Q: It seems like many vehicles purchased today already have tinted windows. Is that a correct assumption?

Harold: Actually, most of the vehicles that come from the factory have privacy glass, not a true tint. This means that car manufacturers aren’t actually providing full UV protection for interiors and passengers. It’s a real problem. People think they are protected from the sun, when in actuality they need to supplement with window tint film to be protected from harmful rays.

Q: So, if I'm coming into an automotive window film dealer and I have multiple options in front of me, what advice would you give to a car owner who is trying to select the right film for their car?

Harold: That will depend on what the car owner is looking for. ​​If they want maximum heat rejection, I would definitely recommend ceramic. In addition to that, darker film doesn't always mean higher heat rejection. If using a higher end film, you can go with 35% of fairly light ceramic and get as much heat rejection as a standard dyed limo film, or a dark 5% film.

Alternatively, if someone is pursuing aesthetics only, they probably just want a dark color, and they don't typically care about heat rejection. 

Q: You mentioned that darker films aren't always better, which brings me to my next question. Can you define what VLT means and how do I know which VLT is right for my car?

Harold: VLT stands for visible light transmission, and it's basically how much light the film allows to come through. So the lower the number, the less light transmitted. For example, a VLT of 5% is actually darker than a VLT of 50%. The 5% allows 5% of the light through the window, and the 50% allows 50% of the light to come through. Figuring out what VLT is right for you will depend on what state laws are and what you are looking for in terms of heat rejection and appearance. There are a lot of shops out there that unfortunately will just put whatever film you want, wherever you want. I am not one of those shops. I have nine grandkids who ride bikes and play in the street, and I want you to be able to see them because I love them. 

I’ll give you an example of state law from my home state of Arizona. The VLT parameters are 33% plus or minus 3%. So when a film is adhered to the glass, it can meter no darker than 30%. Rear windows can be whatever VLT you want as long as your front windows meter at or above 30%. Alternately, in California, you can have whatever VLT you want on your back windows, but you can do nothing on your front windows.

Be sure to ask your local window film dealer and installer if the tint shade you prefer will be within your state’s legal limits. They should be knowledgeable about state laws, and of course, you can come informed by visiting the IWFA website as previously mentioned.

Q: Are there films that have UV protection and heat rejection properties that don't have a “tint” to them? Meaning they look more clear for those who don’t enjoy the look of dark films?

Harold: Yes. There are very high end ceramic films that are extremely light that will reject UV, for example Avery Dennison Shield IR 80. In fact, all tint across the board is gonna have greater than 99% UV rejection. The differences come in with ceramics, which blockout infrared heat, the darker VLTs on all films are where you get your glare reduction. You have to have a somewhat dark film to achieve glare reduction. If anybody could ever come up with a, you know, clear film that blocked out a hundred percent of the glare, you'd be a billionaire instantly. But unfortunately that does not exist at the moment.

Q: Can you tell us about your experience with Avery Dennison Automotive Window films specifically? In your business and also when you are conducting training sessions, which Avery Dennison Automotive Window films are you using?

Harold: At my shop, I use the NR Pro, which is Avery Dennison’s mid-level film. I use that as my entry level film. I also use their IR ceramic film called NR Nano Ceramic as my high-end film and their Shield IR 80, which is their 80% VLT film. Those are the only options that I offer because a better/best scenario prevents customers from becoming too confused or bogged down with things like VLT details. From an installer point of view, Avery Dennison films all shrink and install the same across the board, which makes it nice and no need to change slip solutions.

Q: How long does a typical automotive window film installation take?

Harold: It depends upon the vehicle.There are some back windows on cars that are harder than others. But installing a full tint to front doors, back doors, quarter windows and the back window to an average four door like a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord, would be about an hour and a half to two hours on average.

Q: Is it typical practice to complete an installation in the same day or do folks drop their car off and come back the next day?

Harold: Most of the time it's a same day service, lasting only a couple of hours.

Q: How does pricing work for window film installation?

Harold: This is very difficult to answer because it varies across the country. There are some places in Florida, and I just use that as an example because you have all the ports there where shipping containers come in with oftentimes extremely cheap products. And people tint four door cars there for like $59, and again, you get what you pay for. But for a good film, four door cars start around $250 ish. And depending on the vehicle that price can go up to $1200-$1400 for ceramic films which are the most expensive.

Q: Do most window films come with a warranty? How does that work?

Harold: Nowadays almost all the manufacturers out there offer some type of warranty. Most of them are all “lifetime warranties.” Which means more for the installer as manufacturers will take care of them if any issues arise. On the consumer side, I would have them inquire about manufacturer warranties as well as any warranties provided by the installer on the labor side of things. For example here at my shop I provide a lifetime warranty on the labor on top of any manufacturer warranties.

If you are interested in learning more about automotive window film installation from Harold Nimtz, consider signing up for one of our Automotive Window Film training courses. For more information about automotive window film as an option for your car, to review Avery Dennison portfolio offerings and to find an installer near you, visit graphics.averydennison.com/awf.

More about Harold: Harold Nimtz has worked in the automotive industry since he was a freshman in high school and has been building clientele ever since, specializing in auto tint, vehicle wraps, store front and vehicle lettering, and has traveled the country working on large scale architectural jobs. He opened his own business, House of Tint, in 2005.