15% Window Tint

My two rear and back windows are factory tint. So, today I went to the tint shop to get tint applied to my two front side windows. I told them I just wanted to match the darkness with the back...

So, I just got 15% window tint (ceramic) applied to my two front windows, and it looks great! It also works well for heat. So, no more left arm sun burn when I drive haha

But, when I drove it at night today, I couldn't see a thing! I literally couldn't see the lanes when I turn left or right in an intersection. I also can't see the cars at night. The only thing I can see is the headlight.

Has anybody here ever got their tint redone to a lighter tint? How did the shop handle that situation?

On the receipt, it said no refunds. But there is no way I can continue to drive this way. Unfortunately, the shop is closed on Sundays, so I can't go back and ask until Monday.

 

They are definitely going to charge you for a re-tint. A good shop would give you a discount I believe. I have 35% on my work car that I drive at night and I believe I’m going to peel it off.

 

How much of a discount do shops normally give? I'm hoping I won't have to pay close to the original price. I kind of hope they just charge for removal.

Is 35% too dark at night? I was thinking of re-tinting it to 35%

 

Why would they owe you a refund? They tint windows, you asked for tint.

 

I'm not asking for a full refund or anything like that. I'm just not satisfied... Yes, they did a great job with helping me and doing what I asked.

But, this is my first time ever having window tint in the front, and I was totally unaware that it would be this bad at night.

 

I’m not sure if the ceramic fades like non ceramic. If it does, that’ll help a bit. Otherwise, they’ll most likely charge you to change it. Businesses are in business to make money, not to work for free.

When I had mine done, I couldn’t tell you what number they used but it’s not a 5 10 15 number, something in between. It’s not a perfect match but so close you can’t tell unless you really look.

 

Hopefully it does fade if I can't get a re-tint at a reasonable price... but if it does fade, it may take some years.

I totally agree with you that Businesses have to make their money as well. I have no problem with that, but I'm just hoping they don't charge me the original price again just to re-tint. That's why I'm asking on here to see if anybody ever gotten a re-tint before.

Btw, How it is driving at night with your window tint?

 

I’m fortunate in the fact that due to being a long time customer of about 30 years and referring multiple customers to the same shop, I’ve gotten retinted for free on many occasions. I’m not sure how other shops handle issues like yours.

I have no issues seeing through the tint at night. But I live in a big city with plenty of street lights.

 

Mass law. 35% tops

 

Not sure they would give you a discount. They did what you asked. They’re going to have to perform more labor in getting your old tint off, then put another layer of tint on. I would expect the same price if not more. Then if they offer a discount it would be a welcomed surprise. But me personally, I wouldn’t expect any discount.

As far as driving at night, the tint does make it a lil harder to see. But you do get used to it and it does fade a bit once it “cures”.

Still tho if I have trouble seeing, I use my fancy window switch to roll the window down, make my turn and all is good.

 

Just in case they didn’t tell you, you’re not supposed to roll the window down for x amount of time after getting it done. A mistake I’ve made a few times and had to get it redone.

 

Those are the words that matter.

It is your own mistake.

You can ask for a discount but the shop has no responsibility to give you a discount. If they do give you a discount you just cost them whatever the discount was in profit. Personally I'd own up and pay the full fare and consider it a lesson in life.

 

15% isn’t bad at all, try 5% and then we’ll talk lol!

 

Which ceramic tint?

Have had a few brands that have more or less visibility looking out. I bought a truck with 35pct unknown brand on the front windows and it has worse night visibility than the 3M ceramic 15pct I had on another car.

 

25% is the legal limit in TX on the front windows unless you have a medical exemption.

We have 5% on the front windows, and it is difficult to see things sometimes.

Before you offer to pay to have it redone, I would ask that they test the tint to make sure they didn’t accidentally put something darker than 15% on it.

What you’re describing sounds much darker than 15%.

 

How are you even seeing at night with 5%? What is your technique

 

I got 3M ceramic IR

 

Great advice! I'll see what they can do for me on Monday

 

That should be OK at 15pct, I had it on a Yaris and only rolled windows at night when it was snowing or raining

 

Wish I could say there’s a special technique besides just rolling down the windows.