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5 Reasons To Know The Window Tint Laws In Your State 

You just got your hands on your dream car, and you want to do everything you can to deck it out.  You want the best features, and having dark windows will grant you the ultimate level of privacy in your vehicle.  

Before you go darkening your glass, it’s wise to check in to the legal stipulations regarding tint in your state.  Take a moment to read through a few reasons why it’s crucial to know the window tint laws in your state, and go forth in knowledge.  

You could get pulled over by the police

First and foremost, having too dark a tint on your vehicle windows could lead to a run-in with police.  Most people don’t enjoy the anxiety and irritation caused by a traffic stop, and a simple traffic stop could lead to bigger problems.  

Don’t give the police a reason to be interested in what you’re doing, and get it right from the start.  Knowing the legal tint boundaries could save you from a nasty traffic ticket and fines.  You don’t want your window tint to cause you to need legal services before it’s all said and done.  

Tint laws are set for a reason

People tint their vehicle windows for a long list of reasons.  Some do it to reduce the heat inside the vehicle in the midst of summer.  Some people tint their windows for privacy, and sometimes tint can add safety to your vehicle. 

However, tint laws are set for a reason.  Too dark a tint or a bad tint job can obstruct your ability to see what’s going on around you while you’re driving.  Play it safe, and understand tint laws before you take your vehicle to be fitted.  

You don’t want to have to redo the job

If you don’t pay any attention to the tint laws in your state, you may darken your windows too much.  After a few times of the police bothering you on your way to work, you’ll want the inconveniences to cease.  

You’ll have to have the tint redone on your vehicle to set things right, and that will only cost you more money.  Doing it right in the first place will save you money and hassle.  

The installer may not be in the know

In a perfect world, someone working in a certain profession would be completely competent in that profession.  However, this is not always the case.  If the person tinting your windows isn’t in the know about the legal tint restrictions in your state, you could end up going too dark.  

Ride in style and in peace 

It’s better to prepare yourself with knowledge before ever scheduling the appointment to have your windows tinted.  By simply looking up the information yourself, you can save money, time, and a lot of hassle in the future.  

Bubbles are one of the biggest window tint problems, but they’re also very common. Even if you do your best to smooth out your window tint and apply it evenly, there’s a good chance you’ll end up with some bubbles here and there. The good news is, there are steps you can take to prevent and remove window tint bubbles.

My Window Tint Has Bubbles: What’s Going On?

If you have bubbles in your window tint, chances are something went awry when the tint was installed. Part of the window tint installation process is smoothing out the tint to make sure there are no bubbles. Not only does this make your tint look better, it also makes it easier to see out of your windows.

There are ways to get rid of window tint bubbles after your tint has already been installed. However, your first priority should be trying to prevent those bubbles in the first place. The better your tint is installed, the less you have to worry about having to spend money replacing it.

Preventing Window Tint Bubbles

Preventing bubbles in the window tint in your car starts with the installation process. However, there are other things you can do to help prevent bubbles and other window tint problems.

The simplest way to prevent window tint bubbles is to have your tint installed by a professional. As tempting as DIY window tint installation can be, you shouldn’t do it if you don’t know what you’re doing. A professional can make sure your tint is completely smoothed out against the surface of your windows so there are no bubbles that can cause problems down the line.

You can also prevent bubbles and other common window tint problems by preventing dirt and sun exposure. When dirt gets trapped in your tint, it can cause it to expand and form bubbles. Extreme sun exposure may also cause your tint to bubble up a bit, which is a particularly big problem in warm areas. You can solve both of these problems by keeping your car in a garage or another covered area when you aren’t driving.

Removing Window Tint Bubbles

If you’ve already installed your window tint or had a window tint installer do it for you and there are bubbles, you can still get rid of them. There are a handful of simply tricks you can use to try to get rid of window tint bubbles, and pretty much anybody can try them.

Heat

One of the best ways to get rid of bubbles in window tint is to apply a little bit of heat to the tint. Applying heat to window tint weakens the adhesive a little bit and thins it out, allowing it to spread evenly and form a better seal. The best part is, you can do this without any special tools or equipment. Simply running a hairdryer or standard heat gun provides enough heat to help remove bubbles from your window tint when you use a squeegee to flatten it out.

Soapy Water

There are a lot of different causes of window tint bubbles, and a lack of flexibility in your window tint is one of them. If your tint isn’t quite flexible enough to form a perfect seal on your window, you can remedy that with a little bit of soapy water. You can clean your window tint before you apply it to make it more flexible, or you can clean it after it’s already been applied to make it clear again and help remove some of the bubbles.

