Summer is the time of vacations, road trips and lazy afternoon outings – but it’s also the season of coming back to an extremely hot car in the afternoon. Even on an 80- or 85-degree day, the interior of a car left out in the sun can reach 130 or even 170 degrees. One of the best ways to keep out the heat? Tint your car windows.

Benefits to Tinting Your Car Windows

There are many different benefits to tinting car windows, and for some drivers this can be a lower-cost solution to a variety of issues. Tinting windows can:

• Help keep your car cooler.
• Help protect you and any passengers from UV radiation.
• Keep your upholstery from fading as quickly.
• Help shatterproof your windows.
• Improve security and privacy by limiting visibility from outside the vehicle.

Tinting is a fairly straightforward process and costs can range from around $150 to $500 or more. These costs vary depending on the type of vehicle, number of windows being tinted, and the material and level of tint selected.

To tint car windows, films are used. First, the window films are fitted to each specific window and its curvature; this often requires a heat source to properly mold the film exactly to the curve of the window. Next, the windows are meticulously cleaned to ensure a clean, smooth surface for adhesion. Finally, the films are placed on the windows. Although it doesn’t take long for an expert to apply the window films, it can take several days for them to dry completely.

Reasons to Consider Having an Auto Glass Shop Tint Your Windows

Because the tinting process is so straightforward, many people try to do it themselves. However, there are several reasons to consider having your windows tinted by a professional at your local auto glass shop.

1. Experts are more efficient. A trained technician can usually complete a tint job in about 90 minutes, depending on the number of windows and type of material. If you do it yourself, it will likely take longer, and the results may not be seamless.
2. Experts will get it right. Technicians know how to do a tint job correctly the first time. With DIY jobs, results can vary widely, especially if you’ve never done it before. It takes expert patience and coordination to apply the window films without leaving bubbles, scratches or other noticeable imperfections that can potentially obscure your driving vision.
3. Experts know the rules and regulations. Laws vary from state to state regarding how dark window tints can be or even which windows can be tinted. Technicians will be well versed in these laws to ensure your car is within local regulations.

Find a Local Auto Glass Shop Near You

Ready to learn more? Use Carwise.com to search for auto glass shops in your area that can professionally tint your vehicle’s windows. With Carwise’s shop search tool, you can read reviews from real customers, find hours and office locations, view before and after photos, and contact a shop to ask for examples of their work before you book an appointment. Search more than 20,000 auto glass and auto body repair shops today: https://www.carwise.com/auto-body-shops/.

How many times have you gotten into your car on a hot summer’s day after it’s been sitting for several hours and it felt like a sauna?  In addition to making you feel like a boiling lobster, the sun’s heat and powerful UV rays can also crack and fade your vehicle’s seats, dash and other upholstery features.   A relatively inexpensive way to keep your car cooler is to have the windows custom tinted, an aftermarket service that most auto body shops provide.  And if you stop by a local shop looking for a quote, don’t be surprised if the shop manager asks you several questions in return about your tinting goals.  That’s because custom window tinting comes in a menu of colors, protection levels and tint types that can be specifically tailored to your individual needs.  But before all that, you’ll need to decide if custom window tinting is right for your vehicle in the first place.

Benefits of Custom Window Tinting

If you are considering aftermarket custom window tinting for your vehicle, here are some of the benefits that it provides:

• Sunlight heat protection. Studies have found that window tinting can lower your car’s interior temperature by nearly 30%.  That’s not only more comfortable, but it also means using the A/C less during the summer, which improves your fuel economy.

• Blocks UV rays. Intense UV rays can harm you and your vehicle’s interior.  Window tinting forms a barrier that blocks up to 99% of those damaging rays from penetrating into your car.  Not only is that safer for you and your passengers, but your interior will look newer and last longer, while boosting your vehicle’s resale value.

• Reduces “smash and grabs”. Notably when you park your car in high crime areas, not being able to see your valuables inside will make it less likely for potential “smash and grab” thieves to target you.

• Enhanced accident safety. Upon impact, rear and side windows can shatter into small pieces that have the potential to injure you and your passengers.  Tinting helps hold the glass shards together, reducing the likelihood those fragments will do harm.

Custom Window Tinting Options

To start with, you’ll need to choose a tint color.  Black is the most popular, as it never goes out of style and works well with all paint jobs.  In addition, bronze and amber are also common color choice options.  Next, you’ll be asked to choose a shade on a scale from 5%, which blocks out the most sunlight, to 50%, which inhibits the least.  This is referred to by body shop technicians as the “visible light transmission”, or VLT, rate.  Before choosing your shade level, always refer to your state’s DMV window tinting standards for windshields, side and rear windows, as they vary.  With that said, these are the types of custom tinting that are available:

• Dyed film tint: This is the most popular form of aftermarket tinting, and uses a thin polymer film that is custom-shaded with dyes based upon your preferences.  Consumers can also choose between flat, reflective, metallic or mirrored film tint looks.  Dyed film tinting is the least-expensive method, and will last about 5 years before you could see some cracking, peeling or discoloration.

• Ceramic film tint: A little more expensive than basic film tinting, this process does not use dyes and won’t change color over time.  Ceramic tinting also acts as a more efficient barrier against heat and glare than does a base film. 

• Metallic window films: The materials used in this process contain tiny metal particles that reflect the sun’s heat and UV rays very effectively away from your windows.  However, some drivers have found that metallic film tinting disrupts GPS, radio, WiFi and cell phone signals.

• Coating tint: As the name implies, a special solution is sprayed on your windows and dries as a protective coating.  However, most body shops don’t provide this service because it requires removing the entire window before applying.  Glass specialty shops are your best bet for coating tints, and it will cost more than the other processes.  The upside is that coating tint will last longer when compared to other tinting methods.

Custom window tinting usually takes 24 to 48 hours to complete at a body shop, and the average cost will be $100 to $600, depending upon the number of windows you want tinted, the type of tint used, and size of vehicle you have.

Local Body Shops Do Custom Window Tinting 

When you’ve finally made the decision to get your car windows custom-tinted, auto body shops in your area have the top-quality products, training and experience to get the job done right.  The qualified technicians there will be happy to explain the various aftermarket tinting options available, and provide you with additional information like the manufacturer’s warranty and your state’s DMV tinting standards.  To search your zip code for a reliable auto body shop in your area that does expert custom window tinting, visit: www.carwise.com now.