Are you planning to tint the windows on your car and you are asking yourself do window tints go on the inside or outside? Well, if that is the case, then you are at the right place because there will be quite a lot to cover on this topic and we are going to learn everything you need to know when it comes to window tinting.
- Window Tint?
- Why So Popular?
- Tint Types
- Pros & Cons
- Is It Legal?
- Inside Or Outside?
- How To Tint?
- Conclusion
- F.A.Q
Doing the proper research before you install window tints should be your top priority. Well, just imagine that you apply the window tints where you shouldn’t. This can be a disaster and you will have wasted a lot of money.
Not to mention that applying tint can be rather time-consuming. Especially for beginners who are not experienced in applying these types of mods on their car. And in the end, if you are not careful and watch out for where you glue this tint, you will not only lose money but also time. But you shouldn’t worry because we are going to try to give our best to help you out.
First, we are going to learn what is window tint, and then we will take a look at why tinting is so popular. We will also cover the types of tint used on cars as well as the pros and cons of tinting windows. Later on, we will discuss and learn do window tints go on the inside or outside. We will also learn how to apply them in the right manner. And you definitely don’t want to miss that. So, if you want to learn more, follow along.
What Is Window Tint
Now before we dive into how a window tint is applied and do window tints go on the inside or outside, let’s first take a look at what is window tint in general. I bet that there are a ton of people reading this article who want want to learn more about the basics when it comes to window tints and has problems figuring things out. So, this would be a nice introduction for them.
So, what is window tint? Well, window tint in simple terms is a tint that is applied to the glass of your car to darken out the inside of the vehicle.
In other words, to prevent the sunshine and harmful UV rays to protrude and enter the inside of the vehicle.
So, we can see that tinting the windows will make your car a lot more pleasant place to be and you will be able to drive in comfort.
And not only that, but window tint will also help your car’s interior. UV rays are not only damaging to you but also to the car’s interior.
Especially if you leave your car outside in the hot sun to bake all day. Vinyl and leather will slowly start to crack while cloth seat interiors will start to age rapidly because they got baked in the sun all day long.
One day of baking will not do too much damage. But if you do this in the long run, the consequences will be rather serious if you don’t have window tint on your windows. But do window tints go on the inside or outside? Well, more on that we will cover in a bit. Now let’s take a look at why window tinting is so popular.
Why Window Tinting Is So Popular
Another topic that we would like to discuss before we learn do window tints go on the inside or outside is their popularity. Why window tinting is so popular nowadays?
Well, this is an interesting topic that there is a lot to cover. Their popularity is often connected with the use of window tint by the authorities.
You probably are aware that the authorities want to tint the windows of police cars. And doing this people see it as something really cool let’s say.
In addition to this, window tint completes the look of the car. A good window tint can make mediocre cars look really amazing. So, if you have a vehicle that is lacking muscle under the hood, tinting the windows will somewhat compensate with added cool factor.
But jokes aside, if you go overboard, you could end up in trouble with the law. There are laws about what you can tint and how much you can tint.
So, you need to learn more about the laws in your state and learn how window tints are treated by the law.
You can get fined, as tinted windows often are a big red alert for policemen. And especially if your car is tinted too dark, you could be a trigger for a lot of highway patrols. Remember that.
So, make sure that you learn the laws before you learn do tints go on the inside or outside. And learn what type of percentage is allowed and what places are allowed to tint. For example, some states prohibit tinting the front windshield. But more on that, later on, let’s now cover the types of window tint that you can install on your vehicle.
Types Of Window Tint
Now let’s cover briefly the types of window tint. We need that this is a crucial thing to do before you decide to purchase window tints and learn do window tints go on the inside or outside. Why is this the case?
Well, the type of tint basically determines the quality of the protection that you will get inside of the car from UV rays. Not to mention the longevity of the window tint. You want it to last, right? If this is the case, pay close attention because there will be a lot to cover.
Do Window Tints Go On The Inside Or Outside, Tinting Types #1: Dyed Window Tint
The first type of window tint that we are going to cover before we learn do window tints go on the inside or outside is the dyed window tint. So, what is dyed window tint?
Well, this is probably the cheapest and most affordable type of tint. It blocks the sun to enter the cabin through a couple of layers or dye that are infused in the tint.
But it doesn’t work very well when it comes to blocking harmful UV rays. And also, it loves to peel off and make your car look horrendous. So, if you don’t have a limited budget, we would not recommend this type of tint. Now let’s move to the next type.
