a quality tint (3m, etc) is adviseable, if you want it to last at all.
Any shop you get it done at should be able to do the following:
- let you see their workshop area (not the front office... the workshop)
- let you see samples of their work, either customer cars, or their own.
- be able to show you different slips of tint against your OWN CAR, so you can make a choice with real-world visuals.
- allow you to pay the BALANCE afterwards. Pay after the job.
- have a SET price for this job.. not "around 200"... etc, etc. get a work estimate in writing, and possibly even the actual job order receipt. (illegal tint levels will usually be done without a job order, to avoid trace-routes to their shop, but a business card with their signature will suffice for warranty work, etc)
Expect to pay more for illegal levels.
- ask about warranties for peeling, bubbling, or fading (quality tint should NEVER fade...)
Pick the darkest tint you can legally obtain (if that is your chosen route, but within that tint level, you have options such as mirror, or solid black, colored, etc.
Mirror and colored tints will make it seem darker, however the light levels blocked will not be higher. (visually you will look "more" illegal..)a solid color will block as much, and LOOK lighter than mirror.
The color of your interior will affect the appearance of tint level, but not the effect it has.
I am an advocate of doing all windows the same level vice 35/20 split, etc.
Factor in factory tint/uv levels when determining your LEGAL status. (my 20% all around is actually 13% with factory UV protection.
Also remember that tint can block UV (fading, etc) and light (heat) and the levels that it blocks can be different.. (blocks tons of light, but your interior still fades as fast as untinted, or vice versa, etc. Ask what levels your tint provides..
Having been in Florida, I can tell you that legal tint will help tremendously. However, keep in mind that going from say 35%, to 20% will not simply be 15% better.. it will be almost twice as cool in there, because you are blocking twice as much light.. (you are twice as close to "zero", aka painted black)
Ray
