How do I know if my windows are factory tinted?

If you cannot find out what the factory tint percentage of your car windows is, you can always find a tint meter to check the percentage. Simply roll down your window halfway and then measure the tint with the meter. This is also the method that law enforcement uses to check car window tint percentages.

How do I know what kind of window tint I have?

Place the tint meter on the window by sliding it onto the partially rolled down window. The tint meter has a slot on it that slides onto a window. Then, read the digital display on the tint meter. This will give you your exact tint percentage, or opacity rating.

What does factory tint look like?

Factory tint is simply tinted glass. Unlike aftermarket tint which is a film that is applied to the inside of the window, factory tint is a pigment inside of the glass. This tint cannot be removed or directly altered. The typical visual light transmission (VLT) of the glass is 15-26%.

What percentage is the factory tint?

Twenty percent window shade tint is also called "Factory Tint". Windows tinted at the time the car was manufactured usually have a shade of 15% - 26%.

Is 35 or 20 tint darker?

A 35% tint will give you more darkness, but it's still easy to see through. Drivers like this tint because of it's stylish and sleek aesthetic. If privacy is your purpose for tinting, a 20% tint is an excellent choice. You can see through windows with a 20% tint if you're up close, but it's still difficult.

How to tell if your vehicle has factory or aftermarket tint

Can you remove factory tint?

It is not possible to remove factory tint from a car window because the dyes and pigments are mixed inside the glass. Aftermarket tinting film can be removed from the glass by using tools to peel the film and solvents to break down the adhesive coating.

What is the darkest legal tint?

Window Tint Darkness

The 2022 California window tint laws requirements are for the front windshield and front side windows to have a 70% VLT. California car window tint law has no restriction on how dark the tint on the rear and back side windows can be.

How long does aftermarket tint last?

Window tint can effectively last anywhere from one to ten years. This drastic range in lifespan is dependent on the brand and product you select, the quality of the installation, and how well it is cared for.

Can you tint over aftermarket tint?

Never try to tint over aftermarket tint.

If you already have aftermarket tint, the appropriate solution is to completely strip off the aftermarket tint and then add a new layer. Aftermarket tint, unlike factory tint, cannot be easily tinted over.

What are the 3 types of window tint?

What tint is dark on the outside clear inside?

Ceramic window tints yield a dark color on your car windows when viewed from outside. One cannot see what is inside, meaning that your valuables are safe.

How can u tell if car window is ceramic?

If you want to know if a car has a ceramic coating, take the car for a drive. Spray the car with water; as you increase the speed of the vehicle, water beads will gather into streams that will flow from your vehicle. In the absence of ceramic coating, the drops of water will cling to the car's surface.

Does car window tint get darker over time?

The tint on your window does appear to get darker over the first few days or weeks after installation, but the key word here is “appear”. In actual fact, the tint remains the same shade. It's the adhesive that changes. From there on out, your tint will ever so slowly get lighter as a result of sun bleaching.

Why you shouldn't tint your windows?

Although tinted windows can definitely protect your eyes from the sun, it can also impede your vision on very cloudy or rainy days, and seeing outside through heavily-tinted windows is very difficult.

What happens if you accidentally roll your windows down after tinting?

A common question from customers who have just put tinted windows on their car, is “Why Can't I Roll Down My Windows After Tinting?” The answer is that the adhesives holding the tinted window film in place take time to dry, and until they do, friction caused by rolling down the window could scrape film from the glass.

Does tint get lighter over time?

As your film absorbs and reflects that energy, the UV radiation can cause the tint to fade. While you'll shield the rest of your car from deteriorating in the sun, the film may eventually lighten as the years go by. Luckily, you can control this process by limiting your car's time parked in the sun.

Is Chameleon window tint legal?

Chameleon tint is also legal to have on the front windscreen in most vehicles as it lets in more than 75% of the light.

What does 70 window tint mean?

For example, if you apply a tint of 70% VLT, it allows 70% of sunlight to pass through your windows. Therefore, it only blocks 30% of the sun. The darker the film you apply, the lower the amount of light that can get through will be — more light will be reflected off your window.

Can you Untint windows?

There are several different inexpensive methods to easily remove window tint by yourself. Applying heat to melt the adhesive or peeling the tint off with ammonia or soapy water are all easy and effective ways to remove even professional car window tint.

Will air bubbles in tint go away?

It's common to see small bubbles under freshly-installed tint. Normally, these bubbles should go away within a couple of weeks and should be very small. They may take longer to go away in cold weather and vanish faster in heat.