Do Window Tints Go On The Inside Or Outside, Tinting Types #2: Metalized Window Tint
The second type of tint that we are going to cover before we dive into the topic of do window tints go on the inside or outside is the metalized window tint. So, what is this type of tint?
Well, as the name implies, this type of tint uses metalized materials. There are microscopic pieces of metal inside the tint and these particles are blocking the sunlight.
What is characteristic about this tint is that it offers a beautiful rich shine and also increases the strength of the window.
What this tint does well is that it blocks UV rays and also blocks heat really well. Let’s now move to the next type of tint before we dive into the topic of do window tints go on the inside or outside.
Do Window Tints Go On The Inside Or Outside, Tinting Types #3: Hybrid Window Tint
The next type of tint that we are going to cover before we dive into do window tints go on the inside or outside is the hybrid tint. So, what is a hybrid tint?
Well, a hybrid tint is a combination of the previous types of tint that we mentioned. It combines dye tint with a metallic tint to deliver the best result.
And this type of tint works really well when it comes to blocking UV rays, as well as blocking the sunlight inside of the cabin. And if you have a bigger budget, we would advise you to go for a hybrid instead of going for the dyed tint. Still, all three types of tint we mentioned are rather entry-level types. Now let’s get to the serious stuff.
Do Window Tints Go On The Inside Or Outside, Tinting Types #4: Carbon Tints
The next type of tint that we are going to cover before we dive into do window tints go on the inside or outside is carbon tint. So, what is a carbon tint?
Carbon tint is simply a tint with infused carbon. This type of tint is considered to be a level above the previous three that we covered.
This type of tint is proven that blocks about 40 percent of the infrared lights as well as it is pretty good when it comes to blocking UV light.
So, if you want to protect the interior of the car from harmful UV lights, then you definitely need carbon tint.
Also, on top of all is that this type of tint does not age badly as the other three types. This type of tint has a really long lifespan and will last really long. Still, it is a bit more expensive. And it is a question if you want to spend that amount of money on tint.
If you have the budget, you should definitely go for it. But first, learn do window tints go on the inside or outside. And more on that in a bit.
Do Window Tints Go On The Inside Or Outside, Tinting Types #5: Ceramic Window Tint
And the last in our list of tint types that we are going to cover before we dive into the topic of do window tints go on the inside or outside is the ceramic window tint. So, what is ceramic window tint?
Well, ceramic window tint is the crème de la crème when it comes to window tints. This tint is infused with a ceramic film that works probably the best of all the tints we mentioned previously.
This tint will block up to 50% of the heat created from the sun, as well as 99% of the UV rays.
What is important is that you should not confuse it with other coatings like ceramic coating. What is most important for you right now is that this is the type of tint you want for your car if you really want the best product around.
And unfortunately, no matter what type of tint we are talking about, they all have pros and cons. And in the following chapters, we are going to understand them in-depth.
Pros And Cons Of Window Tint
Another topic that we are going to discuss before we dive into the topic of do window tints go on the inside or outside is the pros and cons of having window tint on your vehicle.
As you probably know, all things have pros and cons. And so is the case with window tints. And it is very useful to know them. This is why we are going to sum them up real quick in the following chapters.
Pros
Now let’s cover the pros before we start discussing the topic of do window tints go on the inside or outside. And this is the pros of having window tints on your car.
When it comes to pros, we can say that there are many of them. The biggest pro of course will be the looks.
A car with tinted windows looks a lot better than a car with windows that are seethrough. It gives you that stealthy look that will make a lot of people curious about what is there behind the tint.
So, if you are a car guy, then you will probably benefit from this mod because people who love cars will definitely approve of this mod of yours.
Also, the secondary benefits that people often say are the primary are the heat reduction inside of the cabin. Your cabin will be a lot cooler when the AC is on and the sun will have a difficult time heating up the interior.
So, the longevity of the interior will increase since there will be less harmful UV light. But do window tints go on the inside or outside? More on that, we will cover it in a bit.
Cons
So, we learned more about the pros of having tinted windows. Let’s now cover some of the cons of having tinted windows. This is an important topic to know when it comes to understanding do window tints go on the inside or outside. Are there any cons?
Well, there are a few to mention. First, will be the visibility. With window tint, you can expect the visibility to be much worse in comparison to your standard window. This will be noticeable, especially at night. Personally, I rear-ended twice my car because of tinted windows.
