint on the front side windows can result in a citation, even if your medical condition is legitimate. A permit does not guarantee you will not be stopped or cited; officers retain discretion.
23 V.S.A. § 1125(a): No person may operate a motor vehicle with material painted or adhered on or over, or hung in back of, the windshield or the vent windows or side windows to the left and right of the operator, except for the small stickers and items listed in subsection (b).
23 V.S.A. § 1125(c): The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may grant an exemption “upon application” from a person who requires shielding from the rays of the sun for medical reasons, supported by a licensed physician’s or optometrist’s certification that shielding is a medical necessity. The certification must be renewed every four years, unless the condition has been certified as permanent and stable. The tinting “shall be limited to the vent windows or side windows located […] to the left and right of the operator,” and the exemption ends when the vehicle is transferred.
23 V.S.A. § 1125(d): Rear side windows and the back window may be tinted “only if the motor vehicle is equipped on each side with a securely attached mirror” that gives the driver a clear view behind and to both sides.
Source: 23 V.S.A. § 1125
Vermont law (23 V.S.A. § 1125) does not allow aftermarket tint on the windshield or the front side windows. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may grant an exemption for front side window tint to a person who needs shielding from the sun for medical reasons, supported by a licensed physician’s or optometrist’s certification. Without a DMV permit, front side 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 signed physician certification on DMV form VN-022 is emailed to you. You then complete the applicant section and mail it to the Vermont DMV yourself, and the DMV decides whether to grant the exemption.
If your front side windows are tinted and you do not have a DMV exemption permit, you can be cited. Vermont DMV form VN-022 requires permit holders to keep the permit in the primary vehicle and a copy in each additional listed vehicle, and an officer may ask to see it. Even with a permit, officers retain discretion.
No. The DMV permit states the minimum light transmission allowed, based on the physician’s recommended maximum darkness. The exemption covers only the front side and vent windows, and no tint may be applied to the windshield. Rear side and back windows may be tinted to any darkness if the vehicle has outside mirrors on both sides.
Yes. Vermont medical tint exemptions are granted by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles on application. You mail DMV form VN-022, with the medical section completed and signed by a licensed physician or optometrist, to Vermont DMV, 120 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05603. Permits last four years for a temporary condition or are indefinite for a permanent and stable condition.
First, have a licensed physician or optometrist complete and sign the medical section of Vermont DMV form VN-022, stating your diagnosis, the recommended maximum tint darkness, and the permit length. Then complete the applicant section, list up to three vehicles, and mail the form to the Vermont DMV. If the DMV approves, keep the permit in your primary vehicle and a copy in each additional listed vehicle.
Vermont law does not list specific conditions; it requires that shielding from the sun be a medical necessity, as certified by a licensed physician or optometrist. Conditions a physician may consider include lupus, porphyria, xeroderma pigmentosum, albinism, photosensitivity dermatitis, melanoma and other skin cancers, and light-sensitive eye conditions. An independent licensed physician decides whether your condition qualifies.
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.