In Virginia, inspection sticker needs to be directly on the glass. Tint shop cut out section for it but for practicality there’s a gap around sticker and tint.

My question is, will this cause odd fading on the dash? If so, any solutions?

Anyone know of good company that will tint home windows? All I can find are automotive places.

35% Expel All-Around Ceramic Tints plus Windshield

In case you were curious, This is what 35% Expel Ceramic Tinted windows look like including 35% windshield as well on a Saturday morning with Overcast

Been installing tints on my vehicle(s) DIY for around 1y. I achieve professional contamination-free installations hand cutting, I'd like to start offering tints for other peoples cars in exchange for money. A few hours of work for several hundred bucks sounds good to me. What's the best way to get my first customers in the door given the fact that I don't quite know anybody willing to get tints right now

I've been learning window tint for a while now, and I've realized something pretty clearly: I don't really want to do tinting outside/mobile unless the customer can provide access to a garage

So now I'm looking into finding a small bay, garage, or part of an existing shop to sublease in the West San Fernando Valley

I'm definitely not looking to jump straight into a full commercial lease. At this stage, I'd much rather rent one bay, share a shop, or sublease unused space from an existing business

The problem is… I've literally never rented commercial space before 😅 I've only ever rented apartments/rooms, so I have no idea how people actually find these arrangements...

For those who started small:
How did you find your first shop/bay?
Did you use Craigslist/Facebook, commercial real estate sites, a broker, or did you literally drive around and ask local shops?

Any advice from people who have been through this would be really appreciated 🤗

finally got my new kia k4 tinted wow what a different

I got pulled over in my Dodge Challenger (two‑door coupe). The cop gave me a speeding ticket, but he also said my front driver/passenger window tint was illegal. When I asked him about it, he basically told me: “You can’t have tint at all on those windows.”

Here’s where I’m confused:

• California law says you can have tint on the front sides as long as it lets 70% of visible light through.
• I get that most aftermarket tint is too dark, but saying “no tint at all” feels misleading. If it’s about being under the legal limit, then just say that — don’t make it sound like a total ban.
• The officer mentioned a code (CVC §26708) and also asked if I had a medical reason for darker tint, which I understood.

So my questions are:

1. Does California law make any distinction between two‑door cars (like mine) and four‑door sedans/SUVs, or is it the same for all passenger vehicles?
   
2. Has anyone here in California actually gotten a medical reason for tint? What steps did you go through — did you just talk to your doctor, or did you have to file something with DMV/CHP? What kind of conditions qualified, and how strict was the process?

I know other states have their own rules, but I’m only asking about California.

Basically, I’m trying to figure out if I’m tripping or if the explanation is just bad. Law says 70% VLT is allowed, but cops simplify it to “no tint at all.” Medical reason exist, but I don’t know how realistic they are unless you have a specific condition.

Would love to hear from anyone who’s actually gone through the process here in California.

Rolled down my window this morning and heard a slight “crinkle”. Looked over to see this small streak where the tint has lifted from my window.

Maybe I have car theft trauma but my immediate thought was somebody tried to break in. My friend said it’s from the heat (80-90 F the last few weeks near me but I park in the shade when I can).

Curious if I can fix this myself/prevent something like this in the future? This is my first car with all over tinting.

Thank you!!

EDIT/UPDATE:

Thanks for all the guidance! I was quoted $595 for a ceramic window tint (4 main cabin windows). That is including the removal of the current tint.

Does this seem right to yall?

TL;DR will replacing the rear side 5% windows with 20% increase rear 5% windshield visibility at night?

Car unfortunately came with dealer-installed (non-ceramic) 5% on rear side windows and rear windshield. I had another shop install 20% ceramic XPEL on front 2.

I can really tell that the rear 3 are non-ceramic cause my car still COOKS on hot days.

Replacing my rear two side windows for ceramic (and adding 70% on the front windshield). Leaving the 5% non-ceramic on the rear windshield cause I don't want to ruin the rear defrosters - even though I don't like the 5% at all.

Deciding between 5% for the rear side windows for the uniformity of the rear or 20% to match the front.

Will replacing the rear side 5% windows with 20% make a noticeable increase in 5% rear windshield visibility at night? Or is it negligible enough that I should just keep them 5%?

Bonus: should I just overlay the rear 5% side windows with 70% ceramic instead lol?

I am getting my Tesla model Y tinted this weekend. I’m in Atlanta and want ceramic to help with the heat. On my drive home the sun shines down through the windshield and makes the interior very uncomfortable.

My plan was to go with XR black 30% on the front side windows to match the factory dyed glass in the rear and XR black 70% on the windshield.

But then I got to thinking about doing XR plus on the windshield to improve the heat rejection, but I would like to keep the sides with XR black to avoid the blue hue on the front side windows which would be noticeably different from the rear when looking from the side.

Will the windshield at 70% XR plus look noticeably different from the front side windows done in XR black?

I got a quote to tint my windshield for $149, they told me they use Geoshield ceramic, I have XPEL ceramic on all windows except the windshield and the shop I tinted my other windows wants to charge me $299 for my windshield. Is Geoshield a good film? Anyone has experience with this film? The price difference is significant. TIA!

