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Patience – Yes, patience. We’re just trying to give it to you straight! If this is your first time tinting car windows, it will take practice in perfecting the film application. Don’t expect to spend less than 15 minutes a window because then you’ll end up throwing window tint rolls at your garage walls. If you know that your patience is low, you might want to consider a different DIY project.

Still with us? Great! Let’s get to prep.

Preparation

Step 1: Clean the Windows

Thoroughly cleaned windows are the foundation to a good tint job.

1.1 Clean the car windows extremely well by using the soap and water solution.

1.2 Roll down the window 2-3 inches so that you can also clean the top of the window as well. Spray a good amount of the solution, then remove all dirt and grime using the squeegee. Though tint is applied to the interior of the window, it’s important to clean both the exterior and interior very well.

• Make sure to take your time to really clean the windows, as well as the crevices.
• DO NOT use Windex or any cleaner with ammonia unless you want to alter the color of your tint.

Step 2: Dry the Windows

Wipe the soap and water solution off using the squeegee, then use the lint-free cloth to thoroughly dry the glass. Similar to the cleaning step, you’ll want to make sure to dry all crevices and corners. You can do this by using your finger with the rag and wiping underneath the window seals.

Complete this same process on all windows and make sure every window is wiped until completely dry.

Step 3: Prepare the Window Film

You’ll roll your car windows up and down throughout the process, but roll them up for this next part.

Prepare your window tint film by slowly opening the film roll. It’s important to know which side of the film is the adhesive. Similar to a sticker, one side of the film has a layer that can be peeled off before application. Keep the side that can be peeled, the adhesive side, facing you until we move on to the application of the interior window.

Refill your soap and water solution for installation.

Installation

Step 4: Measure and Cut the Film to Size

4.1 Generously spray the water and soap solution onto the outside of the window. This solution will allow the tint to temporarily adhere for sizing.

4.2 Next, with the liner side facing you, unroll and place the window tint film over the entire outside of the window so that no part of the window is left visible. You’ll want to include 2-3 inches of extra tint on all sides.

DO NOT remove the liner in this step. We are not yet applying the tint, but instead making correct measurements of the film for easy application.

4.3 Next, cut along the perimeter of the film so that you have a film piece disconnected from the film roll. Keep the 2-3 inches on each side. Use the razor blade to cut the tint into a usable square.

4.4 The square should adhere to the solution easily now that it’s cut down. Go ahead and spray the tint film as well so that the entire thing is covered in the soap and water solution.

4.5 Keeping the film adhered via solution, use the razor blade to cut only the straight lines (the bottom and either the left or right side – whichever one is straight in your position). Do not cut the rounded part of the window yet (the top and opposite side of what you just cut).

• While cutting, you’ll want to use your free hand or a squeegee to make sure the film stays in place.
• You’ll want to cut the film using the edge of the window as support since you want the film to fit the window.

4.6 Next, pull the film over the straight edge you just cut, whether it’s the left or right, about 1 in. This will ensure that you’ll have extra film to cover all edges.

4.7 You’ll then want to cut the opposite side that you just cut, the side that transitions into the top of the window. Pull the tint towards the newly cut side about half of the 1-2 in excess that we left. You should now have 3 sides cut, all but the top, with about 1/2-1 in. of excess window tint over the sides.

4.8 Pull down the tint about 1 inch so that the bottom part of the film is lower than the window. This is important because this piece will go into the door. Use the squeegee to flatten again.

4.9 Next, lower the window about half an inch and then cut along the top of the window using the window as a guide. Remove the excess film. Once this is done, pull the tint back towards the center. You should have half an inch of excess film on all sides.

4.10 Clean up all corners that have excess film.

Leave the film applied to the exterior window while you prep the interior. You might need more solution to keep it adhered.

Step 5: Apply the Window Tint

5.1 First, you’ll want to clean the interior window, again, to confirm that it is squeaky clean. You can use a card or the corner of a squeegee to get under the window edges. Use the squeegee to remove excess water, then spray the window with the solution again.

5.2 With the film still adhered to the outside of the window, remove the top half of the tint liner – this will make it easier to work with.

5.3 The window should still be open about half an inch. Spray the exposed film that you just peeled with more solution to prepare it for adhering. Line up the film to the interior of the window. The solution will make the film slippery and easy to move around so that you can perfectly align all edges.

