Window Tint Guide: Get Tinted
Getting Darker Tint With a Medical Exemption
For some people, bright light is not just uncomfortable. Certain medical conditions make strong sunlight through car windows a real problem, and South Carolina's tint law recognizes that with an exemption that allows film darker than the usual 27% combined limit.
The exemption is narrow and specific, and the details matter: who signs the paperwork, whose name the car is registered in, where the affidavit lives and when it expires. This guide explains how it works, what it does not cover and how to plan a tint job around it with The Auto Show. It is general information, not legal or medical advice.
The short answer
South Carolina's tint limits do not apply to a vehicle registered to a person, or that person's legal guardian, who has an affidavit signed by a physician or optometrist licensed in South Carolina stating that a physical condition makes darker sunscreening necessary. The affidavit must be in the vehicle whenever it is driven, shown to an officer on request and updated every two years. Talk to your doctor first, then bring the affidavit and ask us before you book.
Key points
- The exemption requires an affidavit signed by a physician or optometrist licensed to practice in South Carolina.
- It applies to a vehicle registered in the name of the person with the condition, or that person's legal guardian.
- The affidavit must be in the vehicle at all times while it is driven and produced if an officer asks.
- It must be updated every two years.
- Georgia runs its own application process, so an SC affidavit is not a Georgia exemption.
The law
What South Carolina's exemption says
The exemption is subsection (H)(1) of S.C. Code § 56-5-5015. It says the section's provisions do not apply to a motor vehicle registered in South Carolina in the name of a person, or the person's legal guardian, who has an affidavit signed by a physician or an optometrist licensed to practice in the state. The affidavit must state that the person has a physical condition that makes it necessary to equip the vehicle with sunscreening material whose light transmittance or luminous reflectance would otherwise violate the section.
Three conditions follow. The affidavit must be in the vehicle at all times during its operation. It must be produced at the request of a law enforcement officer. And it must be updated every two years.
Quoted and paraphrased from S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-5015(H)(1). For an unusual situation, check with SCDPS or a lawyer.
Not in the statute
What the law does not spell out
The statute is short, and several things people expect are not in it. It does not list qualifying conditions; that judgment belongs to the licensed physician or optometrist signing the affidavit. It does not set a minimum light transmission for exempt vehicles. And it does not describe a state-issued permit, application or fee; the document it names is the signed affidavit itself.
Because the text is brief, it is worth asking your doctor's office how they word the affidavit and keeping a copy at home as well as the original in the car. If you are unsure whether your situation fits, for example a car registered to a spouse or a company, check with SCDPS or a lawyer before relying on it.
Practicalities
Whose car, and what happens when you sell it
- The car must be registered to the right person
- The exemption attaches to a vehicle registered in the name of the person with the condition, or their legal guardian. A parent who is the legal guardian of a child with a qualifying condition fits the text; a friend's car you sometimes ride in does not.
- Other drivers
- The affidavit has to be in the vehicle whenever it is operated, whoever is driving. Make sure anyone who drives the car knows where it is kept.
- Selling or trading in
- Your affidavit is tied to your registration. A buyer would not be covered by it, so darker film on a car you sell may leave the next owner out of compliance. Disclose it. Buying a car with dark tint
- Renewal
- Put the two-year update date in your calendar. An expired affidavit does not do its job at a traffic stop.
Crossing the line
Driving into Georgia
Lake Hartwell and the state line are minutes from Anderson, and Georgia handles medical tint differently. The Georgia Department of Public Safety runs an application process: a licensed physician or optometrist attests to the application, and the letter must explain why the condition can only be addressed by reducing visible light, not ultraviolet light.
Georgia's page also says conditions that can be handled with protective eyewear, or with window tint within legal limits that blocks 99.9% of UV, are not eligible. Whether Georgia honors a South Carolina affidavit for a car registered here is a question to put to Georgia DPS directly if you drive there often. Do not assume it does.
Before you decide
Is darker film what you need?
