How to get a window tint medical exemption in Minnesota
Minnesota grants an exemption from its tint limits on a qualifying medical certification. There is no state form — the prescription or statement of medical need is the exemption. No fee is published.
| What | Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Form | No state form; the signed medical statement is the proof |
| Who certifies | A physician, by prescription or a statement of medical need; An optometrist — added by Chapter 89 of the 2026 Laws, which clarified that an optometrist may prescribe window glazing material. |
| Fee | None published |
| Valid for | Not stated |
| Keep in vehicle | Yes |
| What it covers | Glazing required to satisfy prescription or medical needs, on the one or two vehicles the prescription names |
The steps
- 1
Get a prescription or a physician's statement of medical need. Since Chapter 89 of the 2026 Laws, an optometrist may also prescribe the glazing material.
- 2
Have it name the make, model and licence plate of the vehicle — the statute allows one or two vehicles on a single statement.
- 3
Carry it in the vehicle. Section 169.71 subd. 4a requires the driver or a passenger to have it on them.
- 4
Note who else it covers: a driver may rely on a statement issued to a parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling or spouse, or to a personal care attendant's client, provided the vehicle is named on it.
- 5
Check the date if the prescription is older: the 2025 amendment took effect 1 July 2025 and applies to prescriptions issued on or after that date.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a window tint medical exemption in Minnesota?
Get a prescription or a physician's statement of medical need. Since Chapter 89 of the 2026 Laws, an optometrist may also prescribe the glazing material. Have it name the make, model and licence plate of the vehicle — the statute allows one or two vehicles on a single statement. Carry it in the vehicle. Section 169.71 subd. 4a requires the driver or a passenger to have it on them. Note who else it covers: a driver may rely on a statement issued to a parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling or spouse, or to a personal care attendant's client, provided the vehicle is named on it. Check the date if the prescription is older: the 2025 amendment took effect 1 July 2025 and applies to prescriptions issued on or after that date.
What form do I need for a tint exemption in Minnesota?
There is no state form. Minnesota works from the certifying provider's signed statement, which you keep rather than file.
Who can sign a tint exemption in Minnesota?
A physician, by prescription or a statement of medical need; An optometrist — added by Chapter 89 of the 2026 Laws, which clarified that an optometrist may prescribe window glazing material.
What medical conditions qualify for tint in Minnesota?
Minnesota does not publish a list of named conditions. The test is whether a qualifying provider certifies that you require shielding from the sun.
Does the exemption let me tint the windshield in Minnesota?
Glazing required to satisfy prescription or medical needs, on the one or two vehicles the prescription names.
Sources
- Minn. Stat. 169.71 subd. 4a, as amended by 2025 Laws ch. 5 (Minnesota Revisor) (official)
- 2026 Laws ch. 89 - optometrist may prescribe window glazing material (official)
Reference only, not legal or medical advice. Forms and fees change — confirm against the official source above before you file, and get the form from the agency rather than a third-party form site.