Who doesn’t love tinted windows on a car? It has the ability to make any vehicle look cool and sleek, no matter what model it is. However, not all tint is created equal and there are various window tint levels.
Depending on your preference and where you live, the window tint percentage you choose will vary. If you’re unfamiliar with the different window tint shades and levels, check out the information below.
The Various Window Tint Percentages
When it comes to window tint levels, there are a variety of window tint percentages to choose from. Essentially, the percentages define how much visible light transmission comes through your windows. The lower the percentage, the dark of the tint. Here are the different percentages below:
Fifty Percent Tint
If you don’t want your tint to be too dark, then 50 percent tint is a good option. It only blocks half of the light that enters your vehicle, but it is also effective at blocking heat and UV sunrays.
It also aids in the reduction of sun glare and eye strain, making it safer to drive.
Thirty-Five Percent Tint
A car with a 35 percent tint will look darker and more obtrusive, but it’s still very visible. This tint is common among most car owners because it gives their vehicles a sleek appearance. Plus, this percentage usually falls within the legal window tint range.
Twenty Percent Tint
If you’re worried about your privacy, a 20 percent tint would suffice. However, it’s still possible to see through it from the outside if you get close enough…but it’s tough. Many of the peekers and potential criminals lurking around your vehicle would be deterred by this percentage.
The majority of vehicles with standard factory tint are within the 15-20% scale.
Five Percent Tint
A five-percent window tint is very black and opaque, and you can’t see through it at all. While several states consider this percentage to be illegal, it is widely used on the back windows of limousines.
Depending on your state’s laws, you may not be able to get tint this black. If you install it anyway, you may be subject to tickets and fines.
How to Calculate Visible Light Transmission
Although this can seem to be a straightforward task, there is one more factor to remember. The majority of cars do not have full transparent glass from the manufacturer. In reality, nearly all of them have a VLT of around 80%. As a result, you must account for this when measuring the amount of light that actually passes in.
For instance, if you were to add a 5% tint to glass that started with an 80% tint, you’d need to multiply the two (5 percent x 80% = 4%). This translates to a total VLT of 4% for the vehicle.
If all of this is daunting, don’t worry: most window tint experts estimate the percentage of tinted car windows simply by looking at them. This is the product of several years of training. But, you can find out for sure by having them test it using an instrument similar to the ones used by cops.
It’ll provide you with a highly reliable reading that you can trust.
The Benefits of Window Tint
Now that you know more about the various window tint levels, you may be wondering whether or not it’s wise to get it on your vehicle. Well, they’re actually many benefits to tinting windows. It’s not all about making your car look cool. Here are some reasons to tint your car windows below:
Regulate Your Vehicle’s Temperature
Sitting in a hot car during the summer months is grueling, especially in very hot areas like Arizona and Nevada. However, when you have window tint on your car, it significantly reduces the amount of heat that seeps inside.
As a result, it cools the temperature on the interior of it. You don’t have to worry about burning yourself on your seats or on the safety belt buckle!
Privacy
One of the main ways that criminals target the cars that they want to steal from is by looking on the inside first. They check around to see whether or not there are items on the seats or bags that may have valuables.
If you live or work in an area that’s high in crime, tinted windows are a good investment.
On the other hand, having privacy isn’t always about protecting yourself from thieves. You may also just want to reduce interaction with others while you’re driving.
Sometimes, sitting at red lights and in other public areas is a bit awkward. Thankfully, tinted windows can help you avoid that type of interaction.
Harder to Break the Windows
Speaking of protecting your car, when your vehicle has tint, it makes shattering the windows a lot harder. This is great in the event that a person tries to break in or when there’s harsh weather.
Standard windows are very sensitive to natural elements like rocks and hail. But tinted windows provide additional resistance to potential damage.
Understanding Window Tint Levels
As you can see, there are various window tint levels to choose from. However, you shouldn’t let the variety of options confuse you. Decide how dark you want your window film to be, then go and check the regulations for your state.
It might even be a good idea to call around to some of the body shops in your area to get more information. Since they are experts in the field, they’ll be able to let you know which percentage is legal in your state.
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