Many people looking into a medical exemption are worried about UV, not visible light. For that, darkness is not the answer. LLumar rates its films to block up to 99% of UV rays, and that holds for lighter shades too. The Skin Cancer Foundation notes that side and rear car glass does not block UVA effectively and recommends UV window film as part of a complete sun protection plan.
If heat is the issue, a ceramic film at a legal shade may do more than a darker film without ceramic, because nano-ceramic particles reject infrared heat. Darker film also has a cost: reduced visibility at night and in rain. Ask your doctor what level of light reduction your condition actually calls for, and weigh it against how and when you drive.
At the doctor
What to cover with your physician or optometrist
The affidavit is your doctor's statement, so the appointment is where the exemption really starts. Go in with a clear description of when the light bothers you and how much you drive.
- Describe the problem: light sensitivity, glare, heat or UV, and whether it happens in the car specifically.
- Ask whether visible light reduction is what helps, or whether UV-blocking film at a legal shade would be enough.
- Ask how much light reduction they consider appropriate, so you have a target to discuss with the installer.
- Confirm the affidavit names you (or the guardian) and that you can keep the original in the vehicle.
- Note the date it was signed; it must be updated every two years.
With us
Planning the job at The Auto Show
Talk to your doctor
Get the signed affidavit from a physician or optometrist licensed in South Carolina before planning the tint.
Ask before you book
Bring the paperwork and ask us before you book. We will talk through what applies to your vehicle and what we can do.
Choose the film
LLumar Carbon starts at $125.99 and LLumar Ceramic at $199.99 for the two front side windows; full vehicles are quoted.
Vehicle age
Our 8-year vehicle age limit still applies, because older seals and trim are likely to break during the job.
Sticker and records
Each tinted window gets a certificate of compliance. Keep your affidavit in the car and a copy at home.
Have an affidavit? Talk to us first
Bring your paperwork and ask before you book. We will go over the options for your vehicle.
Common questions
What medical conditions qualify for darker tint in South Carolina?
The statute does not list conditions. It requires a physician or optometrist licensed in South Carolina to sign an affidavit stating that you have a physical condition making darker sunscreening necessary. Whether your condition qualifies is your doctor's professional judgment, so start that conversation with them.
Do I have to send my tint affidavit to SCDPS or the DMV?
The statute does not describe filing it with a state agency. It requires the signed affidavit to be in the vehicle whenever it is driven and produced if an officer asks, and to be updated every two years. If you want confirmation for your situation, contact SCDPS.
How dark can I go with a medical exemption?
South Carolina's exemption does not set a specific minimum. That does not make every shade sensible: very dark film makes night driving, backing up and rainy conditions harder. Ask your doctor what your condition calls for, and talk it through with us before you book.
Does a South Carolina tint exemption work in other states?
Do not assume so. Each state has its own tint law and exemption rules. Georgia, for example, runs its own application through its Department of Public Safety. If you regularly drive in another state, check that state's rules before installing film darker than its limits.
Sources
- S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-5015, South Carolina Legislature (https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t56c005.php), accessed October 2026
- Medical Exemption to Window Tint Law, Georgia Department of Public Safety (https://dps.georgia.gov/node/785), accessed October 2026
- Automotive Window Tint Frequently Asked Questions, LLumar (https://llumar.com/en/resources/automotive-window-tint-frequently-asked-questions/), accessed October 2026
- UV Window Film & Tint, The Skin Cancer Foundation (https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/uv-window-film/), accessed October 2026
- Ceramic Window Tint, LLumar (https://llumar.com/en/tint/ceramic/), accessed October 2026
- LLumar Window Film Performance Data (LL0116NAEN, 03/26), Eastman Performance Films (https://llumar.com/content/dam/eastman/performance-films/llumar/documents/LL0116NAEN_AutoSpecs_screen.pdf), accessed October 2026
Prices on this page are The Auto Show’s published starting prices. Film ratings and warranty terms come from the manufacturer. This guide explains South Carolina law in plain words; it is not legal advice.