Back in the day, people often used auto glass tints for no good reason. Why else would they want to hide the interior of their cars? Insert pearl-clutching here.
Throughout the years, however, their attitudes have softened. People now recognize the many benefits that tinting provides, like the protection they provide your interiors from the damaging rays of the sun.
What Is Window Tint?
Window tint is a coating or film applied to vehicle glass to prevent sun rays from entering. You can either install them at home or by a professional. They also come in different types, depending on how you need to use them. You can also order your tints with levels of darkness. Car window tints are also paired very well with car wraps.
Benefits of Tinting Car Windows
Tinting your car windows is one of the most accessible and most affordable upgrades you can do. Window tints are both functional and beautiful.
Our vehicles reflect us, and they help us live our lives to the fullest. It’s no wonder we tint the windows to express our personality.
Before you get into the subject of tinting cars, there are some things to discover. Learning valuable tinting tips will help you make an informed decision.
Some benefits are:
- Reduce glare and improve visibility
- Give your car a stylish look
- Stop interior surfaces from fading because of sunlight exposure
Protect Your Car Interior from Fading
Auto window tinting helps your car’s interior stay cool when the sun is scorching. When you don’t have tints, you’ll notice the interior color is fading. If your car has a leather interior, you might notice drying out and cracking. A car window tinting service will keep your interior looking better for a longer period.
Keeps the Car’s Interior Cooler
The sun damages the interior of your car the same way it messes with your skin. The best window tint reflects those harmful rays away from your vehicle. This keeps your interior looking better longer.
Provide Privacy and Security
Car theft is an impulse crime. Dark car tints prevent them from seeing inside. There’s no guarantee they’ll get rewarded for their efforts. It’s easier to head to the next target with clearer windows.
The logic here is simple. Dark window tints will keep your possessions hidden. They’ll protect your vehicle more than someone with no tints.
Dark tints won’t prevent all crime against your vehicle. But it could make a big difference to the vehicles that auto thieves target.
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you lose your keys and you’re scared of your car getting broken into, you should look into a replacement car key service.
Improve Gas Mileage
Your car uses a lot of energy when the AC is on. This has a reductive effect on your gas mileage. Window tints block the sun and cool the cabin, so you won’t have to use the air conditioner as much. This translates to more gas in your tank.
Keep UV Rays Out
UV lights cause nasty sunburns and are the primary cause of cancer in human beings.
Offers Safety
When car tinting experts apply a high-quality tint, it adds extra safety. It won’t make your window completely shatterproof. But, it can reduce the effects of potentially harmful glass dispersal, which can damage the occupants of a car during an accident. Tints keep them from fracturing into the tiny pieces of glass that cause lacerations. Because it saves them glued to the adhesive surface of the window tint. This is a precious safety benefit for both drivers and passengers.
Why Is It Important To Stay Away From UV Radiation?
If the sun shines on your skin, chances are potentially dangerous rays are present. Scientists call these harmful rays UV radiation.
There Are Three Types of UV Radiation:
UVA: It’s the weakest of the rays, and it causes wrinkles. There’s a slight possibility it may contribute to skin cancer.
UVB: Has a little more energy than UVA. They mutate the DNA in the cells that cause cancer.
UVC: It’s the most dangerous type of ray. But humans shouldn’t fear it. It doesn’t make it to the Earth because it’s blocked by the elements in our atmosphere.
Quality car window tinting will block 99% of the harmful UV rays from coming into your vehicle. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends it as part of a comprehensive skincare routine.
The reason your car gets hot on summer days is because of infrared radiation that comes into your car. It makes its way through the car windows, and it gets trapped inside the car.
Do You get More Protection with a Darker Tint?
Some think the darker the window tint, the more UV and infrared ray protection you have. But that’s not true.
Back in the day, manufacturers relied on darker window tinting shades to block light. The problem with darker tints is they block so much light; it makes it hard to see at night when driving.
They learned the hard way that darker tints don’t ensure protection. What they do is affect your visibility. Innovative car window tinting technology has evolved. Manufacturers come up with ways to provide the same benefits without sacrificing visibility. So now, there are obvious versions of window film that block UV and infrared rays.
Legalities
Window tints aren’t illegal. But, different municipalities and states have rules about how dark it should be. Some states also have regulations against metallic or colored tints because they can distract other drivers. So, you must check your local laws before putting a tint on her car.
Many states are worried that heavy tinting can lead to car accidents. If you have found yourself in a car crash before due to heavy tint, a wreck lawyer may have a hard case for them to win due to the legalities.
There are state laws that determine the level of darkness you can have on your car window tint. They’re not designed to stop your creativity or curtail your freedom of expression. There is a safety issue for drivers. Regulating the tint ensures you can see other vehicles better when driving. It also makes it easier for law enforcement officers to see when they approach the car.
A window tint is illegal if it’s too dark or if it covers too much area. Police officers use a device to measure the amount of light that passes through a tinted car window. They calculate the measurement with VLT percent, the visible light transmission percentage. This is the light that’s able to get through the window. Every state has its VLT percent standards for different vehicles and their windows.
