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A window tint exemption in Michigan allows you to legally apply window tint that would otherwise violate the state’s limitations—particularly on front side windows, which are typically restricted. This exemption is especially important for drivers with medical conditions that make them sensitive to sunlight or UV exposure. Without it, having darker tint on your front windows could result in citations or failed inspections. With proper documentation, however, it becomes a recognized medical accommodation under Michigan law.
The exemption qualification process involves two parts:
Some people ask whether a Michigan exemption lets them tint their windows as dark as they want. Michigan’s statute does not set a specific darkness for medical window treatment, but the treatment must not interfere with or obstruct the driver’s clear vision of the highway or an intersecting highway. ForeverTint connects you with an independent licensed physician, and if you qualify, your letter is delivered to your inbox, ready to print and keep with you.
It’s important for all Michigan drivers to understand the state’s window tint laws—even if you don’t currently qualify for a Medical Window Tint Exemption. Michigan has specific guidelines that regulate how dark your vehicle windows can be tinted. These laws are designed to balance visibility and safety for drivers and law enforcement, while still offering reasonable options for comfort and privacy.
These limits mean that tint on your front side windows requires a Michigan medical letter. ForeverTint helps you find out whether you qualify through a review by an independent licensed physician; eligibility is determined by the physician based on your medical history.
Traditionally, getting a tint exemption in Michigan 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 MCL 257.709(3)(e), the letter must be signed by a physician or optometrist and indicate that the special window treatment or application is a medical necessity. A ForeverTint letter also includes the provider’s name, contact, and license information and your identifying information.
Keep the signed letter with you in the vehicle. Presenting it shows your tint is covered by Michigan’s medical exception, but it does not guarantee you will not be stopped or cited; officers retain discretion.
Michigan law does not accept verbal explanations as proof. The letter must be signed by a physician or optometrist. Without it, tint beyond the legal limit, particularly on your front side windows, can result in a citation, even if your medical needs are legitimate.
Under MCL 257.709(3)(e), Michigan’s window obstruction rules do not prohibit “a special window treatment or application determined necessary by a physician or optometrist” for a person who is light sensitive or photosensitive, if the owner or operator “has in possession a letter signed by a physician or optometrist indicating that the special window treatment or application is a medical necessity.” The treatment must not interfere with or obstruct the driver’s clear vision of the highway or an intersecting highway.
Source: MCL – Section 257.709
Michigan law allows a special window treatment determined necessary by a physician or optometrist for a person who is light sensitive or photosensitive, if the owner or operator has a signed letter stating it is a medical necessity. The treatment must not obstruct the driver’s clear view of the road.
Yes. Michigan requires a letter signed by a physician or optometrist stating that the window treatment is a medical necessity. ForeverTint connects you with an independent licensed physician who reviews your medical history and, if you qualify, signs that letter. Keep it with you in the vehicle.
If you’re pulled over and your tint appears darker than Michigan’s legal limit without having your signed recommendation in the vehicle, you could be cited for a window tint violation—even if you medically qualify. It’s crucial to always keep your certificate in your car.
No. Michigan’s statute does not set a specific darkness, but the window treatment must not interfere with or obstruct the driver’s clear vision of the highway or an intersecting highway.
No. Michigan does not require you to apply through the DMV or any government agency. Instead, you must obtain a signed recommendation from a licensed physician or optometrist stating that darker tint is medically necessary. This document must be kept in your vehicle at all times.
An independent licensed physician reviews your medical history by chart review or, occasionally, a brief phone call. If you qualify, your signed letter is emailed to you to print and keep in your vehicle.
Conditions that cause light sensitivity or photosensitivity may qualify, such as lupus, albinism, porphyria, or a history of melanoma. A licensed physician decides whether the window treatment is a medical necessity for you.
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.