Most people don’t realize it, but you can get your windows tinted below the legal limit if you have legitimate medical issues. If you have skin or vision problems that get worse because your car’s windows don’t do enough to protect you from the sun, you might just be able to get them tinted. Here’s what you need to do:

Seek Medical Exemption

To seek medical exemption, you must first request a medical exemption application from your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Once received, the application must be brought to your physician. If they deem it appropriate for you to have window tint below the legal limit, they’ll fill out the application. Once this occurs, you have to have the application notarized. Once notarized, you can give the completed, notarized application to an official with the Department of Motor Vehicles. They will review the application and approve or reject it. If approved, you’ll receive a certificate stating how much window tint you’ll be allowed to legally have. You must abide by the amount they give you. Anything less is considered illegal. The certificate is always to be kept in your vehicle. In the event that you’re pulled over, you’ll be required to present it to the officer. If for any reason the officer thinks your taking advantage of your medical exemption by having window tint lower than what’s stated on your certificate, they can write you a ticket.

About Window Tint

Window tint functions to limit the amount of light transmitted into your car’s windows. Light transmittance is defined as the amount of light that’s allowed to enter through your car’s windows. To make things simple, let’s just say that darker windows equate to a lower light transmittance, which is expressed in percent. For legality purposes, anything less than 70% is considered illegal. This is usually because darker tints increase the hazard risks associated with operating a vehicle at night or in adverse weather conditions.

Reasons for Medical Exemption

Make note that the reason behind your medical exemption request must be a valid one. Some common reasons include:

• Severe skin sensitivity to the sun
• Skin cancer
• Blindness
• Headaches, nausea, or vomiting from bright sun
• Seizures caused by bright sun
• Taking of medications that might make skin sensitive to sun

All of these and other potential reasons must be evaluated, diagnosed, and signed off on by a physician. If your reason isn’t a valid one or the Department of Motor Vehicles thinks your playing the system, they will certainly deny your request.

It should be noted that most, but not all states have a medical exemption for window tints. Contact your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles to see if they do. If they do, you’re in luck. Do the things described earlier in this post and you should be able to get a lower window tint. Any previous problems you had will soon be solved.