To tint your front windshield or front side windows darker than New York’s 70% light transmittance limit, you need a New York window tint medical exemption approved by the DMV before the tint goes on. That means a qualifying photosensitivity diagnosis, a certification from a New York-licensed medical provider on form MV-80W, and a mailed application to the DMV’s Medical Review Unit in Albany. The exemption is tied to one specific vehicle and only covers the front glass, not your rear windows.1New York State Senate. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law 375
What the Exemption Actually Covers
The medical exemption applies to the front windshield and the front side windows. It does not change the rules for rear side windows or the rear window on sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, station wagons, and convertibles, which are governed separately.1New York State Senate. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law 375
One boundary worth knowing before you apply: SUVs, vans, and trucks are not listed among the vehicle types restricted on rear side windows. Their back-seat side glass can be tinted darker than 70% with no exemption at all. If your concern is a child riding in the back of an SUV, you may not need this process for those windows.
The exemption also does not grant a fixed darkness level. Your medical provider states the minimum light transmittance you need, and the DMV approves at that level.1New York State Senate. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law 375 It’s not a blanket authorization to install the darkest film available.
One more point that catches people off guard: the exemption can be applied for based on a habitual passenger’s condition, not just the driver’s. If a child or family member with a qualifying condition regularly rides in your vehicle, that vehicle can qualify.1New York State Senate. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law 375
Who Qualifies Medically
The New York Commissioner of Health maintains the list of conditions the DMV will accept. Every one of them involves severe sensitivity to sunlight where sunscreen, UV-blocking clothing, and sunglasses are not enough protection on their own.2New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. 10 CRR-NY 69-7.1 The recognized conditions are:
- Albinism
- Chronic actinic dermatitis or actinic reticuloid
- Dermatomyositis
- Lupus erythematosus
- Porphyria
- Xeroderma pigmentosum
- Severe drug photosensitivity, only where the causing medication will be taken for an extended period
- Photophobia linked to an ophthalmic or neurological disorder
- Any other condition causing severe photosensitivity where shielding from direct sunlight is medically necessary
That last category is a real one. If your diagnosis is not on the named list, you can still apply if your provider can document severe photosensitivity that standard sun protection cannot manage. The inadequacy of ordinary protective measures is the qualifier the DMV looks for in every case.2New York Codes, Rules and Regulations. 10 CRR-NY 69-7.1 If sunscreen and protective clothing keep you safe, the application will not be approved.
The Three Documents You Need to Submit
A complete application has three pieces. If any one is missing or wrong, the DMV will delay approval or return the package.
- A completed form MV-80W. Page 1 is your section, with your personal details and vehicle registration information. Page 2 is the medical certification, completed by your provider.
- A copy of your provider’s New York State professional license, so the DMV can verify they are licensed in the state.
- A photocopy of your New York State vehicle registration for the vehicle the exemption will cover.
Working With Your Medical Provider
The Page 2 certification can be completed by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner licensed in New York. You do not need a specialist; a primary care provider can complete it as long as they can document your diagnosis and explain why standard sun protection is insufficient.
Timing matters. The medical examination date must fall within 60 days of when you submit the form to the DMV, so don’t get certified months in advance and hold onto the paperwork.3Department of Motor Vehicles. Application for Tinted Window Exemption MV-80W Book the appointment when you are ready to mail promptly afterward.
Ask your provider to be specific on the form. A general letter saying you need tinted windows is not enough. The certification needs the diagnosis, an explanation of why standard sun protection fails for you, and the minimum light transmittance level recommended. Providers who don’t see these forms often will benefit from seeing a copy of the MV-80W in advance so they know what the DMV expects.
Where to Send the Application
There is no online submission. Mail everything to the DMV’s Medical Review Unit:3Department of Motor Vehicles. Application for Tinted Window Exemption MV-80W
Department of Motor Vehicles
Driver Regulation Bureau, Medical Review Unit
6 Empire State Plaza, Room 337
Albany, NY 12228
Before sealing the envelope, check that the vehicle registration details on the MV-80W match your actual registration exactly. The DMV cross-references these, and discrepancies cause rejections. Make photocopies of everything you send, because the DMV does not return originals. Review takes several weeks, and the DMV may contact you or your provider for additional information before deciding.
Do not install darker tint before you receive approval. Driving with tint below 70% transmittance on your front windows without an approved exemption on file is a violation even if your application is pending.
After You’re Approved
Once the DMV approves the exemption, it issues a notice that must be affixed to your vehicle as the commissioner directs.1New York State Senate. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law 375 That displayed notice is what protects you during a traffic stop. Without it visible on the vehicle, an officer has no way to know your tint is authorized. Keep a copy of your approval paperwork in the glovebox as backup in case the affixed notice is damaged or falls off.
The exemption is tied to the specific vehicle on your application. Buy a new car, sell the vehicle, or change your registration, and you’ll need to submit a fresh MV-80W with updated vehicle information. Nothing transfers automatically.
The DMV also requires periodic renewal with updated medical documentation confirming the condition still exists.4Department of Motor Vehicles. Medical Exemptions Submit your renewal well before the current exemption expires. Driving with an expired exemption is treated the same as having none.
Penalties for Tinting Without Approval
Illegal window tint is an equipment violation under Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 375. The general penalty is a fine of up to $150, up to 30 days in jail, or both, though first-time offenders typically receive just the fine.1New York State Senate. New York Vehicle and Traffic Law 375
Tint also comes up at your annual state inspection. Inspection stations measure light transmittance on your windows, and front glass that doesn’t hit 70% fails inspection unless a valid exemption is on record.5Department of Motor Vehicles. Tinted Windows Failing means removing the tint and returning for reinspection before your vehicle is legal to drive.
Submitting false medical documentation to obtain an exemption is a separate and more serious matter. Fabricating a diagnosis or forging a provider’s certification can expose you to fraud charges under New York’s general criminal statutes, with consequences well beyond a traffic fine.