Privacy and UV Protection Tint: Invest in Your Comfort & Peace of Mind

Why install a privacy window film?

For an extra level of comfort and protection from the dangerous sunlight. Modern kinds of sun-blocking window film can reduce the exposure to UV rays by up to 99%! That significantly cools the temperature in the car down, helping you to save gas, as you need less air conditioning. 

In this article, we will talk about the benefits and types of privacy and UV protection tint. Once you decide which service is right for you, our team at Tinting Chicago is ready to carry out the window film installation to the very highest standards. Privacy and UV protection films are the most popular in our shops! But we still offer you the best prices. Give a call to our 24/7 customer service for a consultation or a free estimate!

What is the difference between privacy glass and privacy car window tint?

Car manufacturers know that many customers prefer tinted windows and often offer privacy glasses fitted to their cars. However, you shouldn’t confuse privacy glass and window tint film as these are two different solutions. 

Privacy glass is glass that has a coloring pigment added during the manufacturing process. It offers no other benefits other than darkening. Therefore privacy glass has only one function, as indicated by its name.

4 main benefits of privacy and UV protection tint

Window tinting films for privacy and UV protection have a number of functions:

1. Creating a comfortable and private environment in your car — you are protected from unwanted outside attention and can leave your belongings in the car without worry.
2. UV protection and heat reduction — are important both for human health and the car’s interior, including protection for electronics, upholstery, and other items inside your car that may be susceptible to heat and sun damage. 
3. Energy-saving — tinted windows help regulate the interior temperature of your car when it’s in the sun. This means you won’t need to use your air conditioner as much thereby reducing fuel consumption.
4. Safety in the event of an accident — tinting film helps to hold glass shards together if a window breaks, reducing the risk of injury.

Types of privacy and UV protection films

There are many quality films that will give you optimal privacy and UV protection. It is very important to choose the right kind and the right brand. Here at Tinting Chicago we work with one of the top brands in the industry — Rayno. According to your goals, our specialists can advise whether you should install clear or colored car window films. Both of them have high protection and sun-blocking properties. We generally don’t recommend metalized tint films to our customers as there are other film choices on the market today that are much better. 

Installing privacy and UV protection tint? Know your window tint laws 

Rules regulating how dark your car windows are can differ in different states. You can check the rules for your state at the official Tinting Laws website. 

It is worth noting that there are different rules about the darkest legal tint you can have for different kinds of windows (front side, back windows, rear window, and windshield). For example, it is illegal in all states to tint your windshield: you can only apply a 6-inch window tint strip on it. A rear window or a sunroof can have films of any darkness installed. When choosing a film for your car, don’t forget to also check the reflectivity of the window tint. 

We know that these rules can be a little bit intimidating — feel free to contact our customer service 24/7 in case you have any questions. In our shops we have special stands with all the main kinds of car window films installed: you are welcome to pop in and have a chat with one of our specialists who can walk you through all details and help you choose the right tinting option based on your specific needs. 

According to the rules of different states mentioned above, a privacy film that is too dark is not legal as it can increase the risk of accidents. But it may be useful to know that some states have medical exemptions that allow the use of darker window tints for people who need to avoid harmful UV rays for medical reasons. You can check exemptions that apply in your state here.

A little history behind privacy and protection films

Car owners began to seek increased privacy inside their cars more than 50 years ago. Responding to this demand, the tinting industry was born in the early 1980s. After a while, it became clear that car window tinting also provided other benefits such as heat control and UV protection. In 1985 when the market for window films was growing fast, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] asked major manufacturers to conduct research into how such films impact road safety. The first research was undertaken by the IIT Research Institute in Chicago.

Based on the results of this research, the industry settled on a recommended guideline of at least 35% visible light transmission (VLT) for window film for standard passenger cars and front-side windows of other vehicles such as trucks, SUVs, and off-road vehicles.