At some point we have all seen a car with tinted windows or have thought about tinting our own car windows. As a 24 year old, I have thought about tinting my own windows, but like most I didn’t know where to start; from legality, to aesthetic, to the longevity. I thought I’d showcase with you my research for those wondering where to start when looking for automotive window tinting.

Let’s talk about cost

The cost of automotive window film can vary depending on the type of film, the size of your car, and the installer you choose. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $800 for professional installation of high-quality film. Getting the tint done by a professional is highly recommended because although it looks simple to stick on the transparent sheet of darkened film onto your window, its very easy to mess it up if you aren’t experienced. If you mess up the tint, it can harm the window and can be costly and a pain to get it fixed.

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First concern out of the way, still with me? Let’s focus now on legality because unfortunately, you cannot get 5% tint here.

Minnesota has different laws surrounding Sedans and SUV’s. Sedan’s can not have a tinted windshield as it is against the law. You may tint the sides and rear window, but you must allow more than 50% of light in on all 3 Sides. For an SUV or Van, you can not tint your windshield. You may tint the sides and rear window, but on the front windows you must allow more than 50% of light in. For the backside and rear windows you may have any darkness. We get this question all the time: can you do window tint eyebrow on my car? The answer: it depends. They are considered illegal UNLESS you carry a prescription for it.

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For those who don’t know, we also have a location in Hudson, Wisconsin, and the regulations are similar with one distinction:

Wisconsin has the same tinting laws for both Sedans and SUV’s. Unlike Minnesota, you are permitted to have non-reflective tint above the manufacturers AS-1 line on your windshield. Your front side windows must allow more than 50% of light in, while your rear window and backside must allow 35% of light in.

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Besides looking cool, there’s some additional benefits to tinting your vehicle not many seem to mention.

While the upfront cost may seem high, many car owners find that the benefits of window film make it a worthwhile investment. Car window tinting can block up to 99% of the suns harmful ultraviolet rays. Even clear window tint or a light tint offers UV protection. Window film is designed to keep glass from shattering if an object hits it. In the event of a car accident, passengers can be protected from flying glass and being ejected from the car. And of course, window film gives you more privacy and security. The darker windows can make it easier to hide valuables and objects, while also giving you the piece of mind while driving or walking away that nobody can see whats inside your vehicle.

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As for me, i got my windows tinted at Sun Control last year and i love it. I was undecided until they showed me samples and introduced the benefits. I can not stress how much the privacy makes me feel secure. It feels amazing knowing that people can’t walk by and look at the stuff i left in my car.

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