How much are people paying to tint their windows?

[joe215]

I just received a quote from Alta Mere in Dallas for $389+tax (8.25). They said, due to the TPMS and the antenna in the rear window, I need ceramic film.

Seems damned expensive to me.

 

[Gimli]

I paid $300 for 5 windows, including taxes (about 13% up here).

 

[3587]

I paid $199 for 20% tint from www.ziebart.com. They were well aware of the antenna.

 

[MADDMOE]

Look at my pics i paid $100 for the whole car

 

[Calvin]

$160.50 includes 7% tax. See below for tint type and amount.

 

[DanTheMan]

Last year, I paid $325 for the entire car, including the sunroof. I used LLumar Axcess Ceramic tint @ 35%, the legal limit in Tennessee where I live. I've used this company for the last several cars I've owned, and they've done an incredible job with each one. Price includes a lifetime warranty. I don't really know if the warranty is any good (although I'm sure it is...they've been around a while)...I've never had any problems! They're great guys that do great work!

In my opinion, 'if it ain't broke, then don't fix it'!!

Dan :>)

PS: When I drove up, all of the staff (about ten people) stopped their work and stood in awe of the car wanting to know what it was....I just love it when that happens! :>)

 

[CRUBOS]

Aloha,
I paid $150.00 for Llumar ceramic tint (5 windows)

Fred

 

[muisui]

I just received a quote from Alta Mere in Dallas for $389+tax (8.25). They said, due to the TPMS and the antenna in the rear window, I need ceramic film.

Seems damned expensive to me.

Well you are not really need ceramic film... but if you can afford, it is really nice to have. I paid mine 335xi here in Columbus Ohio for 199 Regular llumar film. Works well with keyless go, V1 and GPS.

 

[BaywayRic]

20% LLumar all around. $119.95 + 7% tax
60 minute install, all computer cut

 

[darammer]

I paid 160 for all 5 windows... used 3m metallic on 4 windows and non metallic on the rear. works just fine and I listen to am all the time w/ no problem.

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[Mark_888]

After doing a lot of research in preparation of tinting my Genesis, here is what I have found out (corrections and/or additions are welcome):

The cost of a tint job is obviously materials and labor, and depends largely on the type and amount of film product used, and complexity/access of the windows on a specific vehicle. The geographic location and time of year can also affect the price (you usually can get the best deals during winter).

The most basic type of films are made from dyes. Dyes have a tendency to fade or change color over time, although recent advances have minimized that in some of the premium dyed products. They make the windows darker and reduce glare, but they don’t reflect a lot of heat.

Metallic films have been around for a fairly long time and they do a very good job of reflecting heat. Metallic films usually have a slight-to-moderate mirror look to them since they also reflect light. Sometimes the metal in these films can cause problems with the radio, cell phones, smart keys, GPS, etc. Obviously it will not cause a problem with an externally mounted antennae.

Some films are a combination of dyes and metal.

Ceramic or sputtered films are the newest innovation and tend to act like metallic films in that they reflect heat and UV very well without having to be extremely dark. Ceramic films supposedly do not contain metal that can affect electronic equipment; however, some ceramic films may have small amounts of metal in them or as an added layer.

For a particular brand and type of film, it usually is offered in various shades of visible light transmittance. For example, a company may offer a ceramic film in 20, 30, and 50 models, which means they transmit about 20%, 35%, or 50% of visible light respectively. However a 35% ceramic film will reflect much more heat than a 35% dyed film.

