How to Choose a Window Tint Percentage for Your Vehicle

Ask Yourself Why 

Different window tint percentages will have a different end result on your car. So the first question is to ask yourself why you are tinting your car windows in the first place. 

Is it because you want privacy? Are you trying to dramatically change the look of your vehicle? The most common reasons why people tint their car windows are, 

• Protection from UV rays and the sun 
• Creating A Modern And Sleek Look 
• To ensure privacy 



The reason that you are tinting your car will change the percentage that you will want to get. 

Do Your Research 

When you are choosing what window tint percentage you want to install on your car, you should make sure you know what each percentage looks like and its functionality. 

Understand that with window tinting percentages, the lower the number, the darker your vehicle windows will get. 



The percentage is referring to VLT or visible light transmission. Simply put, how much light is getting into your vehicle. 

The Most Common Window Tinting Percentages 

Some of the most common window tint percentages are 50 percent, 35 percent, 20 percent, and five percent. Another way to think about tint percentages is, the lower the number, the darker the tint. 

A 50 percent window tint is going to the best option if you want to make sure that you are blocking out at least half of the UV rays that get into the vehicle. You will not notice a big difference in the color of the car's windows. This percentage will mostly just stop heat and UV rays. 

Research has shown that when you are driving a car you are being exposed to 63 percent of UV rays that enter the vehicle. Protection from the sun is a major benefit of window tinting your car. 



When you go down to 35 percent you are making the window tint darker and this also makes the vehicle look more modern and sleek. If you are looking to change the window tint of your car for aesthetic reasons, this is a popular percentage. 

Do You Want To Go Darker?

A 20 percent window tint is going to be dark. If anyone was trying to look in your car they would have to get extremely close before they can see anything. If your reason for getting car tinting is to increase your privacy, this is going to be the percentage you want. 



The last percentage that is common is five percent. Five percent is the darkest that you can go when tinting your vehicle. If you ever see a private car or limousine, this is typically the tint that they have on the car to ensure the privacy of the clients. 

Are You Following The Law?

Five percent is typically the lowest you can go. In some states, you are not even allowed to get down to five percent. It is considered illegal.

This is probably because, with a five percent window tint, you can basically not see through the windows. It is a good privacy option but not a good option for driving visibility. 



Each state has its own rules. Make sure you know the laws for where you live. For example, if we look at Florida, the law is that the rear window needs to be 15 percent VLT, the back side windows need to be 15 percent VLT, and the front side windows need to be 28 percent VLT. 

Is Your Car Already Tinted? 

Something else to check when choosing a window tint percentage is whether or not your car is in fact already tinted. A lot of cars do actually come with some tinting. 

The typical range for window tinting is 15 to 20 percent with the factory window tint percentages. However, the tint can vary from car to car. It is always a good idea to find out if your car has window tint before doing any other work. 



Knowing this may change the percentage you want to choose to add to your car. You may end up going up or down in window tint percentage. 

Get Professional Advice

As with most things, it is always best to get a professional opinion. The professionals can help you decipher if your car is already tinted, what car tint percentage is best for you, and answer any questions you have about window tinting laws in your area. 

Not to mention that when you get the window tint installed on your vehicle, the professionals will make sure the installation goes smoothly and is doing perfectly.



Sometimes attempting to do this on your own means that the job will not be as high quality and the material or window tint that you buy may be cheaper and less professional as well. 

Palm Beach County's Premier Window Tinting Installers 

Tinting your car windows can make a significant difference in your driving experience. At David Wood Window Tinting, we specialize in auto, residential, commercial, and even marine window tinting. 

We can help you to find the perfect window tint percentage for your vehicle and make sure it is installed properly. 

Here at David Wood Window Tinting, we are an LLumar Select Pro dealer and premium FormulaOne High-Performance Auto Tint. You can rest assured knowing that you choose the company with the highest quality service in the area. 

Come and get your car windows tinted with us today!