Window Tinting Quote & Carbon vs Ceramic

I am planning to get window tinting on my Tacoma. My plan is to do legal limit on front sides and clear on back sides, rear, and windshield. I live in Alabama and my primary objective is heat reduction and UV protection. I've never had tinted windows, so wanted to get some forum advice before I pull the trigger. I did some research and the most reputable shop I have found is quoting me:
1) Carbon Ceramic - 53% heat reduction - $235 sides/back + $169 windsheld = $404
2) Ceramic - 55% heat reduction - $303 sides/back + $203 windshield = $506
3) Higher grade ceramic (Prestige Ceraluxe) - 65% heat reduction - $357 sides/back + $230 windshield = $587

First question - do these quotes seem reasonable? Seems high relative to what I see others have posted, but maybe that is because others aren't doing windshield?

Second question - should I go with the carbon ceramic or the higher grade ceramic without carbon. The guy I spoke to at the shop said both have about the same UV protection and fairly minimal differences on heat, so it seemed to me like the carbon ceramic was the way to go, but I don't know anything about window tinting.

 

They seem high but that's compared to what I paid years ago when I was in California. I got 3M ceramic on all windows including 70% windshield for less than $400. Like said above it will all vary with manufacturers and installers.

 

Either one will work for you. I have Suntek carbon film and it’s been great for the last 4.5yrs. No fade and still works like it did day 1.

we put ceramic on our GX460 and it’s a bit more noticeable on the heat reduction.

Is it worth the premium to go with ceramic? Up to you to decide.

 

Not necessarily true, snowflake. Besides four years is not that long ago and I highly doubt tint prices are that volatile.

 

The best thing to do is get quotes from multiple tint shops in your area. That will give you a good picture of what prices are.

 

I can't really say those prices seem high but last time I paid for tint was over 10 years ago. I think I paid about 130 to get the 2 side windows on my Jeep done. No clue how good the film was but it's still on the vehicle and looks great to this day.
I'd probably choose the mid price estimate you got for side and back myself.

Why are you tinting the windshield and are you doing the entire windshield or only the top 3 inches? I know some states are different, we are only allowed to tint the top 3 inches to 70% in Pennsylvania.

 

Thanks for the responses so far. I already checked the AL thread and got quotes from the two top rated places in BHM. My main goal is heat reduction and UV protection, so the windshield will be clear film. Understood on the price variation from place to place.

Anyone have strong opinions based on ownership experience of Carbon vs ceramic? I’m leaning towards just doing the higher grade ceramic since my priority is heat reduction.

 

Just make sure you check that the ceramic doesn’t interfere with any antennas inside the truck. I went with basic tint on my Audis because the ceramic tint has been known to cause interference with the gps antenna inside the car. Not sure if this is also true with Tacomas.

 

ceramic is the best for heat reduction. Based on that alone I would go with that. In my opinion I like Suntek film, more specifically their CIR film. It’s one of the best ceramic films on the market.

 

With the AC on, I don’t think you’ll notice that much of a difference.
The biggest difference you’ll notice right away is the windshield for sure.

 

I just got a quote in PA for ceramic. $175 for the windshield and $100 for the fronts. Seemed alright to me. This company:
https://cpautospa.com/

 

Check out Wes at https://www.deporterdetailing.com

 

I've had everything from cheap 120 dollar films: mostly comedic
Tried a carbon film: better but IMO wasn't worth the price for a minor bump in heat rejection
Now have ceramic on every single window. I hate heat, so was very willing to pay for the extra heat rejection. IMO its worth the money. My windshield was tinted with 70% ceramic, but had to replace it after a large crack. I can distinctly feel the difference between sun coming through my non tinted windshield and my other windows with 35% on the fronts.

 

You totally get what you pay for w/ tint down the road in a couple of years...

 

Had every piece of glass (including sunroof) on my taco done for $450 OTD in CO with that shop's top of the line ceramic last year. IMO the ceramic is worth it. I honestly kind of got used to it and then when my GF got her new Rav4 last week I got in and all I could notice was the heat coming through the windows. Hers is getting done at the same place soon with the same stuff.

 

I'm in NE Alabama and just paid $140 to tint the driver's and passenger windows and add a strip across the top of the windshield, keeping it all legal. I kept the back and cab windows ('15 AC base model) factory. They also added some smoked headlight tint that I had purchased and provided, which is technically illegal

I didn't bother with the clear heat reduction stuff as it was explained to me that it'll slow down the warming process, but if your car is sitting in the sun for a few hours, it'll still get hot in the cab... just at a slower rate. The extra cost wasn't worth it to me.

I went to Pro-Tint in Boaz. Oh, and they said that their tint work had a lifetime warranty. (Not the headlight stuff since that was just a service charge and not their materials so they couldn't speak to the long-term durability.)

 

I haven't had my windows tinted yet but I think the biggest thing to look out for is metallic tints interfering with you radio antennas. My last car AM became completely unusuable.

 

How do you like the window strip form the inside & the look on the outside? Any pictures? Getting my fronts tinted monday and might do the same thing on windshield

 

The dealer didn’t do this for you ? My state the trucks come already tinted . Did u special order it ?

 

Tinted or colored glass?