Tag: window tinting

The Benefits of Tinting Your Car’s Windows

CC image 2000 Mustang GT by J Heffner on FlickrWindow tinting has grown in popularity over the years, and it’s one of the many techniques we specialize in at our shop.

Tinted windows are not just for young people who want to look “cool”. In fact, there are many benefits associated with adding some tint to your car’s windows. Not only will your car be cooler temperature-wise, but tinted windows can also protect you in the event of an accident. Check out the bullets below for an expanded list of benefits.

  • You’ll be cooler. Literally – Window tint is designed to block more than 70% of solar energy from entering your car. Not only will your car be cooler when you leave it parked in the sun, but it can keep you cool while you drive, minimizing the need for you to blast your AC unit.
  • Protect your skin – Window tint is made to block up to 99% of the sun’s harmful UV rays. If you spend a lot of time in your car, it may be worth having your windows tinted to decrease your exposure to UV rays.
  • Tinted windows shatter more safely than un-treated windows – Your car windows may shatter during a crash. Although the windows are designed to break in a safe manner, passengers can be in danger from flying glass when a window shatters. If tint is applied, the glass will break in one giant piece, meaning the occupants won’t be exposed to shards of flying glass.
  • Keep your car safe – Car theft is often an impulse crime. Although a thief may decide in advance he’s going to break into a car, they usually don’t break in unless they spot something worth taking, like a backpack or purse. Not only will tinted window prevent would-be thieves from spotting your valuables, but they also won’t be able to see if your car has a built in alarm.

Tinting Laws in Minnesota

Now that you’ve brushed up on the benefits of window tinting, you might be considering getting your windows darkened. We’d love to help you with the procedure, but there are certain laws and regulations that govern which windows you can tint, and how dark they can be tinted.

A look the Minnesota Tint Law reveals that the state has some pretty strict standards compared to the rest of the nation. In order to regulate how tinted a window can be, darkness is measure by Visible Light Transmission percentage (VLT%). As you can tell by its name, VLT measures the amount of visible light that can pass through the window. Below, you can see the minimum VLT percentage each window on a passenger car must let in.

  • Windshield – Tint is not allowed on the windshield.
  • Front Side Windows – At least 50% of the sunlight must be allowed through the tint.
  • Back Side Windows – At least 50% of the sunlight must be allowed through the tint.
  • Rear Windshield – At least 50% of the sunlight must be allowed through the tint.

The regulations are slightly different when it comes to different types of vehicles. On vehicles like an SUV, truck or minivan, the rear windows only need to have a VLT of 20%. In fact, most of these types of vehicles come with factory-installed tinted rear windows.

Lastly, window tint cannot reflect more than a certain percentage of light. This regulation helps protect you from blinding other drivers on the road. According to Minnesota law, tint cannot reflect more than 20% of the visible light on any window.

Related source: HowStuffWorks.com, TintLaws.com

5 Ways To Keep Your Parked Car Cool When It’s Hot

car in shadeSummer is here and that means hot weather for us Minnesotans. And while it’s great to be able to drive with the windows down after so many cold months, the summer heat can also really heat up your car when it’s parked for a long period of time.

No one likes stepping into a heat soaked car when it’s extremely hot out. So here are a few quick and easy things you can do to keep your car cool in these hot summer months.

  • Park in the Shade. This is the most obvious solution but may not always be an option. Naturally, shade will keep the sun away from you car and keep it cool in the process. Try to find trees on the edges of parking lots that you can park under.
  • Use a Windshield Sunshade. If you can’t park in the shade, the next best option is to use a sunshade. A windshield sunshade is a device made out of varying materials that you use to cover your windshield while it’s parked. The sunshade will reflect sunlight and keep your car cool as it protects from interior fading.
  • Cover Seats with Blankets. This is especially beneficial if you have leather seats. The blankets will absorb the heat and prevent the leather from heating up.
  • Crack the Windows. This will increase air movement so that hot air isn’t sitting stagnant in the car.
  • Get your Windows Tinted. This is the effective and long lasting solution. Having your car’s windows tinted will constantly reduce the amount of sun rays that enter your vehicle – keeping it cool throughout the summer.

Use these above methods to keep your vehicle cool in the summer and avoid burning yourself on your leather seats or seatbelt buckles.