How to Blackout Car Windows: Legal Car Window Tinting

For car enthusiasts, blackout vehicles have always looked cool — in person or in action-packed movies! As people who enjoyed crisp looking cars, heavily tinted cars have always been a dream. So it’s not really surprising to hear or see them ask how much does it cost to blackout car windows. 

But frankly speaking, it’s not the cost of tinting a car that they have to really worry about. The question they should be asking is whether or not it’s actually legal to have such a tint job. Today, SmartFilm is here to discuss whether blackout tinting films are really legal and how do you achieve it. 

And to get us started, let’s talk about legal car window tinting!

Tint Darkness And The Law

Law enforcement uses a VLT percentage or Visible Light Transmission in assessing different types of tint. The lower the percentage is, the darker the window film is. Generally speaking, there are restrictions around the activity of tinting a vehicle and each state has different laws from one another. 

For example, the legal front-side window tint percentage in Arizona may differ to the ones Los Angeles have. Their limit for darkness on the rear-side window may also be distinct from one another. 

But ultimately, most laws only allow a maximum of 15% VLT for rear windows. Anything below that is considered illegal for several reasons. While having a blackout tint looks cool, it’s not entirely safe as it causes impaired vision and can obstruct rescue operations during accidents. 

Depending on your type of film, tints are generally used as a defense system against harmful UV rays that can damage both your vehicle and your heat. But at the same time, it can impair a driver’s vision during low light situations such as cloudy or snowy days. Driving around at night can also be difficult if you’re using really dark tints. 

As a rule, experts suggest that those in not really sunny parts of the country stick by tints similar to dyed film instead of opting for darker options like ceramic window tint. And aside from affecting your overall vision, it can worsen things during accidents. 

Rescuers and police rely on their ability to look into your vehicle during accidents. It should allow them to determine whether victims are suffering from head trauma or other major injuries. Unfortunately, dark tints can be a big inconvenience during emergencies. 

So if blacking out your windows is ultimately a no, how can you achieve your dream look?

SmartFilm’s Guide to Car Tinting

With the recent advancement in technology, there are now a wide variety of high quality tinting films available in tint shops and even tint kits! It’s all in the matter of doing your research for the perfect high performance tint. 

With this in mind, we’ve listed down some of the important factors you need to keep in mind. 

• What You Have in Mind

Think about your main goal and the other concerns you have. Since you want to achieve a black out look that goes by the law, you’ll definitely need a film that’s darker than most, like ceramic tints! 

But aside from this, you’ll also have to think about the concerns you want to solve like conserving energy and preserving your leather seats. This is because each of the different types of film available today is made specifically for one concern. There are tints made for reinforcing safety and security while there are those that are made for improving privacy!

Think about what you really want to achieve and start looking into films that fit your needs. 

• Local Laws

As we’ve mentioned earlier, restrictions in each state differ from one another. So before you make any purchase, make sure that you’re reading your local laws thoroughly. This factor is especially important for those who want to DIY the project.

Unlike when you take your vehicle to a tint shop, tint kits don’t often come with professionals that can guide you to the right tint percentages. But when you work with professionals like SmartFilm, they can ensure you that your tints abide by the law! 

• Budget

Lastly, you have to think about your budget. Three major factors affect the overall price of a tint job; the type of vehicle, the type of film and the type of installation. If you were to stick by tint kits, you’ll definitely spend less on upfront costs — but the same thing can’t be said in the long run. 

If you’re not skilled enough to tint your vehicle, you’re more likely to cause more damage. Hence, it’s best for beginners to simply have their tints professionally installed. Aside from the first benefit we’ve mentioned above, it also comes with customer service guarantees!

When a customer happens to be unhappy with their service, they won’t hesitate to help you out or redo your tint! Think about the amount of investment you want to put into your vehicle and look whether they’re really worth it or not.

A Great Addition

Aside from being able to make your car look cool like the ones you see in movies, window tinting comes with great benefits that makes driving much more enjoyable! It’s all in the matter of knowing how to do so. 

If you want more tips on finding the perfect tint for your car, SmartFilm has an entire guide for it!