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Window Tinting
updated: Sep 06, 2012, 9:38 AM

Can anyone recommend an auto window tinting service in town? Plus what are the rules on tinting the driver and front passenger windows- I've seen a lot of those tinted recently.

Places People Are Talking About:

Cal Coast Tinting

Pro Tint

What People Are Saying:

COMMENT 316776	2012-09-06 09:40 AM
The best guy is a shop over by Hollister. I can't think of the name, but google map tinting shops, and you'll find it. Driver and Passenger tints are illegal.
COMMENT 316779	2012-09-06 09:47 AM
ANY tint on the driver and passenger windows is illegal.
COMMENT 316786P	2012-09-06 09:59 AM
Cal Coast Tinting @ 711 Chapala. Simply the best in the county. They've done my vehicles for over 12 years and never one glitch. None!
COMMENT 316790	2012-09-06 10:06 AM
Driving home one evening last year, I was pulled over by the SBPD for having tinted windows. The officer informed me that the offending windows were the driver's and front passenger windows. I had bought the car (a used vehicle) only one week previously. I was given a "fix it" warning, and the next day I went over to Car Stereo Guys on Milpas who did a very good job removing the tint, at a reasonable cost. I guess it happens in reverse as well!
COMMENT 316791P	2012-09-06 10:08 AM
From the CHP website, second item down: http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/answers.html
COMMENT 316796	2012-09-06 10:15 AM
Makes you wonder, if it is illegal then why is it offered? Makes no sense. Mine are tinted, but they told us it was legal, it is lighter than the back and rear window. We also have an eye doctors note, since my spouses eyes are ultra sensitive to sunlight.
COMMENT 316799	2012-09-06 10:20 AM
I too went to Cal Coast Tinting. They did a great job. For health reasons, I had all windows tinted, including a clear coating on my windshield that blocked UV.
ANIMALLISTNER	2012-09-06 10:21 AM
Pro Tint in Lompoc, the best, they do all fire and ambulance...great price too!
CALI4NIADEE	2012-09-06 11:00 AM
I have had every car I've owned done by Cal Coast on Chapala. It's never lifted or bubbled like on used cars I've owned (and consequently taken to Cal Coast). My sisters in-laws own a car dealership in town and they take all their dealership cars there too.
EDHATBARBARA	2012-09-06 11:00 AM
From the CHP's website (http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/answers.html): Can I put after-market tinting on the windows of my vehicle? The main requirements for legal window tinting in California are: The windshield and front driver's side and passenger's side windows cannot receive any aftermarket tinting. If the rear window of a vehicle is tinted, the vehicle must have outside rearview mirrors on both sides. The law prohibits any person from driving any motor vehicle with any object or material placed, displayed, installed, affixed, or applied upon the windshield or side or rear windows, with certain limited exceptions. However, legislation signed into law effective January 1, 1999, exempts from the above prohibition specified clear, colorless, and transparent material that is installed, affixed, or applied to the front driver and passenger side windows for the specific purpose of reducing ultraviolet rays. If, as, or when this material becomes torn, bubbled or otherwise worn, it must be removed or replaced.
EDHATBARBARA	2012-09-06 11:02 AM
HOW DARK CAN WINDOW TINT BE IN CALIFORNIA? Darkness of tint is measured by Visible Light Transmission percentage (VLT%). In California, this percentage refers to percentage of visible light allowed in through the combination of film and the window. • Windshield - Non-reflective tint is allowed on the top 4 inches of the windshield. • Front Side Windows - Must allow more than 70% of light in. • Back Side Windows - Any darkness can be used. • Rear Window - Any darkness can be used. HOW REFLECTIVE CAN THE TINT BE IN CALIFORNIA? Similar to sunglass lenses, some tinting film contain metallic elements that help in reflecting incoming light and reducing the glare and heat generated by visible light. • Front Side Windows - Must not be more reflective than a standard window. • Back Side Windows - Must not be more reflective than a standard window. OTHER CALIFORNIA RULES AND REGULATIONS • Restricted Colors - The tint color(s) of RED are not legal by state law. • Side Mirrors - Dual side mirrors are required if back window is tinted. • Certificate Requirements - Manufacturers of film do NOT need to certify the film they sell in the state. • Sticker Requirements - No sticker to identify legal tinting is required. • Medical Exemption - State law does NOT allow medical exemptions that would allow you use special tint.