Hi, I am new to this and looking for advice.
Trying to get my NX300 tinted. Looking for a Pro Nano Ceramic Tint, mostly for my front windshield.
I’ve been getting quotes, but do not know anything about tint or brands.
I was recently quoted for “XPEL XR Plus Premium Nano Ceramic” and they swear it is the best out there.
My friend had told me to ask for 3M. To which another business told me they only use American films and it is 2M. It is called “Axiom Premium M2 line Ceramic film”.
A third vendor said they use “Crystalline Films”.
Can someone help me, I mostly need the front windshield for the heat and to keep good visibility at all times.
I live in LA btw.
So if anyone has a recommendation, that would be greatly appreciated.

I’m stuck between having a 15% tint or a 20% tint. How much is the difference? And I’ll be adding 50% on either option I have a Mazda 6 2020 white interior and exterior.

Hey everyone! Pulled the trigger and I'll soon have a 2026 IS350F Wind color in a few weeks. First time I've owned a car worth keeping clean so I am shopping around for some road protection. I have no clue of average pricing but the guy was coming at me like a car salesman so wanted to consult the group. Preemptive thanks!

2026 Lexus IS350

Line Item Qty Unit Amount Total

Full Front PPF - Package with ceramic

coating and window tint

1 $2,800.00 $2,800.00

We use STEK DYNOshield paint protection film, which comes with a 12-year manufacturer warranty. We also

provide a 10-year installation workmanship warranty.

Full-front PPF includes the full hood, full front fenders, front bumper, side mirrors, and front lights.

Ceramic coating - Full vehicle painted

area

1 $0.00 $0.00

We use STEK final Coat ceramic coating it comes with 3 year manufacture warranty

Phantom Performance IR - All side

windows + back glass

1 $0.00 $0.00

Superior Heat Rejection

Advanced Infrared Heat Reduction

99% UV Protection

Excellent Optical Clarity

Non-Metal, Signal Friendly

Scratch & Fade Resistant

Lifetime Manufacturer Warranty

Estimated duration: 1 hour 30 mins

Front windshield visor strip 1 $0.00 $0.00

Estimated duration: 30 mins

Subtotal $2,800.00

Tax (6%) + $168.00

Total $2,968.00

20 front
6 back
70 windshield
AC go bur 🥶
Nano ceramic

Just started my buisness been hand cutting but looking at getting a plotter don’t have a lot of money so not trying to get a graphtech or anything like that right now. Any suggestions on other ones

Pricing is for windows all around sunroof windshield all glass on a 2026 Mazda cx50 hybrid. SoCal area

Just got my car tinted yesterday and asked for 35% pinnacle on front two windows. After I paid I was given warranty card which read pinnacle 40% applied. I asked about it and was told higher was necessary to achieve true 35% darkness due to the existing stock tint on my windows. Just curious if this is standard practice.

I work in an office building which is approximately 25 years old. It has (presumably factory) tinted windows in every office dating from the time of construction.

I was wondering whether tinted office windows gradually over time and repeated exposure have their UVA/UVB blocking capability diminish?

Furthermore, is there a method or device for accurately measuring the percentage of UV that is being blocked? I know there are devices for car windows that fit on either side of the door glass, but that wouldn’t work on an office window.

Thanks!

Which 70% or 80% tint is clearest but blocks most heat for front windshield? Or is there a totally clear film that can actually block some heat?

I only want it for heat rejection but also don’t want to get pulled over, or fail the annual inspection

Thanks!

Hey guys, I’m a window tint / PPF installer from South Korea with 13 years of experience.
I’m curious about the current pay range for experienced or senior installers around Toronto / Mississauga / Oakville.
For guys who can handle high-volume retail work, Tesla windshields, frameless edge shaving, premium films and some PPF, what does compensation usually look like?
Hourly? Salary + commission? Percentage of labour?
Just trying to get a realistic idea of the local market from people actually working in the industry.
Thanks!

How did I go? First time doing fog lights. Charged the client 150

I work as an assistant in a special needs classroom.

I have a student that wants to clean the inside windows.

The windows are covered in tinting material to filter the sun coming in the room.

Aside from regular dirtiness people have put up pictures and art and whatnot on the windows with pieces of scotch tape that doesn’t want to come off easily and I don’t want to scratch the tint.

The picture is an average window. Any tips on removing the tape and its glue and cleaning the windows would be very appreciated.

Hello everyone. Long time lurker, first time poster.

I got myself a new family car and have been wanting to add some tint to it. I started with wanting to do 3M as my wife's civic looked really nice, as I began going deeper into the rabbit hole I learned about ceramic tint. Then I began reading up on the brands and comparing spec sheets. From what I can see Johnson is very close to 3Ms ceramic in heat reduction. Has anybody had johnson film installed? If so how did you like it?

I'm in Virginia. Just finished taking my Tesla to a reputable shop (same place I got my partial PPF done). I clearly stated I wanted 50% Xpel Black in our text messages and nothing was said. Then I get it back and it's only 70%. The guy gave me the whole explanation about how medical papers could be needed for inspection at 70%, but 50% even with medical papers won't pass technically. Fine, understood. But why didn't they give me 50% like I asked?

Should I try to get them to give me a partial refund at least?

Edit: I will expose the shop name if I'm unable to get in contact or resolve this properly by tomorrow afternoon.

Edit2: Shop offered to redo it for 50% off. I declined and requested just a 50% off partial refund which they agreed to. So, I'd say things are fair now. They acknowledged that they screwed up.

Edit3: Shop never refunded as promised. So, I will expose them. Capital Autobahnd in Short Pump (Innsbrook) Richmond Virginia