There are several penalties for violating your state’s window tinting laws:
A Citation
Depending on the officer and the jurisdiction, you can get a warning or fine.
If you get in trouble because the tint on your car is too dark, take them off. If other police officers see you with this tint, you’ll end up with multiple fines for the same thing. It’s a waste of money.
Visitors to other states are exempt from these laws. If you visit another state with stricter laws than your home state, you won’t get in trouble. By remaining in compliance with the state’s rules, your car’s registered where you won’t get in trouble.
Exemptions
Some states give car window tinting exceptions for drivers with legitimate vision problems. They also give them to those with medical ailments that limit their exposure to sunlight.
People with sunlight sensitivity can apply for a permit, exemption, or waiver through the DMV. You must apply with documentation that supports the medical care that you need.
For example, there’s a medical exemption certificate for dark window tinting. It exists for those who have lupus and other autoimmune medical conditions.
The Different Tints
You can put tints on RVs too. They offer the same benefits as regular cars. The most significant difference is the cost. This is because the experts charge per window when tinting RVs.
Regardless of the vehicle you’re tinting, it’s essential to learn about your options. Most tints have similarities:
- Keeps inside of the car cool
- Prevents glare
- Protect the interior of your car from harmful UV rays
- Prevents fading
- Keeps you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
But, it is the differences that set them apart:
- Ceramic Tint
- Provides maximum visibility
- Fade-resistant
- Adds value to the car
- Shatterproof
- Carbon tint
- Gives windows a matte finish
- Durable and long-lasting
- Gives your car a black appearance
- Metallic window tint
- Metallic look
- Shatterproof
- Blocks UV rays
- Protect your windshield
- Hybrid window tint
- Tints are both dyed and metallic.
- Give your car a dark and crisp look
- Non-reflective
- less expensive than metallic tint
- No fading
- Regular tints
- It comes with an adhesive layer of film with a polyester topcoat and has dye between both of them.
- Least expensive option
- Absorbs solar heat
- Gives your car a dark, stylish appearance.
Once you know the type of car tint you want. It’s important to have balance when picking a tint. The optimal choice is a combination of privacy and clarity.
50% window tint: A car window tint of 50% keeps out UV rays in heat. It blocks out light and reduces eye strain and glare.
35%: Offers a dark appearance without sacrificing visibility.
20%: These percentages strike a balance between privacy and aesthetics. A car with this window tint percentage makes it very hard for people to see inside the car, even from up close. This helps keep casual onlookers and criminals from seeing looking inside your car. They won’t know the valuables you have in your car.
5%: This is usually illegal in most states because it’s considered too dark.
Check your State DMV Department to learn about any regulations. Perhaps, the most important thing for tinting is legal to light transmission levels. Once you can figure that out, you can choose the window tint percentage for your car.
How Much Does it Cost to Tint Your Car?
The question isn’t as cut and dry as you may think. There are a lot of factors that affect the price:
- Your region
- Type of tint
- Quality of tint
- Your vehicle model
It’s also important to remember that darker tints cost more than lighter tints. You can also choose to tint one or two of your vehicle’s windows. Some choose to do this in their back seat to give their passengers privacy.
Let’s say you own a sedan you want to tint. Depending on the features and quality of the material used, it can cost anywhere from $200 to $500. With larger Vans and SUVs, it could be $1,000, maybe more. You should also factor in any other additional costs to the vehicles you may want to upgrade, your tires, your exhaust, your automotive hose clamps, etc.
For instance, if you’re looking for a cheaper option, downgrading your car might be an even better option. If that’s the case, you should look into Repairable Vehicles For Sale.
If you want a special color or type of tint, the prices go up.
Car Tinting Installation Options
You can tint your car window if you know what you’re doing. It definitely won’t cost much. It’s a tedious process that requires the patience of a saint. If you don’t, it’ll take you hours to finish. Even a bit of lint on the window can mess up the job if you do it yourself. Chances are, you experience bubbling, cracking, and other issues. A car-tinting professional can do this in less than 2 hours.
Are There Any Special Precautions After I Tint My Windows?
The tint shop will let you know if there are any special precautions to take with the tint you choose. However, it’s recommended you wait at least a day or two before rolling down your window. It would help if you also avoided places with extreme weather and temperatures.
You might find a winter window tinting service that talks about new and used vehicles for sale. Chances are, these cars will come with a tint on their windows.
Protecting Your Tint
Over time it is inevitable that your tint might fade or get destroyed. This is why you need to look into a great garage to store your vehicle. For a custom metal garage designer, you should pay attention to the price and see what services they would offer. Would they cover any garage door repairs if something were to happen?
Now that you have an idea about automotive window tinting and even garage doors, you can make an informed decision about your next step. The good news is there’s a tint available for any tinting preference. Use these options to customize your vehicle to show your personality and keep your interior looking its best. The extra security it provides is another bonus.
