Car Tint Installation: Privacy and Cooling

If you still have a clear glass, it is about time to install a colored shade both for comfort and privacy. The price of car tint installation may start from Php 3,000 to Php 16,000 and above depending on different factors specific to your car.

When it comes to area, here is the breakdown that I was able to get from shops in Banawe and Del Monte Avenue in Quezon City:

• Windshield only – Php 1,500 to Php 2,000
• All side windows – Php 3,000 and above
• Wrap Around – Php 5,000 and above

I made a list of estimates for a complete wrap around (cheapest available).

When I purchased my first car, the dealer gave me a full wrap around tint for the hatchback.

But personally, I find them useful especially in these aspects:

• Privacy – Those good shades truly hide you in the dark. A little shadow may be seen but even if you are munching your burger or picking your nose won’t be visible from the outside.
• Less glare (with the right tint color) – I find it hard to drive when at 12 noon when the sun’s glare is reflected on my dashboard. With a tint, the glare becomes less.
• Heat rejection – This optimizes the cooling capacity of the aircon. Since less heat comes through the glass, it is faster to cool the inside of the car.
• Ultraviolet rays rejection – Special substances are applied to the shade material to reject UV rays. Skin cancer risk is much less with the highest UV rejection type.

Is it Time to Replace the Old One?

If you have been driving your car for more than 3 years, chances are you will notice some changes in your window. Replacing the old tint may be necessary if any of the following occurs:

• Cracking and chipping of the plastic material (this one is problematic since you may inhale small particles of the plastic)
• The black color part is fading or has turned violet (it makes your car warmer)
• Peeling plastic and bubbles (unsightly and makes your car look old)

Luckily, I have never experienced this even in my first car. Maybe I was just lucky to get high quality tints and expert installers.

Some car owners may also need to avail installation services when a new car windshield is installed. Obviously, it means the new glass does not have a shade on it so a new tint will be necessary.

When choosing the product for your car, it is a good idea to know the features of the brand and material. Ask the technician about these concerns:

• UV protection rate (the higher the better up to 98%) – This is not measurable on your own. You have to rely on the specifications of the brand.
• Heat rejection rate – A special coating is applied in these plastic materials. You cannot measure it without the proper instrument. However, you can see the brochure of the brand and it has a table as to what type has the highest rejection rate for heat.
• Visibility at night – This can be a hard factor to consider since it may sacrifice your privacy. A tint that is dark on the outside but clear visibility at night from the inside can be difficult to find or at least balance out. You see, the darker your shade is, the more privacy you get. But in my experience, this becomes a hassle at night because even my headlight cannot compensate darkness of the shade.
• Visibility during rain – Now, this makes driving even harder at night. The darker the material is, the harder to drive in the rain, not to mention the reflection of light on the droplets that make visibility even harder.
• Privacy – The darker the better. But as mentioned above, you have to balance out night driving and protecting your privacy.

Personally, I opted for a medium dark shade. It gives me the privacy of a shade where one is not visible inside the car. The real challenge may come at night where some shades fail the driver. If it is too dark, you will have difficulty driving, especially when it rains.

If you get a quote for more than Php 15,000 just for a regular sized consumer vehicle, it may be an overkill. Find a service somewhere else. However, larger vehicles such as vans, buses and coaches will definitely be more expensive.

Dye tints are usually cheaper among the available materials. Here is a list of types usually available in Philippine auto shops.

• Dye – based on dye for shading
• Clear – clear and transparent with possible UV protection
• Ceramic – less glare, cooler interior
• Magic tint – reflective, invisible interior
• Light and medium dark – light to medium best for night driving
• Super dark – best for privacy but may cause difficulty driving at night

Note: LTO may have a prescribed dark shade for cars and vehicles. Always check out with your service installer whether the shade you have chosen is accepted by LTO standards.

The available brands in the Philippines include but are not limited to BF Film, 3M, Vkool and Platinum. There are other OEM items available in most auto shops even from the dealership where you bought your unit.

During summer, auto shops offer lower prices for customers who want to get protected from the sun. Some of them may offer longer warranty coverage while others provide up to 20% discount for popular brands.

References: 3M