Car Tint Shades: How to Choose the Best Tint Percentage

There are different car tint shades that you can choose from. Click here to learn how to choose the best tint percentage here.

There's a good reason why the car tint shades business is worth an estimated $3.88 billion. These add-ons to your vehicle not only improve the appearance but also offer a layer of functionality in terms of privacy and protection.

However, when it comes to choosing car window tint shades, there seems to be one decision that causes people a lot of stress: tint percentage. If you fall into this category, we don't blame you.

Not only can tint percentages be difficult to understand, but there are laws in most states that restrict how dark you can have them. That's why we made this guide for you.

In it, we'll break down everything you need to know about this topic so you can select the best window tint percentage for your specific needs.

Know the Car Tint Percentage Options

Before you select a tint percentage, you first need to know how they work. There are a wide variety of tint percentage options that range between 5% to 95%.

These percentage levels describe the amount of VLT (also known as visible light transmission) that comes through the window. Many people make the mistake of thinking that higher window tint percentages lead to darker shades. However, it's the opposite of this.

Most people tend to choose 50% tint levels. It's a good compromise between the extremes of both ends. However, if you want privacy, you might want to choose a lower percentage between 20% to 35%.

This will ensure that no one can see inside your vehicle while you're inside. We don't recommend 5% tints. For one thing, they can limit your visibility while driving. On top of that, as we'll see in the next section, these percentages are illegal in most states.

Consider the Laws in the State You Live

As we mentioned before, certain tint percentages are illegal in some states. Why? For one thing, they can reduce driver visibility. This in turn, leads to more accidents.

What's more, some states associate low black-out tint levels with crime since it hides the driver's identity. That's why it's important to research the tint percentage laws in the state you reside.

For example, here in Florida, the front windows can't be lower than 28%, and the back windows have a 15% limit.

If you fail to consider tint percentage laws, there's a high chance you'll be pulled over by the police. Then, not only will you have to pay to remove the window tint, but you'll also be fined by the officer.

Think About Your Vehicle

Certain black window tints look great with all vehicles. However, this isn't always the case. Some colored and metalized tints might match the appearance of your car. Some make sure you factor this in when choosing both a tint percentage and film material.

Know Why You Want the Tint

There are a lot of different reasons to consider getting a window tint. One of the common ones is to protect against UV rays. In case you didn't know, ultraviolet light can cause skin cancer over prolonged periods.

So if you're in your car a lot, then window tints can block UV rays from reaching you. Other people get window tints to reduce the glare from sunlight while they're driving.

If you live in a bright, sunny climate (like Florida), this can be essential for safe driving. Another common reason is privacy. Darker tint percentages conceal both your identity and anything in your car.

In many cases, this can protect your belongings from potential thieves. The last reason people get tints is to improve the overall appearance of their vehicle.

It's important to keep these things in mind because the reason you're getting a tint will help dictate the best type of film for your needs. Describe the reason you want a window tint to a provider, and they can help you find a product that best fits your specific needs.

Go With High-Quality Film

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what type of film tint percentage you want. If you go with low-quality film, none of it will matter. Low-quality tints are rarely effective at preventing light from entering a vehicle.

What's more, they degrade and peel quickly. So, instead of going with the cheapest option, consider investing in high-quality film material. There are a variety of great options out there, from metalized to carbon-tinted.

If you want to learn more about the different types of film tints, you can check out this resource here.

Once you find one in your life, ask a professional for a brand they'd recommend. Here at Velocity, we only use LLumar Premium Films, which is the industry standard for window tints.

Find a Great Window Tinting Service

Not all window tinting services are created equally. Some feature inexperienced workers who do uneven or shoddy tint work. So how do you find a qualified professional? Reviews are a good place to start.

This will give you a good idea of the average customer's experience. However, I should also look for experience. The more time they've been operating, the more knowledge they have about applying the perfect window tint.

Ideally, the supplier will also offer a warranty on all the tints they provide. This is an indication that they stand by the integrity of their product.

They should also adhere to any state laws that are in place. Make sure to check out this resource to learn the ten characteristics of a great car window tinting service.