When done right, car window tinting strikes an artful balance between form and function.
Nobody can deny that aftermarket tint provides a distinct look that can enhance a vehicle’s curb appeal, but the accessory’s benefits also include:
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Blocking UV rays that can cause harm in more ways than one
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Keeping your car’s interior cool during warm months
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Providing additional privacy
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Establishing extra damage protection from collisions
Predicting the price for tinting a four-door car can be challenging, but that’s why we’re here. Below, we’ll explore factors that influence window tinting costs, such as vehicle class, film type, and more. By the end, you’ll have enough knowledge to guide yourself toward an informed and satisfying purchase.
Understanding Four-Door Car Window Tinting Basics
Tinting a car’s windows involves applying a thin film to a vehicle’s glass to darken it. This film is available in an array of materials and shades.
Tint percentage, often called Visible Light Transmission (VLT), represents the amount of visible light passing through window film. The VLT percentage spectrum ranges from 5% to 90%, with 5% being the darkest. In other words, if a window has a 5% VLT, it has a 95% tint. Factory vehicles often have privacy glass for their rear windows, which typically has a VLT of around 15% to 20% to enhance privacy while reducing sunlight glare.
Types of Car Window Tint and Their Average Costs
The most common types of window tint are dyed, metalized, carbon, and ceramic.
Dyed Tint Cost (Four-Door Car)
Dyed film is the most affordable and common window tint option. It won’t block any UV rays, but it’ll give your vehicle the tinted look many drivers seek. You’ll typically pay between $200 and $400 to tint a four-door car with dyed film.
While sun and heat exposure over time will result in dyed tint fading, discoloring, and bubbling, the product will generally last three to five years. Dyed film often comes with a lifetime warranty, but the protection likely won’t cover fading that shows after two to five years.
Metalized Window Tint Average Cost (Four-Door Car)
Metalized window tint film utilizes a metallic layer to increase heat and UV blockage over its dyed counterpart. However, their primary downside is a tendency to interrupt GPS and radio signals. Metalized film is slightly more expensive than its dyed counterpart, often costing around $200 to $500 for a four-door car.
Like dyed film, metalized tint warranties typically don’t cover fading, which will occur after two to five years. In essence, metalized window tint offers more utility than dyed film without breaking the bank.
Carbon Window Tint Average Cost (Four-Door Car)
Carbon window tint film has a matte finish visually complementing its ability to offer the same general benefits as ceramic film at a lesser price. These benefits include quality heat and UV protection and quality fade resistance. Average installation costs run between $250 and $650 for a four-door car.
Ceramic Window Tint Average Cost (Four-Door Car)
Ceramic window film is the most expensive option due to its peak performance in areas like UV protection, durability, and visibility. Nano-ceramic particles are the x-factor, allowing ceramic window tint to establish itself as a top-shelf option. You’ll pay between $550 and $950 or more when tinting a four-door vehicle with ceramic tint.
This higher average price range is partially attributed to the complex installation process, which requires special techniques to accommodate the film’s thicker, less flexible nature.
The Impact of Vehicle Specs on Window Tinting Costs
A four-door vehicle’s class will naturally influence tint prices since different cars have varying window numbers and sizes. Tinting four-door SUVs costs more on average than four-door sedans because their windows are typically larger.
When tinting a four-door car, the job often includes tinting the front and back passenger windows and the rear window. Many drivers won’t tint their windshields because states have stricter regulations for this area. For example, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey don’t allow tinting on the front windshield, while many states restrict tinting to the windshield’s top portion, known as a visor strip.
You can expect to pay $200 to $600 when tinting a four-door sedan and $250 to $750 or more to tint a four-door SUV. Beyond film type, installation quality will impact costs, as professional work tends to come with warranty protection and quality assurance.
When hiring professional help, evaluate a service’s reputation and reviews, expertise, experience, and facility cleanliness. DIY tint kits cost less, but they have a higher potential for bubbles, creases, or peeling since installation requires skill and tailored knowledge.
A Basic Overview of the Tint Application Process
After arriving at a tint shop, a technician will park your vehicle in a wind—and dust-free environment. Shop owners routinely vacuum and clean these spaces to ensure they remain clear of contaminants that can get within the film’s adhesive and the vehicle’s glass. According to Madico, a technician must also clean both sides of your windows to remove dirt and residue from things like stickers and other debris.
The technician then measures your windows and cuts the film to match these dimensions. Installation experts lay film on top of your car’s windows for more precise cuts before using a heat gun to shrink the film and help curve it to the glass. Technicians often install film from top to bottom, smoothing out any asymmetrical points.
Next, professionals will remove the cut film and place it on a glass peel board for further refinement in areas like the edges. This stage typically includes removing the film’s release liner. The film is positioned by spraying soapy water onto the window along the film, which allows the sheet to move. This soap solution is removed before the film is pressed and secured firmly to the glass.
Technicians use plastic scrapers to smooth bubbles and edges. A heat gun can help finalize any drying for the soap solution. Drivers generally need to wait three days to roll down their windows following installation so the tint dries. However, this drying process can take up to a few weeks.
FAQ: Four-Door Car Window Tint
Find answers to some of the most frequently-asked questions about four-door car window tint below.
How Long Does a Four-Door Car’s Window Tint Last?
Film type and installation quality will primarily dictate how long your vehicle’s tint lasts. Dyed tint typically lasts three to five years, while metalized film can last five to ten years. Carbon and ceramic tints often last for ten or more years.
Is It True That Tint Can Help Stop Windows From Shattering?
It’s not a myth that tint can prevent windows from shattering. Tint significantly enhances a window’s ability to resist shattering because the film holds broken glass pieces.
Can Insurance Cover Aftermarket Tint?
Standard car insurance likely won’t cover aftermarket tint, but custom parts and equipment or aftermarket parts and equipment policies can. Coverage terms and limits may vary by policy.
Is It Legal to Tint a Four-Door Car in All States?
While all states allow drivers to tint four-door vehicles, the number of windows approved for tinting, the tint VLT, film color, and reflectivity percentage vary by state. For example, Vermont and New Hampshire ban tinting front passenger windows.
How Much Does It Cost to Remove Tint From a Four-Door Car?
Removing old tint from a four-door car costs less than installing tint at around $150 to $250 on average.
Start Your Four-Door Vehicle Window Tinting Journey With Oiwa Garage
Oiwa Garage helps drivers get the car window tint of their dreams with an extensive inventory of products accommodating coupes, sedans, and trucks in varying colors, VLTs, and more. We give you an array of choices so you can find a selection matching your needs and preferences while remaining within your budget.
Contact us today to get started giving your vehicle more privacy, UV protection, and curb appeal with aftermarket tint.
