# i want to tint my windows **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 13, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-tint-my-windows/175068 "2003-05-13T22:10:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-tint-my-windows/175068/1 "2003-05-13T22:10:51Z")
i want to tint my car windows. i want to do it cheaply. and if i do it myself, i won’t want to kick myself for being so stupid as paying anybody for doing something that i could by myself in a few hours. so…where do i buy the good tint which cuts out just about all light? and, cheaply, at that? i went to walmart and pepboys and all of their tint was pretty tepid. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-tint-my-windows/175068/2 "2003-05-13T22:18:01Z")
This is one of those things that IMHO you should have done, rather then do your self. (It’s one of those things that I’ll tell people “There’s a reason people get paid to do it”) The self tint jobs I’ve seen tend to get all bubbly and ugly, or not cut right. A place that does window tinting KNOWS what they’re doing. They have the right adhesives, the right window cleaner, templates for most makes/models of car windows and they’ve been trained and usually offer a warranty if it get’s bubbles under it. Check out a couple of places in your area (usually the same places that do car alarms, stereos and other after market add ons.) Get some prices. Then decide, if it’s to expensive, maybe try it yourself. If it costs $200 dollars at a shop and $20 at walmart, maybe your willing to try it yourself and consider yourself out $20 if it doesn’t work out. BTW I made the numbers up, I really don’t know what it costs, oh, and watch/ask about specials. I know the places around here are always advertising discounts, deals for window tints. ---
**Author:** ![BF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@BF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BF)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-tint-my-windows/175068/3 "2003-05-13T23:04:14Z")
Also, you better check your state code on what is acceptable tinting, etc. In VA, your driver and passenger sides must meet X amount of allowable light and your rear and backseats must meet Y for amount of allowable light. If you’re pulled over the and the trooper does a light test on your windows, not only will you get a ticket for whatever he pulled you over for, you’ll get another one for the tinting and then have to pay someone to remove it. ---
**Author:** ![Fritz\_The\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f17d59/32.png) [@Fritz\_The\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz_The_Cat)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-tint-my-windows/175068/4 "2003-05-14T02:03:20Z")
[http://www.xtremepccentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4593](http://www.xtremepccentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4593) ---
**Author:** ![Fritz\_The\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f17d59/32.png) [@Fritz\_The\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz_The_Cat)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-tint-my-windows/175068/5 "2003-05-14T02:13:36Z")
Oops, Put in wrong link, sorry, please ignore. Edit function disabled? Anyway, here’s the correct link: [http://www.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto\_law/tint/](http://www.pcisys.net/~bpc/auto_law/tint/) ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-to-tint-my-windows/175068/6 "2003-05-14T03:04:38Z")
A police officer friend of mine says window tinting is his #2 reason for pulling folks over behind speeding. He calls it a cop magnet.