How to Choose Your Car Window Tint Percentage

What's the Difference Between Window Tint Percentages? 

The "darkness" of car window tinting is rated by its visible light transmission (VLT)—how much light it lets through the film. For example, you can find window tinting with an 80% VLT, 50% VLT, 20% VLT, etc. The percentage number refers to the amount of light that makes it through your windows and into your car. 

In other words, window tinting with a 50% VLT prevents 50% of the sun's rays from passing through the film. If you get a tint that has a 20% VLT, it blocks 80% of light. 

The lower the percentage, the darker the tint. 

This is important to keep in mind as you shop around for window tint. Just because the film has a high VLT percentage doesn't mean it's dark, so make sure you understand what you're buying before you hand over your money. 



If you need more help figuring out VLT percentages, you can talk to a window tinting professional. They'll be able to recommend the right percentage for your car. 

Picking the Right Car Window Tint Percentage 

Darker film blocks more sunlight, prevents harmful UV rays from shining on you while you drive, keeps the interior of the car cool, and makes it harder for other people to see inside your ride. Because of this, you may want to choose the darkest window tint you can find. 

But make sure you do your research first. 

Every state has its own set of laws regarding how dark you can tint your windows. If you go darker than your state allows, you can find yourself getting pulled over and fined, and you may have to pay more money to take the film back off. 

On top of that, you can't always have the same VLT percentage on all your car's windows. In most cases, the tinting on your front windows must be lighter than the tinting on your back windows. 

For example, here's a quick look at Florida's window tinting laws: 

• Rear window: 15% VLT
• Back side windows: 15% VLT
• Front side windows: 28% VLT

In Florida, you also can't apply window tint over the entirety of your windshield. You can only use non-reflective film over the as-1 line. 



Again, a window tinting professional will be able to tell you the tinting laws in your state, so if you aren't sure where to find the right information, you can start there.

Why Are There Window Tinting Laws?

It might seem odd for states to have their own window tinting rules. After all, why does the darkness of your windows matter?

Remember, window film blocks the amount of light that can get into your car, which can cause it to obstruct your view if it's too dark. This can put you at risk of dangerous accidents on the road. 

And just because you can see through window tint that has a 10% VLT just fine during the day doesn't mean you won't have trouble after it gets dark. Since this film blocks light, it will make driving in the dark much harder. 

For safety reasons, police also need to be able to see into your car during traffic stops or other incidents. Going too dark can prevent their view, which can make these jobs longer and more difficult for everyone involved. 



Don't get annoyed by the window tinting laws in your state. They're put in place for your protection, so you shouldn't try to cheat the system and go darker than allowed. 

The Best Way to Tint Your Car Windows 

Once you know the right VLT percentage for your state, you can purchase the right film and slap it on your car windows. Simple, right? 

Not quite. 

You shouldn't try applying window tint to your car on your own. The job is tricky, and if you don't have the right tools or experience, you can end up damaging your windows. Even if the film looks fine at first, it can form bubbles or ripples after a few days, which can block your view while driving. 



You'll have to pay a professional to take the bad film off and redo it, which means you'll be spending a lot more money in the long run. It's worth paying for professional services so you get a good quality tinting job and don't lose extra money. 

How to Find the Best Window Tinting Services in Your Area 

If you're looking for window tinting services in the Jacksonville or Lake City areas, we've got you covered. Solar Shade Window Tint will fit your car with high-quality film that looks good and has the right car window tint percentage for Florida. 



Not ready to make an appointment? We're here to answer any questions or recommend the right tinting for your windows. Don't hesitate to get in touch with us today to get started with the window tinting process!