5.4 Once the top of the film is aligned with the window, you’ll want to use your fingers to push the film into the left and right sides underneath the seal.

5.5 Next, spray the film with the soap and water then squeegee all excess water toward the sides or upward, not downward since this part of the window still needs to adhere.

5.6 Lift the bottom part of the film away from the window then spray the window with soap and water again. You can now remove the remaining part of the liner and spray this newly exposed film with the solution.

5.7 Use a card of edge of the squeegee again to tuck in the film under the bottom seal. Smooth out the liner completely still using the card and/or squeegee working the water outward or downward. You’ll want to continue using the solution to prevent ripping as you work to remove air bubbles. Take your time in this step to make the film flush with the window and without flaws.

5.8 Lastly, wrap the lint-free cloth around the squeegee and dry the film carefully.

When You’ll Need a Heat Gun

A heat gun is not always necessary but is extremely helpful when tinting curved windows. It’s also helpful in removing air bubbles. If you need to use a heat gun, during step 4 when the tint is being sized to the outside of the window and has excess film on each side, you’ll want to heat the film (not too close and not too long in one place as this can ruin the film) and use a card to work out air bubbles and excess water. Begin at the top and work your way down to the bottom of the window. The heat will begin to stretch and smooth the tint so that it fits a curved window properly.

Make Sure it Cures

You’ll need to repeat the above steps for each window of your car. Once complete, you will not want to roll your windows down for 7-10 days and mess up all the hard work you put into tinting your car windows.

How Much Does it Cost?

Interested in having a professional tint your vehicle. Find out how much it cost to tint your car here.

Summary

There you have it. A step-by-step DIY guide on window tinting. We know it’s a tedious process but after you do it a couple of times, you’ll feel much more confident and will be able to get the job done much quicker.

Step-by-step most effective ways to remove window tint from your car

There’s an art form to the window tint removal process. In this article, we’ll walk you through exactly how to do it without damaging your vehicle and using the right techniques to peel the tint.

Top 5 Methods For Removing Window Tint From A Car

Whether you’re buying or selling a vehicle, need a different shade/percentage, or are experiencing some form of deterioration due to age or improper application, removing the existing tint is the best course of action.

But before you start pulling, peeling, and cutting, you need to come up with a plan.

Removing window tint is something that you can do, but you’ll need to be strategic about how you do it. There’s a right and a wrong way to peel the tint.

Let’s walk through some of the proper steps for effectively removing tint.

#1 Heat Removal Method

If you have a heat gun or hairdryer on hand, this is an easy, mess-free method worth trying. Here’s how it works:

• With the heat gun set on the highest setting, hold it approximately two inches away from the glass, on the outside of the window. Begin in one corner of the window and apply heat for roughly 30 seconds. At this point, you should notice the corner start to peel up.

• Once a corner starts peeling, use a finger or razor blade to pry the film off the glass. Next, use the heat gun to apply heat at the point where the peeling tint meets the glass and begin slowly peeling it back until the entire sheet is completely removed.

This method tends to work well for tint that’s still in good shape. Old tint may rip or tear, leaving behind small specks.

Pro Tip: Nail Polish Remover – Believe it or not, nail polish remover can be a great method for removing those stubborn lingering tint specks or for helping to release the leftover tint glue adhesive that is still on the window.  The chemicals act as a very effective adheisve remover.

#2 Soap & Scrape Method (Soap Solution)

The soap and scrape method is one of the most commonly used techniques.

And while it requires more supplies and manual effort than the heat method, it often leaves a cleaner and more polished result.

This method requires dish soap, glass cleaner, microfiber cloths, a razor blade, spray bottle, paper towels, garbage bags and water. You start by making a cut in the corner of the film. This creates a small tab that you can use to lift the film off the window. Using this tab, start peeling the tint back. (Note: The tint film won’t always peel off in a single piece. You may need to make multiple cuts and tear off in sections.)

Once the window tint glue is removed, prepare a soapy water mixture inside of a spray bottle and apply it to the windows. Grab your razor blade and carefully scrape the remaining adhesive. (Make sure you use light passes. Don’t dig into the glass or you could create permanent scratches.) Finally, clean the window with glass cleaner and microfiber cloths.

#3 Soapy Newspaper Method

If other methods don’t work, you may give the soapy newspaper method a try. It’s similar to the soap and scrape technique, but doesn’t require nearly as much manual effort. You’ll need all of the same supplies plus newspapers.

