Washington’s medical tint exception is based on a written verification from a licensed physician, not on a permit from a state agency. Washington law does not require you to file the verification with the Washington State Patrol or the Department of Licensing. Without one, tint that does not meet the standard limits is a traffic infraction. The process involves two parts:
Washington law permits “a greater degree of light reduction” on all windows and the top six inches of the windshield for a person with a physician’s written verification. The statute does not set a specific darkness percentage for the exception, and it addresses light reduction only; it does not mention the reflectance limit or the prohibited film types (mirror finish; red, gold, yellow, or black material; brushed or sprayed liquid film).
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 signed written verification is emailed to you.
It’s important for all drivers to understand Washington’s window tint laws, even if they don’t plan to apply for a medical tint exemption. Washington has clearly defined regulations that limit how dark your tint can be based on visible light transmission (VLT%). These rules are designed to maintain road safety and visibility while still allowing some degree of privacy and UV protection.
These limits mean that tint darker than 24% on a passenger car’s windows requires a physician’s written verification under RCW 46.37.430(5)(d). ForeverTint helps you find out whether you qualify. Eligibility is determined by an independent licensed physician based on your medical history.
Traditionally, getting a physician’s written verification for Washington tint 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.
RCW 46.37.430(5)(d) does not prescribe a state form. It requires:
The statute applies to a vehicle operated by or carrying a person who possesses the verification, so keep it with you whenever you drive or ride in the tinted vehicle and be ready to show it if you are stopped. The statute does not state an expiration date.
Without a physician’s written verification, tint that does not meet Washington’s standard limits is a traffic infraction under RCW 46.37.430(7), even if your medical need is real. 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.
RCW 46.37.430(5)(a): Film sunscreening on windows other than the windshield “shall have a total reflectance of thirty-five percent or less […] and a light transmission of twenty-four percent or more.”
RCW 46.37.430(5)(d): “A greater degree of light reduction is permitted on all windows and the top six inches of windshields of a vehicle operated by or carrying as a passenger a person who possesses a written verification from a licensed physician that the operator or passenger must be protected from exposure to sunlight for physical or medical reasons.”
RCW 46.37.430(7): “It is a traffic infraction for any person to operate a vehicle for use on the public highways of this state, if the vehicle is equipped with film sunscreening or coloring material in violation of this section.”
Under RCW 46.37.430(5)(d), a greater degree of light reduction is permitted on all windows and the top six inches of the windshield when the driver or a passenger has a written verification from a licensed physician that they must be protected from sunlight for physical or medical reasons. Without that verification, windows other than the windshield must let in 24% or more of light. Noncompliant tint is a traffic infraction.
ForeverTint connects you with an independent licensed physician who reviews your medical history by chart review or, occasionally, a brief phone call. If the physician determines you qualify, your signed written verification is emailed to you. Washington does not require you to file it with a state agency; you keep it with you in the vehicle.
Show the officer your physician’s written verification. Washington’s exception applies to a vehicle operated by or carrying a person who possesses that verification, so keep it with you. The officer still decides whether to issue a ticket.
Yes. RCW 46.37.430(5)(d) requires a written verification from a licensed physician stating that the driver or passenger must be protected from exposure to sunlight for physical or medical reasons. Washington does not use a state form, permit, or decal for this exception. ForeverTint connects you with an independent licensed physician who reviews your medical history by chart review or, occasionally, a brief phone call.
It is a signed written statement from a licensed physician that you must be protected from exposure to sunlight for physical or medical reasons. The statute does not prescribe its format or an expiration date, and it is not filed with the Washington State Patrol or the Department of Licensing. Keep it with you when you drive or ride in the tinted vehicle.
Yes. An officer may stop a vehicle whose tint appears darker than the standard limits. A physician’s written verification supports your medical exception, but it does not guarantee you will not get a ticket; the officer can still issue one at their own discretion.
ForeverTint offers a full refund if the physician determines you do not qualify. Eligibility is decided by an independent licensed physician based on your medical history.