How To Install Auto Tint

Every editorial product is independently selected, though nosotros may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you purchase something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.

Window tinting keeps your motorcar cooler, protects interior surfaces and offers privacy. Salve money past learning how to tint motorcar windows yourself.

Tinting your vehicle's windows adds style, reduces lord's day glare and keeps interiors cooler. It blocks up to 99 percent of ultraviolet radiation (UV) rays and filters 90 percent of the sun'south infrared radiations (IR). This helps protect interior surfaces from damaging sunlight and allows your air conditioner to operate more efficiently.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends reducing exposure to UV rays every bit an effective defense against UV radiation, a leading cause of skin cancer. Read on to learn how to install window tint film yourself, saving you hundreds of dollars.

What Is Auto Window Tinting?

Window tinting is a plastic picture applied to your vehicle's windows that darken the glass. This helps reduce Visible Light Transference (VLT), the amount of visible lite (VL) passing through drinking glass. Tints are rated past their VLT. The college the VLT percentage/number, the more VL it lets in.

Virtually every vehicle sold in the United States comes standard with tinted glass. To stay within your state's legal limits, information technology'due south important you recoup for factory VLT earlier adding aftermarket window tint. Know your land's laws earlier choosing the VLT percentage.

What Are the Different Types of Window Tints?

At that place are several types, each with specific features, characteristics and properties.

Dyed: Mostly used for appearance and privacy.
Metalized: Embedded with metallic particles that reverberate heat and UV radiation.
Hybrid: Combines the best characteristics of dyed and metalized tints.
Carbon: Micro layers of polymer and carbon reduce UV and IR.
Ceramic: Highest quality and virtually technologically advanced tint available.

You can buy window tint pre-cutting for your vehicle, or on a curlicue that you lot cut to fit.

Things To Consider When Choosing Window Tint

Think about your motivation, safety and to a higher place all your country's tint laws before choosing the blazon and VLT percentage.

Windows that are too dark can bear upon your visibility while driving, especially at dark.
Blocking UV rays and IR lite extends the life of seats, carpets, nuance pad and trim.
Cooler interiors reduce air conditioning usage, increasing fuel economic system.
Tinted windows can add appeal and enhance the advent to your ride.
Tinted windows add privacy.

How To Tint Car Windows

Man installing window tinting on car. Bill Oxford/Getty Images

Install window tint in a clean, dry out, shaded, dust-free area — working in a garage is best. Be patient and don't rush. Carefully follow all steps to practise the chore properly. Information technology may have 30 minutes or longer to correctly install window film on each side window.

Use soapy water to go on your fingers wet. Don't crease the moving-picture show while installing. An extra set up of hands is helpful.

Tools/Materials

Make sure you have everything you demand earlier beginning the installation. Consider purchasing an inexpensive installation kit that includes several of the items listed below:

Window film;
Large spray canteen full of soapy water — you'll demand at to the lowest degree a gallon, so premix two tablespoons of dish detergent with a gallon of warm h2o;
Razor blade scraper and blades;
Microfiber towels;
Tint duster or applicator;
Silicone squeegee;
Precision knife with replacement blades;
Vacuum cleaner;
Heat gun.

Prepare the Windows

NEVER use a commercial glass cleaner, or i with ammonia. They tin can alter the colour of the tint.

Vacuum the interior to remove dust and dirt. Thoroughly wash the inside and outside of the windows with the soapy water. Lower the window to clean the top of the glass, then raise the window to the closed position. Wet the window again. Use the razor scraper to remove any remaining dirt, crud or sticker residue.

Thoroughly clean effectually the window trim, seals, gaskets and whatsoever nooks and crannies that could exist hiding clay or crud. Completely dry out the glass with the duster and dry microfiber cloths. Wrap a cloth around your squeegee to dry under the window trim and seals.

Size the Tint Film

It's important to determine which side of the film has the agglutinative. Do not remove the adhesive liner. In this step you're not installing the tint, you're using the outside of the glass as a template. Starting at the rider front-side window:

Saturate the outside drinking glass with soapy water.
Unroll the tint.
With the adhesive side facing you, leaving plenty of overhang, completely cover the entire outside of the window.
Cut this piece from the curl.
Gently press the tint onto the glass to temporarily keep it in place.
Trim the film into a manageable size, almost a square, leaving 2 to iii inches overlapping the glass.
Wet the picture show and shine it with the tint squeegee.
Hold the film in place with the squeegee or your hand.
Using the window seals as your guide, cut forth the bottom (front to back), then along the dorsum of the glass with the precision pocketknife.
- Pro tip: Cut at a low bending using only enough pressure on the bract to cut the film.
Pull the movie straight back until information technology's overlapping the back of the window (the edge you lot just trimmed) by i/2-inch.
Trim the front direct side of the film (the department by the sideview mirror).
Center the film, at that place should exist 1/four-in. of extra picture show at the front and back of the glass.
Pull downwards on the motion picture until it's one inch lower than the lesser of the drinking glass.
Wet the lesser of the flick and gently lift the film away from the bottom of the glass/trunk.
Lower the window 1 inch.
Moisture the glass and smoothen out the film with the tint squeegee.
Cut the elevation edge of the moving picture using the glass as your guide.
Leaving the ane inch overhang at the bottom of the glass, carefully cut away any extra film at the forepart or rear of the drinking glass.
Shine out the corners or any wrinkles.

Apply the Tint Film

Thoroughly wash and completely dry the within of the window and all window trim and seals again. Dust or dirt left behind will cause the film to bubble.
Spray the within of the drinking glass with plenty of soapy water.
Remove the agglutinative bankroll earlier removing the flick from the outside window.
- Pro tip: Spraying the agglutinative with soapy water allows the motion picture to slide into position more easily.
With the window lowered one inch, carefully peel the moving picture from the outside glass.
Apply the moisture adhesive side against the inside glass.
- Pro tip: Before applying the film, curlicue upwards the bottom edge to keep the adhesive from picking up whatsoever dirt.
Spray the film and slide into position.
Heart the film and leave information technology about one/16-in. of space below the top of the window.
Working toward the sides and top, use the tint squeegee to push out water and air bubbles.
Raise the window.
Spray the bottom of the picture show and glass.
Again, utilize the tint squeegee to push out all the water and air bubbles from under the pic.
Using the squeegee or applicator, carefully tuck exposed edges of the film under the window seals.
To prevent tearing, go on spraying the movie as yous piece of work out air bubbles.
- Pro tip: A heat gun tin can help remove air bubbles, backlog h2o and stretch the film to properly fit curved windows. Don't become too shut or continue the heat gun on i section also long. Too much rut tin impairment the picture show.
Once finished, dry the moving picture with a lint-free microfiber cloth