With this method, you create a mixture of warm water and dish soap in a bucket and then apply it to the inside of the window. Immediately after applying the soapy water, you’ll want to lay the newspaper on top of your wet windows. Allow the soap and newspaper to sit for roughly an hour.

If the newspapers appear to dry up, you can apply some additional soapy water on the outside. (You may need to do this every 15 or minutes.)

After 60 minutes have passed, the newspaper has had a chance to act as an adhesive remover and you can now use your razor blade to peel the newspaper up.

If the method has worked, the top layer of the tint will pull up as well.  You can then rub off the remaining layers of film with your blade and clean the glass.

#4 Steam Clean Method

If you have a fabric steamer cleaner like this PureSteam on hand, this is arguably the easiest and most effective method of removing window tint.

You simply use the fabric steamer to steam the inside and outside of the windows for a few minutes and the tint glue residue shoudl melt away.

As it melts, you can use a razor blade to get it going and then the tint peels right off. This leaves you with nothing more than a little bit of leftover adhesive to wipe off. The steamer method is highly recommended. 

#5 Solar Peel Method

The solar peel method is the fifth option people commonly use to remove window tint. This can be an intricate and time-consuming method, but it’s also the most interesting. Here’s how it works:

• Spray the outside of the window with soapy water and then cover with a black plastic trash bag. Take your time and smooth the bag out until it’s completely flat and free of bubbles and wrinkles.
• After all windows are covered, use a tarp or other cover to protect interior surfaces near the windows.
• Spray an ammonia solution on the inside of the windows and cover it with another trash bag. (Wear a mask and don’t breathe in the fumes.) Let the windows bake in the hot sunlight for at least 20 to 25 minutes and then remove the black trash bags.
• Grab a corner of the film and slowly peel the tint away from the glass. A scraper or using a razor blade  remove window tint glue, any of the leftover film and any remaining adhesive.

If the other techniques don’t work, the solar peel method should do the trick. It’s best to use this method on a warm, sunny day. Start slow and work in small areas at a time.

8 Common Reasons for Removing Window Tint

As nice as window tinting can look – and as intricate as the application process is – why would anyone ever want to remove old window tint?

Well, there are plenty of reasons. And if you’re reading this article, one of the following likely resonates with you:

1 You Are Buying a Vehicle

Some people simply don’t like the look of tinted windows – or the specific kind of tint might not fit their style. If you’re purchasing a pre-owned vehicle from an individual or dealer and don’t like the tint on the car, removing it is always an option.

2 You Are Selling a Vehicle

If you’re selling a vehicle, you want it to look as nice as possible. Old tint can look raggedy and may detract from the other features of the car. By removing the tint, you eliminate an eyesore and let the vehicle speak for itself.

3 Your Current Film Is Too Dark (Illegal)

Every state has its own window tint percentage laws that dictate how dark tinting can be on windows and windshields. There may also be other restrictions related to reflectivity and coloring. If you discover that your vehicle breaks laws, you’ll need to remove the old window tint.

4 Prefer a Different Tint Shade

Most people like tinted windows, but the percentage is a matter of personal preference. There’s a huge difference, for example, between 70 percent tint and 27 percent tint. In order to change to a new shade, you have to first remove the old window tint.

5 Poorly Applied Window Tint

As mentioned, window tinting is both a technical process and an art form. If your window tint was applied by an amateur – or done poorly by a professional tint shop – it’ll need to be removed so that you can start over.

6 Your Window Film Is Peeling

When tint doesn’t properly adhere to the glass, any number of issues can occur. Peeling occurs at the corners of the window and worsens over time. The only way to truly restore a clean and professional look is to remove the tint and start fresh.

7 Your Window Film Is Bubbling

Everyone has seen an old vehicle with bubbling tint. It looks horrible and, unfortunately, there’s no way to fix it. Bubbling can be a sign of poor installation, but is also a symptom of failing adhesive. Eventually, most window tint will show signs of bubbling.

8 Your Window Film Is Experiencing Discoloration

This is another sign of aging. Over time, tint has a tendency to turn a purplish hue. Not only does this alter the look of your windows, but it actually diminishes the tint’s ability to block out harmful UV rays. Once discoloration occurs, it’s impossible to revert back to the original color without replacing it.

