How to Choose the Best Window Tint for Your Car

It is essential to choose a car window tint that works best for your wants and needs. This is how to choose the best tint for your vehicle.

If you’re like most Americans, you’re spending hours behind the wheel. Across the entire year, the average driver will travel over 11,000 miles!

In other words, enhancing your ride is well worth the effort, considering the amount of time you’ll spend inside it.

Most drivers turn to window tints for a range of reasons, such as finding a unique look or wanting to protect their health. However, sifting through the different types of tint and juggling multiple preferences isn't always easy.

If you’re struggling to find the right tint for your ride, we’ve got you covered. Here are the biggest factors to consider as you make the decision.

Get to Know the Different Types of Window Tint

Though it’s often hard to tell at a glance, the car window tints you see on the street might be made of very different materials. Despite their similar appearances, each material offers a few key benefits worth knowing:

Metallic Film

You can often tell a window tint is metallic by the faint reflective shine on the outside. Also called “metalized,” this option is heat-resistant and offers excellent UV ray blocking. However, it can affect the quality of your phone signal.

Dyed Film

These cost-effective films use a layer of dye to shade your windows. With great heat protection, they offer a dark look and even come in multiple colors. However, these dyes will fade over the years with frequent sun exposure.

Carbon Film

Long-lasting and durable, carbon film offers all the benefits of metallic film without affecting cell phone signals. The matte black look of these films offer a luxury look, but they can be more costly than other options on this list.

Ceramic Film

The highest-quality window film available, ceramic film is shatter-proof, meaning that it offers added protection for you and your passengers. It’s also nonconductive, so it won’t affect phone signals, and it isn’t prone to fading like other tints.

Know Your State’s Window Tinting Laws

If you’ll be driving your car here in the state of Florida, you’ll need to get familiar with the legal tint limits. The rules for your front side, back side, and rear windows depend on whether you’re driving a sedan or an SUV or van. In general, the limitation will hover around 15-35%.

Note that the law does not permit drivers to darken their front windshields. However, you can use a non-reflective tint above the AS-1 line. This is the upper section of your windshield as designated by your manufacturer.

It’s also important to remember that your ride needs to follow the law in all states where you’ll be driving. If your work takes you up to Georgia or Alabama, or if you enjoy cross-country road trips, it’s a safe bet to opt for the lightest tint requirements in the areas where you’ll be driving.

Consider Your Preferences to Find the Right Tint Percentage

While the state laws can give you a good idea of your tint percentage limits, you’ll also want to consider a few personal preferences as you weigh your options:

Your Car’s Appearance

If you’re hoping to boost your ride’s aesthetic, the classic look of dark windows may be the way to go, as the right window tints can give your ride a luxury look. Darker tints may also be ideal if you want to protect your car’s upholstery, whether you own a vintage ride or you want to safeguard a new leather interior.

Your Privacy and Security Concerns

Want to keep passing cars and pedestrians from seeing the inside of your ride? If you’re hoping to enhance your privacy, opting for the darkest tint you feel comfortable with can make it difficult for others to catch a glimpse of your car interior.

Even better, these tints can also enhance your car’s security. Would-be thieves are less likely to break into a car if they can’t see what’s inside of it at a glance. Any drivers who opt for on-street parking on a regular basis might want to choose a darker auto window tint.

Your Health Needs

Because quality films can block up to 99% of all UV rays, window tinting can help protect your health and the health of your passengers.

In other words, if you have concerns about your skin or eyesight, opting for a dark tint might be a wise choice. In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends it! However, it’s worth remembering that even translucent films can offer a great deal of protection.

If you have certain health conditions, you may even be able to get a medical exemption that overrides the current tint percentage laws. This is true for conditions like albinism and dermatomyositis. You’ll need to apply for a sunscreening medical exemption and have your doctor certify it.

Ask Your Installer for Advice

Does choosing still feel like a challenge? If you’re still deciding between a few different options, be sure to talk to your installer for advice.

One of the benefits of working with a window tinting company—in addition to a guaranteed high-quality installation—is that it gives you the opportunity to benefit from their expertise. Your installer can help you ensure that your choices fall in line with all state laws while guiding you to the tint that best matches your ride and lifestyle.

Let Us Help You Find the Right Tint

Worried about choosing the right tint? While the tips above can help you narrow down your options, our professional team can ensure that you find the right film for your ride.

We have a wealth of experience offering expert window tinting service to drivers throughout the Gainesville area and beyond, and we’re happy to work with you! Contact us today with questions Custom Glass Tinting, or reach out for a free estimate.