Minnesota state law establishes specific regulations for the darkness of vehicle window tinting, measured by Visible Light Transmission (VLT), designed to maintain safety and visibility on the roads. These rules set a standard for how much light must pass through the glass. The state recognizes that certain health conditions necessitate greater protection from sunlight, providing a formal pathway for obtaining a medical exemption. This process allows qualifying individuals to legally install darker film on their vehicle windows.
Minnesota’s Standard Window Tint Regulations
The Visible Light Transmission (VLT) percentage dictates the legal limit for tint darkness, representing the amount of light allowed to pass through the window. For all passenger vehicles in Minnesota, the front side windows must permit more than 50% VLT. This 50% VLT threshold ensures the driver and front passenger remain visible from the outside for law enforcement and public safety.
The regulations for rear windows differ depending on the vehicle type. Sedans, coupes, and hatchbacks must adhere to the 50% VLT limit for the rear side windows and the rear windshield. For larger vehicles like sport utility vehicles (SUVs), trucks, and vans, the back side windows and the rear window can be tinted to any level of darkness. Across all vehicle types, the tint film applied must not exceed a reflectivity level of 20%, and no tint is permitted on the front windshield.
Qualifying Medical Conditions for Exemptions
A medical tint exemption rests on a documented health condition that creates a severe sensitivity to sunlight or glare. The goal of the darker tint is to mitigate the physiological impact of solar radiation exposure, specifically ultraviolet (UV) light. Recognized conditions often involve photosensitivity, where light exposure exacerbates symptoms or poses a direct risk to health.
Conditions such as lupus, triggered by UV exposure, or chronic migraines severely intensified by bright light, are commonly accepted justifications. Other recognized conditions include rare genetic disorders like xeroderma pigmentosum, which increases skin cancer risk, and ocular conditions that cause extreme photophobia. A licensed physician, physician assistant, or optometrist must officially diagnose the condition and determine that a darker tint is medically necessary for the patient’s health.
Securing the Medical Exemption Certification
The process begins with securing a formal medical statement from a qualified healthcare professional. This prescription must specifically detail the medical condition and clearly indicate the minimum VLT percentage required to meet the patient’s health needs. The physician or optometrist determines the necessary darkness level based on the severity of the light sensitivity. The patient must then complete the state’s official application, the Minnesota Window Tint Exemption Form, provided by the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
The completed form, along with the signed medical statement, must be submitted to the designated state authority for processing. The prescription must also specify the make, model, and license plate number for one or two vehicles that will receive the specialized tint.
The physician must state whether the medical condition is temporary or permanent on the document. If the condition is temporary, the prescription must include an expiration date no more than two years from issuance. If the condition is designated as permanent, the state issues a non-expiring medical exemption, which eliminates periodic renewal.
Displaying the Tint and Required Documentation
Once the state approves the application, the official exemption certificate or card is issued to the applicant. The primary compliance requirement is that this official state-issued documentation must be carried in the vehicle at all times the exempted tint is in use. This document serves as legal proof of the exemption when presented to law enforcement during a traffic stop.
The official prescription must also be kept with the certificate, as it contains the specific details required by law, including the minimum VLT allowed for the vehicle. Recent legal changes permit a driver to operate a vehicle with an exempted tint if the prescription is for a close family member or a personal care attendant, provided the documentation is in the vehicle. The exemption is tied to the individual with the medical condition and the vehicle specified on the paperwork, not solely the vehicle owner.