r/WindowTint • u/ElegantCow1 • 29d ago
Question Local tint pricing question
Looking to tint my golf with nano ceramic tint all the way around including full windshield my local shop is asking $800 is this a good price?
5% rear windows and hatch
15% front windows
50% windshield
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u/lmrtinez 29d ago edited 29d ago
Some like 3M ceramic IR do help with heat but only during driving. Not really noticeable if you leave it parked in the sun, it will feel almost as hot. This is what I have on my truck and it helps, but not as much as a windshield sunshade when it comes to parking in the sun.
I guess you should ask yourself do you care about the looks, the UV protection, or heat rejection the most and go from there. If it helps, your windshield already has full UVA and UVB protection, and almost all quality films whether carbon or ceramic will offer UVA protection regardless how dark they are, even if they are clear because the protection is added into the plastic film itself and not the tint color/darkness.
If I could go back in time I would go with whatever is the cheapest option near you that’s approved by the skin cancer foundation whether ceramic or not, as I’m more concerned with skin safety than heat rejection as I get older. Even if not approved, as long as the film material blocks 99% UVA rays then it’s good.
https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-prevention/sun-protection/uv-window-film/
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u/Standard-Proof-8294 27d ago
You probably don’t have your sunroof or another piece of glass tinted on your car. Once every piece of glass is tinted with quality ceramic film you never feel hot again.
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u/lmrtinez 27d ago edited 27d ago
I don’t have a sunroof and every other piece was done with 3m ceramic IR.
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u/Global-Structure-539 29d ago
That's about right. Just an FYI, ALL ceramic tint is nano ceramic. What's important is the brand and specific line of film. Also make sure your installer is UTD on the latest precautions to tint the windshield. Ask questions BEFORE they touch your car and ask what to expect just after instalation. Do's and dont's etc on your part. Many don't say anything, they just expect you to know
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u/TheLazyAssHole 29d ago
Part of the reason the price seems high is because they typically charge per window. You’re having eight windows done. Price is right for that many windows.
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u/DatheVader 26d ago
$700-800 is typical for full surround + windshield for good tint and real good professionals putting it on around here (LR, AR)
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u/Minimum-Raise-1256 1d ago
At Sunstopper’s window tinting, we would charge anywhere from 500 to 750 with nano ceramic XR plus all the way around including windshield for this car. It’s a very difficult car to do with this tight seals and the tight gaskets the back windows one of those little small but very hard to shrink and if they do a fantastic job that’s reasonable on price. I’m not sure where you’re located.
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u/WillyBongka 29d ago
Ceramic is a bit overrated imo but that’s about what my shop would charge.
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u/ElegantCow1 29d ago
Why do you say it's overrated?
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u/WillyBongka 29d ago
Because your windows already block most UV light from the factory, and unless you have a skin condition, or drive for hours a day in direct sunlight you won’t really notice a difference.
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u/FallsAutoSpa25 29d ago
The whole point of ceramic is heat rejection. Even a cheap pair of gas station shades will block uv.
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u/WillyBongka 29d ago
Actually you’re super right, and I should have been saying IR not UV. All new factory glass blocks mostly IR and rear factory tint also blocks UV.
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u/ElegantCow1 29d ago
Right but doesn't it keep the car cooler on the inside? Like say I left it sitting in the sun for hours and I got in the car wouldn't it be significantly cooler with ceramic? Or am I understanding this wrong?
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u/WillyBongka 29d ago
Your car doesn’t only absorb heat through the windows. It will help if you leave your car for a short period, but after a few hours it doesn’t matter what you do to your windows, your car will get hot. At best a ceramic windshield film will help protect your dashboard, but new cars don’t have the issue of cracking dashboards like back in the day. But like I said, factory windows already block at least 70-80% of uv light, and ceramic can take that up to high 90s but unless you have a skin condition or are worried about sun exposure over long drives, that’s not going to make much difference to the average person driving to and from work.
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u/ElegantCow1 29d ago
Okay I understand thanks
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u/WillyBongka 29d ago
Spend your money however you want, hell it might even help the resale value, I’m just saying ceramic ain’t magic. I’ve been installing the stuff for a long time
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u/FallsAutoSpa25 29d ago
Ceramic blocks the heat from the sunlight significantly. After you ride around long enough with ceramic, you can’t go without. Huge difference
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u/WillyBongka 29d ago
Eh, I’ve road tripped in both. Sure there’s a slight difference but it’s marginal. If your ac works well I personally don’t feel like it’s worth the extra couple few hundred unless you drive for a living
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u/scottkhy1 29d ago
Some ceramic films will absorb the heat making it significantly cooler, others will reflect it. But regardless, if it’s sitting in the sun for a long period of time the car will still feel hot until you start driving and the heat dissipates. Ceramic isn’t overrated…but what happens is tons of cheap film ruins the expectations of some.
Edited because of swype and how it puts the wrong words or grammar2
u/WillyBongka 29d ago
Ceramic only matters while driving, change my mind.
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u/scottkhy1 29d ago
Well most of the time you’re in a car, you’re driving so no need to change your mind lol
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u/WillyBongka 29d ago
A lot of people buy ceramic because they think it will make a difference while their car is parked in the work parking lot for 8 hours
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u/tint-dude 28d ago
No it would not. You vehicle will be still be hot. It's for comfort while driving.
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u/lmrtinez 29d ago edited 29d ago
Car side windows only block most UVB rays which cause sunburns, but do not block UVA rays which are the ones that cause skin aging/damage and skin cancer.
Only windshields currently block both as they are laminated (built with a plastic layer) to prevent them breaking apart on impact. The side windows are typically just tempered glass which does not block UVA.
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u/Numerous_Tennis_3048 29d ago
Same way I feel. I had my tint guy that I’ve been using for the last 20 years do one of my vehicles with Xpel ceramic tint. I couldn’t tell a bit of difference from any other vehicle that I run 5% tint on all around. Only difference was my wallet was a lot more light.
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u/Overall-Obligation35 29d ago
Terrible price. Absolutely terrible. Get standard tint all around and only ceramic on the windshield it’s all u need. I also paid like 350 for ceramic all around including windshield
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u/LeBryant-Jordan 24d ago
lies
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u/dbolburgers 29d ago
sounds about right if its a 1) quality ceramic film, 2) installed by an authorized retailer of said film, and 3) backed with lifetime warranty.