Removing Trapped Air

Sometimes window tint bubbles are a result of air that’s trapped underneath the window film. If this is the case, the best way to remove those bubbles is to remove the trapped air. This shouldn’t be your first resort, but you can remove window tint bubbles by popping them with a small pin to let the air out and allow the adhesive to stick evenly. Make sure you use the thinnest pin you can find so you aren’t leaving large holes in your window tint.

Ironing Out Bubbles

Another option when it comes to removing window tint bubbles is ironing them out. It’s best to do this in combination with using a pin to create holes to remove air. All you have to do is run your iron on a low setting to press the bubbles out of the tint and allow the adhesive to cleanly stick to your windows.

The Bottom Line

As much of a problem as window tint bubbles can be, there are a lot of solutions. You should start by making sure your tint is installed by a professional window tinter. If you’ve got problems after your tint is installed, try some of these tricks and see if they get rid of the bubbles.

If you’ve never tinted your windows before, you might have some questions. One common window tint question a lot of people have is whether the tint goes on the inside or the outside. It’s important to know this because you have to make sure you’re not scratching your tint or getting it dirty if you want it to last a long time.

Window Tint is on the Inside

The short answer to this question is that window tint is generally installed on the inside of your car windows. This is because installing tint on the inside prevents it from being damaged by all the things that tend to damage the outside of your windows. When you tint the inside of your windows, you don’t have to worry about rocks chipping the tint or dirt and dust from the road making your tint blurry.

That’s not to say there aren’t cases where window tint is installed on the outside. Tint can be installed on the interior or exterior of the window, but any good tint installer will install it on the inside to prevent unnecessary wear and tear.

How Does Window Tint Get Damaged?

Even if your window tint is installed on the interior of your car windows, it’s still going to suffer some damage and wear and tear over time. So, how exactly does your window tint wear down over time if it’s not on the outside of the windows?

Sun exposure is one of the biggest problems when it comes to car window tint. Even if you tint the inside of your windows, there’s no way to prevent the tint from being exposed to the sun. Over time, sun exposure can make your tint start to fade and turn a purplish color, hindering its ability to keep light out and provide you with privacy.

Physical wear is also a common problem with window tint. While tint that’s installed on the inside is somewhat safe from wear and tear, rolling your windows up and down is still going to cause problems. The best way to prevent this type of wear is to avoid rolling your windows up and down when you don’t have to.

Fingerprints can also make your window tint blurry over time. While your tint may have started off crystal clear, fingerprints and dirt that build up over time can obstruct your vision. Fortunately, we’ve got window tint cleaning tips (link to “removing tint bubbles” post here) that make it easy to get rid of that blurry window tint so you can see clearly at all times.

Maximizing Window Tint Durability

One of the most important parts of making sure your window tint lasts a long time is getting it installed by a professional tint installer. As tempting as it may be to save some money and use a home window tinting kit, you simply can’t get the same seal that a professional can.

Bubbles in tint are the most common window tint installation problem. Tint stays on your windows thanks to its adhesive, which means any spot where there’s a bubble is a spot where the adhesive isn’t working. Not only can this make your window tint wear off prematurely, it also looks bad.

Window tint should also be installed to cover the entire window. A lot of home window tinting projects fail because people simply don’t cut or buy the right piece of tint. A professional can pick the perfect tint and cut it to the right size for your window, which helps prevent peeling and other problems.

Other Things to Know

If you’re planning on having a professional tint your car windows, you need to know what you’re getting yourself into. These are some of the most important things to understand about car window tint:

• Tint type: The more time and money you invest in getting quality tint, the longer it’s going to last and the less of an issue dirt and fading will be.
• Tint lifespan: No matter what you do, window tint isn’t designed to last all that long. Expect to replace your car window tint in the next 5-10 years if you want to keep it looking nice.
• Legal window tint: You can’t tint your windows too dark, especially the front and rear windshields. Make sure you have your window tint installer install legal tint on your windows.

Get Your Tint Installed Right

No matter what type of tint you choose or how much you’re willing to spend, it’s always best to hire a professional window tint installer. The last thing you want is to end up with tint that’s filled with bubbles and peeling months after you get it installed. As long as you’re getting your tint professionally installed on the insides of your windows, you’re good to go.

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.