Getting a darker window tint isn't always cooler. Here’s what to consider if you want them for your car

If you’re considering getting your car windows tinted as we swelter in this extreme heat wave, there’s some trade offs to consider.

Tinting is legal in California, but there are strict guidelines on what you can and cannot darken.

Law enforcement and insurance experts say it’s all about safety, but manufacturers believe it could add some shady relief from the heat to your ride.

What are the benefits to tinting? 

Marc Bagely, the segment marketing manager for 3M's personal auto business, told LAist there’s several different kinds of window films and tints that have varying benefits for drivers.

“The reason why somebody would want to get tinted in the first place is typically for either UV protection or infrared rejection, which is the heat that you feel from the sun,” he said.

Dyed films are good at blocking heat, he said, while ceramic films might be a bit better at keeping you cool. Another option is multilayer optical films that can have the same benefits without a super dark tint, Bagely added.

When it comes to UV protection, UVA rays are usually associated with skin aging, while UVBs are more connected to sunburns, and Bagely said you want to ideally block out both.

Infrared light is the heat you feel from the sun, and the rejection will depend on which option you install.

“One of the largest strains on EVs is running your air conditioning to keep your car cool,” he said. “Well, if you're blocking out a lot of that heat, then you theoretically don't have to run your AC as long. That can also, in certain cases, help improve the efficiency of your vehicle.”

It can also reduce glare, which Bagely noted can make longer drives more comfortable.

What are California’s regulations?

In California, you’re not allowed to drive a vehicle with any object or material placed, installed, or applied that “obstructs or reduces the driver's clear view through the windshield or side windows.”

Basically, that means you can’t seriously darken any part of the car except the rear windows, Alec Pereyda, public information officer with the California Highway Patrol’s Southern Division, told LAist.

However, you can tint the top four inches of your windshield to a certain degree, and he said many newer models will have a little marker to show where it should stop.

You can also put a clear, colorless material designed to block UV rays on the front side windows, as long as the material is under a specific shade degree. But if it tears or bubbles, you’ll have to remove or replace it.

Otherwise, it’s illegal, and you can get pulled over.

“The California Highway Patrol definitely stops people on a regular basis for this,” Pereyda said. “Especially here in California, it seems like every car out there has tint around the entire vehicle, so it's pretty easy for an officer to see that and pull them over.”

If you do get pulled over, Pereyda said you’ll get a fix-it ticket, otherwise known as a correctable violation. That means you’ll have to remove the tint from wherever it’s not supposed to be and bring the ticket back to a CHP office for their sign-off.

The potential drawbacks

There are several safety concerns with tinted windows, including if someone needs to break into your car after a crash or medical emergency.

Your car’s front glass is meant to shatter in a certain way, Pereyda said, and any adhesive or affixed tint could complicate that for first responders.

“It's pretty much imagining like you have a clear piece of tape over your windows,” he said. “It's just another layer you have to get through.”

Anlleyn Venegas, senior public affairs specialist with the Automobile Club of Southern California, told LAist that while it will keep your car cooler, tinting can also make driving more dangerous, especially at night.

If it's affixed to the front windshield or way too dark, she said it makes it more difficult to communicate with others around you, including making eye contact with people crossing the street.

“You want to make sure that you are both looking at each other and there's that, you know, visual communication,” Venegas said. “It's just safer for drivers, pedestrians, and just everybody sharing the streets and the road.”

If you’re unsure about what you want to tint falls within the legal limits, most shops should be able to test it for you, she said. But you could also purchase a tool called a tint meter and do it yourself, with options ranging from around $50 to $250.