COMMENT 316837	2012-09-06 11:25 AM
I think that all of these listed "reasons" that the police don't want you to tint your windows are total BS. The fact is that anyone can legally drive while wearing sunglasses that block out more sun (and more of yuor vision) than any window tinting. And if blocking your vision were REALLY the reason for this law, they would have outlawed the handicapped from hanging their placards from their rear view mirror long ago. The one and only reason the police don't want tinting is that they want to see if you have a gun as they approach your car. It's a reasonable request.
COMMENT 316869	2012-09-06 12:41 PM
If you've ever driven a car with tint on the windshield, you'd know why its illegal. Tried driving one in the rain once, it was worthless.
COMMENT 316892	2012-09-06 01:13 PM
316796 - If your spouse's eyes are sensitive to sunlight then your spouse needs to wear sunglasses. Unless, that is, you keep your spouse locked in your car 24/7.
COMMENT 316900	2012-09-06 01:18 PM
And the limo tint, rim rocking people always lock their keys in their car....it's just big fun to use lock out tools with zero visibility and "hey bro, don't scratch my tint" ringing in your ear every 5 seconds. It seems no matter how many times these guys get stopped and ticketed, they remain deeply committed to the darkness.
COMMENT 316923	2012-09-06 02:05 PM
Sure, cops don't want tinted windows because they want to be able to see into your car. But the real reason not to have tinted windows is they make it impossible to make eye contact with other drivers, pedestrians, or cyclists on the road, which makes everyone less safe. And the tinting companies will do it because they can charge you for it. They know they aren't the ones who will get the ticket.
COMMENT 317056	2012-09-06 05:59 PM
Cal Coast Tinting they use 3m film both are the best!
COMMENT 317101	2012-09-06 08:58 PM
Do not place tint over the heating wire in a rear window.
COMMENT 317119P	2012-09-07 12:16 AM
@923 I'm with you, re: eye contact w other drivers.
COMMENT 317134	2012-09-07 06:52 AM
Another one for Kent over at Cal Coast!
COMMENT 317137P	2012-09-07 07:02 AM
I dislike heavy tint because it blocks the view of traffic ahead, both coming and going. Couple that with the vast size of some of the big SUV's and it's like driving behind a wall. Oh, and try backing out of a parking lot space when sandwiched between two of those. They make driving dangerous for everyone else just so they can look cool. It's not Arizona, for criminently. Get a good pair of sunglasses!
COMMENT 317241	2012-09-07 10:15 AM
Tinting your front windows is an invitation to law enforcement to pull you over. It can be a pretext to stop you if they have no other reason. Once you are stopped they can then look for other violations such as drugs, suspicious activity etc.
COMMENT 317259	2012-09-07 10:55 AM
I know someone who lost radio reception in a BMW with the antenna in the rear window because the tint film, installed by a BMW dealer, used metallic tint when BMW only approves ceramic tint. We live in a complicated world.
GARFIELD	2012-09-07 01:50 PM
If you only care about the appearance of the film you can skip this comment. If the intent is to reduce in-sol-ation (keep occupants cooler) there is a big difference among the films. The film must reflect/absorb Infrared radiation. The darkness of the tint is only about reflecting/absorbing visible radiation. My experience (20? years ago) was with a 3M film was very good at that. With a hot sun shining on the side of the car, I put my hand near the glass inside of both front and rear windows. Rear was not as hot as the front. The glass itself felt warmer because the film was absorbing some of the infrared energy. The tint was not very dark. Several years later I took a different car to a "tint shop" and interrogated the manager about the films heat performance, not the look. I trusted him, without seeing a specification sheet. He installed a 3M High Performance film that was useless. Performance in this case probably was the same as Profit. Do not trust anyone. Ask to see a car with both tinted and untinted windows and feel the difference. A sunny day is required. Do not use front windshield as the untinted sample as it is a different glass type. Use only side and rear windows.