Cleaning And Restoration Tips After Window Tint Removal

Regardless of which method you choose to remove your window tint, you’ll likely be left with less-than-perfect windows. You may have a combination of adhesive, residue, specs of tint, and even tiny, surface-level scratches. To achieve a new glass look, you’ll need to apply some additional elbow grease…don’t forget your spray bottle and soap and water, too! 

The best method is to purchase some new #0000 steel wool. (It’s really important that you go with #0000, as anything higher could lead to permanent scratches in your glass.) Then, in a bowl, mix together some dish detergent with warm water. Dip the steel wool into the soapy solution and lightly rub the windows. Small circular movements are ideal. Avoid using too much pressure and/or large sweeping movements.

Once all adhesive, residue, dirt, and debris has been removed, use glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth to achieve a dry, pristine finish.

Make Sure Your Tint Follows The Window Tint Laws In Your State

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For many drivers, finding the darkest window tint shades is important. A lot of experts recommend ceramic film if you’re looking for dark window tint, but it can be hard to choose the right type of tint for your needs. So, is ceramic tint actually darker and is it worth investing in? Here’s what you need to know.

Is Ceramic Window Tint Darker?

While ceramic window tint isn’t actually darker than its counterparts, there are a lot of different factors that create this perception. Ceramic window tint tends to stand up to the elements a lot better than the other types of tint, which means it does often stay darker for longer. However, the darkness of your window tint ultimately depends on the VLT level.

It’s important to note that some types of window tint fade a lot faster, so ceramic and other quality window films can make a big difference. However, your tint is going to fade over time no matter how much money you spend on it, so don’t expect anything to be perfect in terms of weather resistance.

Types of Window Tint

Window tint comes in all sorts of different varieties, including different materials, different styles and different window tint shades. Making sure you get the right window tint darkness level and type of tint helps you make the most of your tint.

Ceramic window tint is one of the most popular options if you’re looking for the best window tint. You might have to spend a little more money, but ceramic tint is built to last like no other tint. The ceramic particles that give these tints their color and UV protection are nonconductive and nonmetallic, which means ceramic film doesn’t wear down as quickly. You can find ceramic tint in a wide variety of colors, styles and tint darkness levels, so it’s a great choice in terms of versatility.

Metallic window tint is another good option if you’re looking for something durable that stays dark. Metallic film has an extra layer that provides UV protection and gives the tint its signature look, which makes it great for blocking out some sunlight. The biggest downsides to metallic window tint are the fact that it’s often very reflective and it costs more than most other types of tint.

Carbon window tint is a good choice if your main priority is blocking out heat. Carbon film can block out about 40% of the infrared light that causes heat to transfer through your window into your car, which makes it great for driving on sunny days. However, there are better options than carbon if you want to protect your skin and eyes from UV rays.

Dyed window tint is the window tint you go for if you want to save money. If you’re getting cheap tint from a department store, chances are it’s dyed. While this tint provides some privacy and UV protection, it’s nowhere near as good as the other options.

Finding the Darkest Tint

For many people, finding the darkest window tint is a priority. Not only is it nice to have the privacy and UV protection dark window tint provides, it also adds a lot of style to your car.

Finding the darkest window tint is a matter of balancing two things: finding the right VLT level and finding tint that won’t fade and become ineffective too quickly. Ceramic and metallic film are both great choices if you’re looking for dark tint that won’t fade, although metallic film may not be the best option if reflective tint is illegal in your area or you don’t like the look of it. Both of these types of tint will retain their darkness for longer than others.

Legal Window Tint

When you’re having your windows tinted, it’s important to make sure you’re doing things by the books. A professional window tinter can help you figure out what kind of tint is legal for your vehicle. You can also take a look at our window tint percentages guide to find out more about window tint darkness levels.

For the most part, your front and rear windshields are the most strict in terms of tinting laws. These windows are followed by the front side windows, which have to be dark enough for the driver to see out and others to see in. The rear side windows are the most flexible, with some states allowing you to tint them as dark as you want to. A professional window tinter can help you find the right combination of VLT levels to get the most out of your tint.

Is Ceramic Tint Right for You?

If you’re looking for window tint that stays dark, ceramic may be the best option. Ceramic window tint also comes in tons of different styles, colors and VLT levels, so you can find something that fits your car and budget perfectly. As long as you’re buying ceramic window film from a brand you can trust, you can count on it to retain its UV protection and heat-blocking properties for years.