What are Window Tinting Prices & Benefits

As a vehicle owner, you want to invest in auto features that protect your car or truck and keep drivers and passengers safe. Window tinting is a popular option for people looking to overcome visibility obstacles and protect their vehicle interiors - but is it worth the price? Here is what you should expect in terms of auto window tint costs and advantages:

Cost

The price of proper window tinting performed by professionals will usually cost you a couple hundred dollars, depending on the service and materials. You need to keep a few things in mind when pricing tint options for your vehicle.

Window tinting prices may include the cost of removing glass to apply coating. 

Professional Work
You can apply window tinting yourself and save money initially. You will just have to pay for the film or other tint materials and attach it to your car's glass. The problem is, you may not have the skills necessary for total coverage. Without the help of professionals, you may also suffer from problems like film bubbling and peeling.

If you choose the most cost-effective tint screen material, a professional should be able to cover all applicable glass on your vehicle for about $150 - depending on size of the car or truck. You should be cautious when speaking with tinting services that say they can do it for much less, as you may receive subpar work.

Professional tinting experts can bring you up to speed with your state's tinting laws. If you live in the U.S., you may not be able to have your front auto glass tinted. Other restrictions may apply based on the region. A tinting service can tell you which windows may be tinted and how dark the film is legally allowed to be. Covering an individual window typically costs between $25 and $50.

Tint Type
The most cost-efficient - but effective - tint material you can find is film tinting. This option can be shaded to your preference, but is not as durable as other materials. If you go with ceramic or metal window films, they're better at reducing heat and won't discolor over time, according to Window Replacement Costs.

You can also pay extra to find film options in different colors. While basic black is the most popular, you might want to choose blue, red or yellow to match the aesthetic of your vehicle. Special material, shading or color options will cost you more money. A large vehicle with special tint materials could cost approximately $400.

Coating tint is another option. Instead of applying a film, you could have auto experts spray your window with a tint material. This is an expensive option because the technicians have to remove the glass to coat it.

Warranty Options
You'll want to find a service that stands by its work. When shopping for a window tinting service, you should check which warranties are available. Most auto glass shops will offer promises against bubbling, peeling and other material damage. Color-safe warranties can guarantee against tinting alterations.

Besides looking over contracts and shopping for warranties, you can go online to check the dependability of service options. Web reviews and social media posts should demonstrate if customers are happy with a particular service's longevity, pricing and benefits.

Benefits

By shopping around, you can find the best price for tinting your auto or residential glass. A proper service can also walk you through the proven benefits of the tint materials without exaggerating or making false claims. When installed correctly, the advantages of vehicle window tinting include:

Visibility
If you're dealing with vehicle windows, visibility should always be your primary concern. For this reason, the U.S. restricts tinting on the front windows of vehicles. Some states allow you to only tint the top part of your windshield to prevent glare from impairing your visibility. You may also want to apply tinting to side and back windows so you can easily use mirrors without glare.

The degree to which you get your windows tinted will be expressed as a percentage of light that gets through. A 50 percent tint film will only let half of outside light in. You need to find the grade that's legal in your state and does the best job of keeping light distractions out of your eyes.

UV Protection
Putting tinting film on a side vehicle window can protect more than a driver's eyes. Over half of skin cancer cases in the U.S. occur on the left side of the patients' bodies and researchers credit this trend to driver exposure to UV light, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Tinting the glass can decrease UV exposure by 99 percent. Covering all available windows with tinting film protects drivers and passengers from constant exposure.

If you happen to have a particular skin condition and must limit your exposure to sun, you may be able to tint your windows more than state regulations allow. You should check with your doctor and see if you can get better tinting coverage for your unique needs.

Cooling
Keeping direct sunlight out of your car or truck also protects your vehicle's interior. Window tinting prevents upholstery from fading, not just by restricting UV penetration but by preventing interior heating. Keep in mind, tinting will not completely stop fading and cracking from occurring over time, but it can drastically slow the process down. If an auto service says it offers 100 percent interior protection through tinting, it's probably being less than honest.

Decreasing the heat in your car can also help you save energy. If tinting keeps the interior cool, you won't have to run the air conditioning as much. Additionally, it may result in a much more pleasant driving experience.

This feature also works on residential buildings, so it may be worth checking to see if window tinting can save you money on your home cooling costs.

Privacy
Tinting is usually much darker from the outside than the inside, and that's by design. Many people put tinting on their windows to protect their privacy. You don't know where you'll be driving your vehicle and it may be wise to discourage people from peeking inside your property. This might be an especially beneficial feature if you have a habit of leaving smartphones or other expensive items in your vehicle.

Shatter-Proofing
Putting a film on your glass can also have great benefits if you get in an accident. Tinting materials can prevent your windows from shattering, thus protecting you and your passengers from shards of glass.

It's important to point out that thin tinting won't stop your window from breaking, but it can help hold it together. Some dishonest services will claim tinting film or spray will protect windshields from bullets or other fast-moving debris. These claims are usually made with misleading statistics and you should avoid services that market tinting as protection from anything other than light.

If you're in the market for window tinting because you seek particular features, you should look online for consumer posts and reviews to see which local service best meets your requirements.