Sale: $100 OFF All Exemptions!
A Window Tint Recommendation is physician documentation of a medical condition that makes sunlight or UV exposure harmful. It is not a state exemption and does not change Iowa’s tint limits. The process involves two parts:
Some people ask whether a Iowa Window Tint Recommendation lets them tint their windows darker than the law allows. It does not. Iowa’s tint limits apply to every driver, and a recommendation does not prevent a citation for tint outside those limits.
It’s important for all Iowa drivers to understand the state’s window tint laws, even if you plan on obtaining a Window Tint Recommendation. Iowa has specific regulations that determine how dark your vehicle windows can legally be tinted. These laws are intended to maintain visibility and safety for both drivers and law enforcement while still allowing reasonable heat and glare reduction.
Tint outside these limits can result in a citation whether or not you have a Window Tint Recommendation. ForeverTint connects you with an independent licensed physician who decides whether a recommendation is medically appropriate for your condition.
Traditionally, getting a tint recommendation in Iowa 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. Iowa does not issue new medical window tint exemptions. A Window Tint Recommendation does not allow tint darker than Iowa’s legal limits.
An independent licensed physician decides whether a recommendation is appropriate for your condition. 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 a recommendation is medically appropriate for you.
A ForeverTint recommendation is written and signed by a licensed physician and includes the physician’s name, contact, and license information; a statement of why additional sun protection is recommended for your condition; and your identifying information and the date of issuance.
Keep the recommendation in your vehicle if you choose to carry one. If you are stopped, it can explain your medical condition, but it does not prevent a citation for tint outside Iowa’s limits; officers retain discretion.
Iowa Code Section 321.438, as amended by House File 766 (effective July 1, 2026), requires the windshield to allow at least 70% light transmittance and the front side windows to allow at least 50%. Iowa Department of Transportation rules have not allowed new medical exemptions since July 4, 2012; only certain exemptions certified before that date remain valid. A physician’s Window Tint Recommendation does not change these limits.
Source: Iowa House File 766 (2026) and 761 IAC 450.7
Iowa does not grant new medical exemptions for window tint. Since July 1, 2026, front side windows must allow at least 50% of light through. A physician’s Window Tint Recommendation can document your medical condition, but it does not allow darker tint and does not prevent a citation.
ForeverTint connects you with an independent licensed physician who reviews your medical history and, if appropriate, signs a Window Tint Recommendation. The recommendation is physician documentation only; it is not a state exemption and does not change Iowa’s tint limits.
No. Iowa has no current DMV process for new medical tint exemptions. A Window Tint Recommendation is physician documentation only.
Tint outside Iowa’s limits can result in a citation whether or not you have a Window Tint Recommendation with you. If you carry one, keep it in your vehicle; it explains your condition but does not exempt you from the tint limits.
People seek Window Tint Recommendations for conditions involving sensitivity to sunlight or UV light, such as lupus, porphyria, or other diagnosed photosensitivity conditions. A licensed physician decides whether a recommendation is appropriate.
ForeverTint connects you with an independent licensed physician for review. If you qualify, your Window Tint Recommendation is delivered digitally so you can print it and keep it in your vehicle.
No. Iowa’s tint limits apply to every driver, and a Window Tint Recommendation does not change them.
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.