After you buy a car a thin film can be applied to the window of your car which is known as car window tinting. The purpose of tinting windows of a car is to darken the glass which gives you a more cooler and comfortable ride in summer and it also gives you more privacy. Passengers, the driver, as well as the rear window of your car, can be tinted legally in the USA. But, the law in the US does not allow your car windscreen to be tinted and only the visor strip across the uppermost part of the windscreen can be tinted.
Benefits of car window tinting
There are various benefits of tinting your car windows which are as under:
- Safety: In case of an accident, the thin film which is applied to the glass of car windows during tinting gives strength to the glass and reduces the chances of injury, and also helps in preventing break-ins.
- UV protection: After applying the thin film to the car windows during tinting harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, glare and heat are prevented from penetrating the glass of car windows. This results in providing some protection from sun damage to the passengers, driver, and interior of the car. It also reduces the need for air conditioning.
- Improved appearance: Car window tinting gives a sleeker, smarter look to your vehicle. There are various ranges of styles and colors available which gives you various choices over the final aesthetic look.
- Privacy: The dark color of the car window glass provides privacy to you while you are in your car on the road. It also helps in hiding your important belongings from prying eyes.
Despite the claim that is made that car window tinting reduces UV radiation and heat, it has been found by the Cancer Council of Australia that the ordinary car window glass already prevents around 97% of UVB (short-wave ultraviolet light) and more than 30% of UVA (long-wave ultraviolet light) from penetrating the glass of car windows, whereas laminated glass that is used in some side windows and in windscreens blocks 80% of UVA rays and all UVB from penetrating inside the car.
There are various tests that are conducted by the RACQ in the year 2009 found that the thin film that is applied while tinting car window slows down the uptake of heat inside the car via windows but the interior of the car will reach about the same temperature slowly and gradually. The cons of tinting car windows is that it slows down the loss of heat which means that car will take a longer amount of time to cool down. It was also found during the tests that tinting your car window will also reduce the visibility in low-light conditions which makes it harder for the driver to see the cyclists and pedestrians.
So it is very much important to consider all the potential advantages and disadvantages as mentioned above before you decide to tint your car window or not.
Cost of tinting car window
Tinting your car’s side windows and rear window professionally will generally cost you around between 300 dollars to 800 dollars and it depends on various factors. Oneflare, which is an online service marketplace has lower prices of between 200 dollars and 500 dollars or 70 dollars approximately for tinting a single window.
According to Oneflare, there are some important key factors that might influence the cost of tinting your car window. These factors include model, make and size of your car, type, and the brand of tint film you are choosing, for example, charcoal, classic black, or ceramic, it also includes your desired look and features for example fade or scratch-resistant, non-reflective. There will be variations of costs between different professionals, so you should check the cost of tinting from various different providers for comparing your options.
Time Taken for installing car window tinting
On average, a professional takes only a couple of hours for tinting four standard side windows and the rear window of a sedan. You can easily get an estimate of how much time it will take directly from the provider you choose.
Places from where you can get your car windows tinted
Usually, auto service shops, auto tinting companies, and motoring clubs provide car tinting services. It is suggested by WFAANZ that you should choose a professional installer who can provide a warranty on the applied film and the installation and is abide by all territory or state guidelines. The warranty on the applied film allows corrections or replacements to be made if the tint film peels, bubbles, cracks, fades, or comes off the car window after installation.
Laws regarding car window tinting
State and territory road and traffic authorities in California set and regulate the maximum darkness for factory and after-market car window tinting which is often referred to as the ‘darkest legal tint’. If you do not follow the car tinting rules set out by your territory or state authority then it will be illegal to drive your car on road. This will result in paying money for removing the tinting from your car window, your insurance policy or registration might be canceled, you can be fined heavily or face criminal charges if there was an accident and it is proved that tinted windows were the contributing factor of the accident.
The darkness of car window tint is measured using Visible Light Transmission (VLT) i.e. the amount of light that can pass through your car window. The applied film is darker if the VLT percentage is low.
Keep in mind that California tinting laws & regulations may be defined differently in your county or place of residency. We always suggest cross-checking our data with your local DMV or law enforcement officials.The law in California is Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 4 inches of the windshield.
Effect of car window tinting on car insurance
It will be illegal for you to drive your car on the road if the windows of your car are not tinted according to the laws in your territory or state. Your car insurance provider will not pay you a claim if it is found that you were driving a car and its windows were not tinted according to the laws in your territory or state.
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