Another drawback is the legality of these tinted windows. There are laws that precisely tell you how much tint you can apply on the car. And if you have too much, you will get fined.
Also, here comes the next part of the topic and that is the attention that you will get. And the negative attention will be the greatest. So, think twice before you tint the windows, especially the front windows. But how much tint is legal? Let’s cover that next before we dive into do window tints go on the inside or outside.
How Much Tint Is Legal
Now let’s take a look at what is legal and what is not legal. This is an interesting topic that we would want to cover before we dive into the topic of do window tints go on the inside or outside.
We will not delve into details since each state has different laws. We shall discuss this topic more broadly.
The important thing you should note is that window tinting is not legal on the windshield. Especially with dark tints or with reflective tints. This is an instant fine from the police.
Also, the driver’s and passenger’s windows are not allowed to be tinted with tints that exceed 70%. When you tint front windows, you should choose the lightest tint with good UV protection.
If your tint is 50% or below, you will get fined in most cases. Still, don’t take our words for granted and consult your state laws.
As for the rear windows and the rear glass, as we know, there are no specific rules of how much tint you should apply to them.
You can tint them as much as you desire. But the rear glass is a really important one, so you still want to see what is going on in the rear. So, apply tint on the rear glass with care and the percentage that suits you best. But do window tints go on the inside or outside? More on that we are going to cover next.
Do Window Tints Go On The Inside Or Outside
Now let’s see do window tints go on the inside or outside. On which side the window tint goes? Let’s elaborate on this topic in detail.
Window tint always goes on the inside. You might be confused at first since people who glue these tints are sticking them from the outside. Actually, when they do this practice, they only create a model.
Then they glue the tint from the inside. Creating a model from the outside is far more practical and easier to pull off. So, this process saves them a lot of time and they are able to tint the whole car in an hour or less in some cases. If you want to learn more about the installation process, check out our guide on how long does it take to tint windows.
Some guys who are pros when it comes to this are doing this with their eyes closed. They are that good. But how this process is done? Let’s elaborate more on this next.
How To Install Window Tints
So, we learned do window tints go on the inside or outside, and confirmed that they go on the inside. Now let’s take a look at how this process is done professionally. For this process, you will need soapy water, a razor, a plastic scraper, and of course, window tint.
The first thing you want to do is to create a model. For this purpose, you will need to apply soapy water to the outside of the window.
Then place the tint on top of the window with the side that is unglued when you actually place the tint on the car.
After you place it well, grab a razor and cut the model based on the window. Don’t go over the edges because you will not cover the window well that way and the tint will slide off. Cut the tint a few fractions of an inch before the glass ends.
Once you created a model, just roll the window up and spray it with soapy water. After the window is prepared, unglue the clear plastic from the tint and spray the glue of the tint with soapy water.
Once you did that, apply the tint to the glass and adjust it correctly. Once you get proper fitment. Just scrape off the excess bubbles with a scraper. Then you are good to go. How it is done, you can check in the video above.
Conclusion To Do Window Tints Go On The Inside Or Outside
In this article, we have covered quite a bit when it comes to the topic of window tints. First, we learned what are window tints and then we covered the types of tints. As well as the pros and cons.
Then we learned if do window tints go on the inside or outside and also how to install window tints on your car.
F.A.Q
Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
How To Install Window Tint
Installing tint is really easy. Just create a model first by placing the tint on the outside of the window. Then spray the inside of the window with soapy water. Remove the protective layer of the tint and then place the tint on the glass from the inside. Remove the excess water and bubbles with a plastic scraper.
How Long Does It Take To Tint Windows
For a professional, it does not take much. In 2 to 3 hours the job will be fully complete. But if you are inexperienced, it can sometimes take a day or even two in some instances.
How Long Does Window Tint Last
This depends on the type of tint that is used. Better quality tint lasts for a long time. The dyed tint will not last for more than a year or two.
How Long After Window Tint Can You Roll Down Windows
You should leave the car like that for a day or two in order for the glue to cure. Especially if you have heat this process will be quicker. Park the car in the sun and it will cure faster.
Is It Hard To Tint Your Own Windows
No, it is not difficult at all. You just need to learn the process. Watch a few videos online on how the job is done, get the tools needed, and practice. Get some cheap tint at first, then you can improve and do it as it should be done.
