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A window tint exemption in Minnesota allows you to legally install window tint that would otherwise exceed the state’s standard limits—especially on front side windows, which normally must allow at least 50% visible light transmission. This exemption is important for drivers with medical conditions that make them sensitive to sunlight or bright light exposure. Without it, darker window tint could result in citations if your vehicle does not meet Minnesota’s legal tint requirements. With proper documentation, however, it becomes a legally recognized medical accommodation.
The exemption qualification process involves two parts:
Some people ask whether a Minnesota exemption lets them tint their windows as dark as they want. The answer is no. Tint may only be as dark as the minimum light transmittance stated in the prescription or statement. ForeverTint connects you with an independent licensed physician, and if you qualify, your documentation is delivered to your inbox, ready to print and keep in your vehicle.
It’s important for all Minnesota drivers to understand the state’s window tint laws—even if you do not qualify for a Medical Window Tint Exemption. Minnesota has specific regulations that control how dark vehicle windows may be tinted. These rules are designed to maintain driver visibility and roadway safety while still allowing reasonable sun protection.
These limits mean that tint darker than 50% requires a Minnesota medical exception. ForeverTint helps you find out whether you qualify through a review by an independent licensed physician. If you qualify, your documentation lets you use tint down to the minimum light transmittance it states.
Traditionally, getting a tint exemption in Minnesota 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 Minn. Stat. § 169.71, subd. 4a, the prescription or statement of medical need must state whether the condition is temporary or permanent, the minimum percentage that light transmittance may be reduced, and an expiration date no more than two years after issuance (not required for a permanent condition). A 2026 amendment also allows an optometrist’s prescription or statement.
Keep this documentation with you in the vehicle. It shows your tint is covered by Minnesota’s medical exception, but it does not guarantee you will not be stopped or cited; officers retain discretion.
Minnesota law does not accept verbal explanations as proof of a medical tint exemption. The requirement must be documented by a licensed physician and kept in the vehicle. Without this documentation, any tint darker than the legal limit, especially on front side windows, can result in a citation, even if you have a legitimate medical condition.
Minnesota requires at least 50% light transmittance on the side and rear windows of most passenger vehicles (Minn. Stat. § 169.71, subd. 4). Under subdivision 4a, darker tint is allowed when it is required to satisfy prescription or medical needs, if the driver or a passenger possesses a prescription or statement of medical need that states whether the condition is temporary or permanent, the minimum percentage that light transmittance may be reduced, and an expiration date no more than two years out unless the condition is permanent.
Source: Minnesota Legislature
Minnesota allows tint darker than its 50% limit when it is required for medical needs and the driver or a passenger has a prescription or statement of medical need. The statement must say whether the condition is temporary or permanent, give the minimum light transmittance, and include an expiration date (up to two years) unless the condition is permanent.
Yes, as long as the documentation is issued by a licensed physician and includes the information required by Minnesota law. ForeverTint connects drivers with qualified physicians who review your condition and provide the appropriate documentation when medically necessary.
Minnesota law requires the driver or passenger to possess the prescription or statement. If you cannot show it during a traffic stop, an officer may treat the tint as illegal and issue a citation.
No. A medical exemption allows darker tint only to the level specified by the physician based on your medical needs. The documentation must clearly state the minimum light transmittance required.
No. Minnesota law does not require drivers to obtain a permit from the DMV. Instead, a physician’s prescription or written statement confirming the medical need serves as the legal documentation.
The process begins with a consultation with a licensed physician who evaluates whether your medical condition requires additional protection from sunlight. If you qualify, the physician issues documentation specifying the tint requirements that must be kept in your vehicle.
Minnesota law allows exemptions for medical conditions that require reduced exposure to sunlight or bright light. These conditions often involve light sensitivity or disorders affected by UV exposure, and a physician must confirm the medical necessity.
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.