The dog days of August have arrived and at CashCarBuyers we know that means tinted window season is here! What are tinted windows, you may ask? Tinted windows are comprised of a window film that can be affixed to the interior or exterior of glass surfaces. Tinted windows can also be used in boats and even some homes. In this article, we will breakdown the pros, cons, and the cost of traditional window tinting. Read on to discover more and don’t forget your tinted shades!
Six Pros of Getting Your Windows Tinted
There are many pros of getting your windows tinted in your car, boat, or even your home. We scoured the internet to find six reasons why tinting your windows may be the best automobile investment you’ve ever made!
1. Style, Style, Style
These days, our vehicles are an extension of ourselves and a way to express our personal sense of style and aesthetics. Tinting your windows is just one way to express this personal sense of style. Window tinting creates a sleek and sophisticated look with the darkened windows. What is great about tinted windows is the variety of styles available. From heavy tinted to light tinting you are sure to find a window tinting that fits your style and aesthetic. Similar to the bat-mobile window tinting creates an aesthetic of mystery, intrigue, and allure for you and your passengers to enjoy day or night.
2. Safety For All Your Belongings
Do you keep valuables in your vehicles like an iPod, GPS, or a pair of cute driving glasses? Tinting your windows is one way to keep all of these items safe and secure. Having tinted windows creates a “blacked out” look where you can see the outside but anyone looking inwards can’t see a single thing. Consider tinting your windows to provide the ultimate safety package to keep you and your passenger’s valuables. Keep these personal items secure from thieves or anyone who may be intrigued by an easy pay-day by adding some tinted windows to your car.
3. Comprehensive Protection From the Sun
Like the dog days of summer, the sun will always shine day in and day out. Though the sun is a wonderful addition to any road trip or just a smiling companion on your way to work the sun can cause dangerous health issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the worst hours to encounter harmful UV ways are from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm every day. UV rays are particularly dangerous because exposure to UV rays can cause premature aging of the skin and signs of sun damage such as wrinkles, leathery skin, and solar elastosis. Also, UV rays can also cause eye problems. Tinting your windows is a great way to protect you and your friends from the harmful rays of the sun from two different angles. The first-way tinting your windows adds protection is by reducing heat. When the sun beats down on your vehicle and windows it can cause your entire car to heat up potentially heating up metal seatbelt buckles and more. Window tinting adds a physical barrier from your vehicle and the sun by adding these layers of glass. The second way window tinting can help you reduce the harmful rays of the sun is through added layers. As we spoke about previously, the tinted windows create another added physical layer of protection from harmful UV rays.
4. Extra Privacy For All
Getting your windows tinted is a fantastic way to create privacy for you and your passengers. As we discussed earlier, the tinted windows create a darkened aesthetic. These darkened windows allow for blocking your personal space from nosey individuals. If you need to take a quick cat nap or just want to block out the outside world tinting your windows might be a great way to achieve some peace of mind. Lastly, since there are so many varieties of tinted windows you can choose a thickness and material that creates the perfect balance of style and privacy.
5. Interior Comfort All Year Round
Window tinting can be a great way to create interior comfort for you and your passengers. Due to the thickness of the tinted windows, the interior of your vehicle will be cooler more often than without tinted windows. Spring, summer, fall, you name it tinted windows will create a more inviting interior atmosphere for you to comfortably drive-in. Forget sweating in the summer or freezing in the winter due to the fact that tinted windows create a perfectly balanced neutral driving experience. Of course, it does depend on how thick you get your windows tinted. For a complete oasis away from the blazing temperatures you may want to invest in the thickest style possible. However, if you are someone who just wants a little bit of relief from the elements a lighter tint might be the best way to go for you.
6. The Versatility of Window Tinting
Versatility is key and window tinting is no exception. Window tints come in all shapes, sizes, and thicknesses. A family driving in a vehicle could find this incredibly helpful. Maybe you have a child with weak eyes but another child with perfectly healthy eye-sight? With window tinting, you can have one child sit in the thickened tinted window, and the other sits in the less window tinted area of the vehicle. Problem solved! Tinting your windows creates flexibility of travel for those with aversions to the sun or other health issues related to the outside elements. Be sure to explain the entire context of your desire for tinting your windows when you speak to a window tinting professional.
Cons of Tinting Your Windows
As with all things in life, there are some cons to adding a tint to your vehicle’s windows. Tinting your windows can be a fantastic way to add aesthetic and sun protection but there may be some items you want to double-check before dropping the big bucks on window tinting.
1. Window Tinting Could Be Illegal
Unfortunately, various degrees of window tinting could be illegal depending on where you call home. One of the other factors to keep in mind is each state has incredibly different laws. Here are three examples. According to the Digest of Motor Laws produced by AAA in Alabama, “Tinting of front windshield glass to reduce light transmission is not permitted, except for the upper 6 inches of the windshield. For side windows or rear windshield, glass tinting that reduces light transmission to less than 32% or increases light reflectance to more than 20% is not permitted. For SUVs, vans, and trucks, the limit is 32% for the driver’s window and the front passenger window only.” To contrast the state of Alabama, here is the state of Colorado’s take on the window tinting situation. “The windshield shall allow no less than 70% light transmission. The windows to the side of the driver may be tinted to allow a minimum of 27% light transmittance. The windows to the rear of the driver, including the rear window, may be tinted less than 27% if the front side windows and the windshield shall allow 70% light transmittance.” As you can see from these two examples it heavily depends on what state you live in which will dictate how and where you can tint the windows on your ride. We at CashCarBuyers recommend checking the laws in your state before purchasing your window tinting project.
2. Reduced Outward Visibility
This factor is, unfortunately, a double-edged sword. If you want complete privacy with the thickest window tinting on the market you may potentially be giving up some outward visibility while driving your vehicle. According to Elite Window Tinting, “Exceptionally dark or thick tints have been shown to hinder a driver’s scope of vision– especially on snowy, cloudy, or rainy days. Any low light environment could pose a potential issue with visibility if your tint is too dark. It’s difficult to determine exactly how much visibility you’ll lose if you decide to tint your windows; with so many factors at play, the same tint on the same car could have different levels of impact on visibility for different people. The tinting product, color, and darkness that you select will all play into visibility levels.” So, in a nutshell, make sure to seek out a professional and ask for samples of the window tinting so you can really see how well you can view through the various thicknesses.
Tinting Your Windows: The Wrap Up
So, here we are folks! We scoured the internet to bring you the nitty-gritty on window tinting. There are various pros and cons that may make you leap for joy or cower in fear. Some of the pros for window tinting are sun-protection, excellent style, and improves vehicle privacy. Unfortunately, like with most vehicle modifications, there are some cons that need some investigation. In our discovery, the two main cons that jumped out the most were one, window tinting can be illegal and you could experience limited outwards visibility. One resource you may mind helpful to research your resident state is the Digest of Motor Laws produced by AAA. This is an excellent document that clearly explains what each state deems as illegal in terms of window tinting thickness. We highly recommend checking this resource before receiving window tinting treatment. The next con was potentially limited visibility. As with adding anything on your vehicle windows, you could have some trouble seeing through the thickened glass. We at CashCarBuyers recommend having a trial run. With most automotive shops you can ask them to affix a “trial window” in which you can test out the optimal visibility for you and your passengers. So, do you want to tint your windows? If you have further questions or you have a car you want to sell or trade-in trust the experts at CarCashBuyers! Contact us today to tell us about your window tinting experience and let’s work together on your next automobile experience! Happy vehicle hunting!