The ceramics are the most expensive, with Huper Optik Ceramic probably the most expensive tint job you can buy (about $400 - $450 for 5 windows on a Genesis depending on location and time of year). Huper Optik is generally considered to be one of the most advanced tinting film available (excellent heat and UV protection without blocking much visible light), but it is somewhat thicker and harder to put on correctly than most other materials, especially if there are any curves in the windows (which can cause some undesirable visual effects in certain kinds of lighting if not done correctly). The Huper Optik ceramic is also very durable and is most frequently used for plate glass windows on commercial buildings. There are relatively few Huper Optik authorized automobile installers. Some people claim that the Huper Optik ceramic film has an additional thin layer of some kind of metallic substance, but people are divided on whether it causes any electrical interference.
http://www.huperoptikusa.com/products_ceramic.cfm

The next best ceramic in terms of heat reflection is usually considered to be FormulaOne Pinnacle. Also relatively few authorized installers, and costs around $350 - $400 for a 5 window job on most sedans. FormulaOne also sells a number of other dyed and metallic tint products (like everyone else). FormualOne is owned by CPFilms, a division of Solutia Corporation and is considered to be their premium line of products. As far as I can tell, Pinnacle Ceramic has no metal in it at all and may be the safest film in terms of non-interference of electrical equipment (aside from plain dyed films).
http://www.formulaone.com/

Llumar Films (also owned by CPFilms) has a product that they called "sputtered" which is a name that some people use for ceramic, but they don't seem to use the word ceramic on their website and I don't know if it is the same as FormulaOne Pinnacle. Llumar has a full line of films including many other dyed and metallic tint materials.
http://www.llumar.com/

There are several other major film companies including Solamatrix (SUN-GARD), Solar Guard, 3M, and others.

In addition to auto tinting, all of these companies do a significant business in providing tinting for commercial building windows and residential windows, where sunlight, radiant heat, and UV damage can be major problems.

Tint films are rated according to many specifications, such as light transmittance, heat reflectance, UV blocking, etc. The most talked-about spec is the visible light transmission (VLT) since that is what is regulated by the states in terms of how dark you can tint your windows (the regulations typically vary by window and most states do not allow any tint on the front windshield). Southern states tend to allow tints that are darker and have less VLT. The main concern is that police officers approaching a vehicle want to be able to see inside, and there is some concern to make sure drivers can see outside at night.

Here is a chart of the laws by state, but I don’t now how up to date this site is:
http://www.iwfa.com/iwfa/Law_Chart/State Law Chart 7-19-07.pdf

One problem is that if you move or even travel to another state by car, you could be governed by their laws.

 

[Tufast]

Mark, thanks for the info man, I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to tinting & this is a world of help. All I know is that Llumar is good & there's one place in town that does the best work. But, now I can actually go in with a better idea of what I want. Thanks again.

 

[musher51]

Wow, nice summary, Mark. Let me know if you need a job. I could use a guy with your methodical approach to research.

DISCLOSURE: Mark sent me a PM yesterday about my tinting job since my tagline lists Pinnacle. My reply to his inquiry was limited, since I don't know squadoosh about tinting and relied upon an earlier thread to orient myself and then selected a local guy that happened to feature Pinnacle products.

 

[moose66]

$0! After having dealer installed tint on the Infiniti I traded, I decided to skip the tint this time. I failed inspection twice (tried to have the inspection done at a local shop and not the dealership) and received way too much attention from law enforcement. Maybe it was too dark. But when I asked, I was told it was legal. The tint may do some good and look good, but I'll just have to look at others in envy this time around.

 

[Mark_888]

$0! After having dealer installed tint on the Infiniti I traded, I decided to skip the tint this time. I failed inspection twice (tried to have the inspection done at a local shop and not the dealership) and received way too much attention from law enforcement. Maybe it was too dark. But when I asked, I was told it was legal. The tint may do some good and look good, but I'll just have to look at others in envy this time around.

NC has fairly lenient laws which allow a VLT of 35% on all 5 windows (all except windshield). You must have had a very dark tint installed. Some states only allow 50%, 70%, or even no tint at all on the driver and front passenger side window.

 

[moose66]

NC has fairly lenient laws which allow a VLT of 35% on all 5 windows (all except windshield). You must have had a very dark tint installed. Some states only allow 50%, 70%, or even no tint at all on the driver and front passenger side window.

I thought so as well. Growing up as a kid in VA, I used to see plenty of cars with NC registration with very dark tint. So I always assumed tint laws we pretty flexible in NC. The two times I failed inspection, I tried to tell the guys that the tint was installed at a dealership, which said it was legal.

