Window tint; how dark to go

[cat in january]

So I am planning to sleep in my small wagon some this winter and I am going to have a local pro tint my rear windows (The front 3 will be left Factory). He will go as low as 5% on the rear. Seems legal and he offers certification for inspection. http://www.tinting-laws.com/maine/

Will be using the window aluminum bubble insulation. Giving thought to wrapping it with cloth. So dark seems much better for stealth sleeping.

Installer says so long as it is legal in the vehicles licensed state, it is legal in other states. Any word on the street in your neck of the woods on this? Also I am crossing in to Canada. Assume it is not a problem there, but do not know.

I have never driven a tinted vehicle outside of a rental so I do not know how dark tinting changes the inside. Looks cool from the outside.

[sb]

Do whats legal where you live and its good. Do not know bout Canukistan.

The drivers and passengers front windows are the ones the cops are concerned about. The strip across the front windshield should not be below the marks on either side.

When I did mine I went with legal on the front two and next darkest level on the rest. Came out nice.

[AdironRider]

Get the 5% limo tint. You'll wish you would have.

I also would argue you should get the driver and passenger done as well, but thats more subjective.

[johnnyg82]

Quebec Police can be douches about it, but as long as they don't pull you over, you may be fine.

[johnnyg82]

i blacked out the rear windows and went dark as allowed up front. took a few weeks to get used to night driving but otherwise it has been nice.

If you do get the fronts done, and you get pulled over in Canada, make sure you just roll both of those windows down so they can't see it.

[Bobby Stainless]

20%

[adrenalated]

Get the 5% limo tint. You'll wish you would have.

I also would argue you should get the driver and passenger done as well, but thats more subjective.

The front and passenger were done on my truck by the previous owner and it's awesome. Unsure of the tint, probably the legal limit here, which is 27%.

My brother did all his windows including driver and passenger at 15% and it's even awesomer. He only had a cop question him about it once, and he just said it's 27% and went on his way. It's not like the cop can measure the tint.

I don't think I'd want darker than 15% though.

[muted]

There are many reasons to tint the front windows, one being stealth nose-picking. Ask them what % this usually takes.

Limo tint sucks driving at night. Ask to see it in one of the employees car before committing to any percentage.

[AdironRider]

I went with 15 on the front driver and passenger and 5 everywhere else. No regrets.

[liv2ski]

I tinted my windows all the way around with 30%-40% tint. Enough to knock down the glare and heat, but still clear enough for a cop to be able to see into the car. As tinting the front side windows is a no no in CA, the tint shop said people with the lighter tint don't get hassled. 8 years and not pulled over yet, but it does give the po po probable cause if they want to mess with me. For sleeping in the car, the dark tint may be a better idea, I just hate the dark tint at night while driving.

[liv2ski]

. It's not like the cop can measure the tint.

Actually, yes they can. Happened to my buddy twice.

[Bobby Stainless]

Yeah. Cops have a credit card they hold behind the tint, that shows the percentage.

Dark windows are a pita at night IMO.

[adrenalated]

Interesting, learn something new every day.

[MontuckyFried]

It's not like the cop can measure the tint.

Actually, yes they can. Happened to my buddy twice.

Indeed. Brother got pulled over in a small town with the cop saying his tint was too dark. Bro said it was the legal limit and even had the paperwork from a reputable tint shop in the glovebox to prove it. Cop said "We'll see about that" and busted out a little digital meter. Sure enough, it was fine and within the limit and the cop was like "Well...slow it down then." (He wasn't speeding at all) Lol wut?

When an industry built up around this exists, some small town Barney Fifes just must have waaay too much time on their hands:

[El Chupacabra]

Do you have a backup camera on this car? If not, expect to not be able to see a thing out the rear view mirror when backing up at night, if you go to 5% tint.

[cat in january]

So I am expecting to exceed 5 figures in miles and drive all over. Even though the low number in Maine is legal, checking many other states it is way under which as said gives the police probable cause. Seems incidence is there for them to do it. Based on small sample size maybe higher than I would like given all the many locals I will be going through.

If not for the police stopping I would go 5 %-still have to next week to decide. No back up camera and backing up at night seems the biggest drawback. Still better than a big box truck just because car is smaller so I thought I could live with it.

[muted]

I don't think all states can pull you over just for dark windows, you have to be speeding or something else first. And if you have out-of-state plates, how could they do anything about it? It's legal where it's registered, I'm guessing you are sent on your way.

if you get the super dark and get pulled over, roll down the front windows so the cops can see your hands as they walk up to you. When you do this usually you can see them take their hand of their holster. I used to have 15-20% on a previous car and doing this puts them at ease on lonely western highways.

[ghosthop]

If you're worried about police hassling you with the tint but want to remain out of view while sleeping at night, why not have snap on curtains for the rear windows?

[jmedslc]

I did legal ceramic tint up front and 5% in the other Windows. If you know how to use mirrors, backing up is not an issue. The ceramic up front is very good for keeping radiant heat out of the car.

[japanada]

I had 20% all the way around on my wagon and loved it. Did a great job during the day while still being able to see at night. If youre not going to do the fronts, then 5% in the back for sure. Keep in mind, the color of you interior plays a factor in how dark it looks. I had a tan interior and during the day it looked lighter than my buddies wagon with a black interior with 20% all the way around. I got pulled over in Nebraska and had no problems with the tints, which were technically illegal there.

[uglymoney]

Another vote for limo black if you are going to sleep in it. I use a curtain on a bungee cord behind the seats that I can pull across when I sleep. That and a red headlamp for reading and it is pretty stealth. I can sleep anywhere and nobody knows but I like the dark tint so much we did our Prius Wagon the same way even though I have no intention of sleeping in it.

I left my front windows alone because the stormtroopers are big on giving tickets for that around here. Even if you keep it legal it gives them an excuse to pull you over to check it. Not worth it since the not getting pulled over thing is one of the cool benefits of owning a wagon.

I wouldn't worry about backing up. It takes a while to get used to but you probably don't spend much time in reverse. If you have a backup camera better yet.

[bfree]

20% all around is a good balance of darkness vs. night visibility. I've been happy with it. I'll roll down the window occasionally if needing to back out of a tight driveway at night (don't have one of them fancy cameras)

[St. Jerry]

Can you get 100% tint in the front for a driverless car?

[Bobby Stainless]

That would be clear^

The % is the amount of light let in.

[My Pet Powder Goat]

20% all around is a good balance of darkness vs. night visibility. I've been happy with it. I'll roll down the window occasionally if needing to back out of a tight driveway at night (don't have one of them fancy cameras)

Ditto. 20% is just right. Still keeps prying eyes out of the car, but not so dark you have much trouble looking out.

Utah, like many states has Front window limits. I believe it's 35-40% which I prefer for visibility