Funny story related to the Infiniti tint. . . .my sister didn't know I had the car, she thought I was a drug dealer when I pulled up with the black car, chromed out, with dark tinted windows. Now I wonder what she will think I look like pulling up in the Genesis!

 

[Mark_888]

I thought so as well. Growing up as a kid in VA, I used to see plenty of cars with NC registration with very dark tint. So I always assumed tint laws we pretty flexible in NC. The two times I failed inspection, I tried to tell the guys that the tint was installed at a dealership, which said it was legal.

Funny story related to the Infiniti tint. . . .my sister didn't know I had the car, she thought I was a drug dealer when I pulled up with the black car, chromed out, with dark tinted windows. Now I wonder what she will think I look like pulling up in the Genesis!

35% is not particularly dark and would not be mistaken for pimpmobile or drug-dealer, so I assume you got something darker than that. What the dealer says or what the tinting place says is irrelevant.

If you want to get your car tinted with something that has 35% or more visible light transmittance (VLT) you will be OK in NC, but you could have a problem in VA if you go there much because their limit for the driver and front passenger side doors is 50% (which is so light that some people may think it is the regular built-in tint that comes with the car window).

If you do ever have a problem you can always remove or replace the tint on the front side windows only, since those are usually the windows with the most stringent VLT regulations.

 

[2California]

Pd. $210.00 for 5 windows in the Central Valley, Ca. Manufactor that supplies various tints for the shop where I had tint installed, was in office same time I was there, and had stated he had a new tint product not yet out on the market. The shop that installed the tint has been in business for over 30 yrs. The manufactor saw my Genesis outside and asked if I would like to try new tint. Came w/lifetime warrenty and asked if I would bring my car back to shop every 2 months to ck. the tint condition over time, sd sure. He sd cost of tint would be $690.00 once on the market-figured had nothing to loose since have lifetime warrenty and shop has been in business in same city for last 30 years. Looks great-believe the tint is 30% or 35% front windows and 40% on side and back window-did not want to tint sunroof. They would not give me contents of the tint--since not being advertised on the market yet. Supposely not even the tint shop has the details of the tint-who knows, but I get even more complients on my Gen. since chg. badges and added the tint. Still lovin my Gen. after 7 months later!!!

 

[Mark_888]

Pd. $210.00 for 5 windows in the Central Valley, Ca. Manufactor that supplies various tints for the shop where I had tint installed, was in office same time I was there, and had stated he had a new tint product not yet out on the market. The shop that installed the tint has been in business for over 30 yrs. The manufactor saw my Genesis outside and asked if I would like to try new tint. Came w/lifetime warrenty and asked if I would bring my car back to shop every 2 months to ck. the tint condition over time, sd sure. He sd cost of tint would be $690.00 once on the market-figured had nothing to loose since have lifetime warrenty and shop has been in business in same city for last 30 years. Looks great-believe the tint is 30% or 35% front windows and 40% on side and back window-did not want to tint sunroof. They would not give me contents of the tint--since not being advertised on the market yet. Supposely not even the tint shop has the details of the tint-who knows, but I get even more complients on my Gen. since chg. badges and added the tint. Still lovin my Gen. after 7 months later!!!

CA only allows a 70% or higher VLT tint (transmits 70% and blocks 30% of visible light) on the front side windows. But a high end product that blocks 30% of visible light might block 45-60% of heat and 99.9% of UV light).
http://www.iwfa.com/iwfa/Law_Chart/State Law Chart 7-19-07.pdf

I heard that Llumar is coming out with a high-VLT product (70% or higher) that may the one you got, that has excellent radiant heat rejection similar to the Huper Optik ceramic products. Sounds like you got a great bargain.

 

[ctrcbob]

I've had all my cars done for the last 15 years or so. Last one was done two years ago and cost me $120. Even the most expensive place in the county, which also does the very best job, charges $180.

I'm going to wait until the weather here in Central Florida warms up a bit before I get it done, however I may go next week and price out those two places to see what it costs today.