Find Your Tint: A Guide to Car Window Tinting Percentages

Choosing the perfect window tint for your car starts with knowing the options. We've got you covered with this guide to car window tinting percentages.

If you’re like most U.S. drivers, you’re always looking for ways to make yourself more comfortable behind the wheel. Given that we spend an average of 290 hours driving 10,000 miles per year, it’s safe to say that a little added comfort can go a long way!

That’s where auto window tints come in. These thin films can enhance your driving experience in surprising ways—provided that you choose the right option. But when it comes to car window tinting percentages, picking the perfect one can seem harder than it should.

If this struggle sounds familiar, we’re here to help. Let’s take a quick look at what you should know about car window tinting percentages, and how to choose the right one for your needs.

Understanding Visible Light Transmission

First things first: if you want to understand different car window tinting percentages, you’ll have to understand VLT. Visible light transmission, or VLT, refers to the percentage of light that can pass through a window film. This is the factor we’re talking about when we discuss window tinting percentages for a car.

However, it’s important to know that a window film’s VLT indicates the percentage of light that can pass through a window, not the percentage that is blocked. In other words, window tints with a higher VLT actually let more light pass through a window than tints with a lower VLT.

As an example, a window film with a VLT of 35% will allow 35% of visible light to filter into your car while blocking the remaining 65%. On the other hand, a window film with a VLT of 5% will let far less light through—only 5%—while blocking the remaining 95% of the light.

It’s also worth noting that VLT percentages commonly refer to window tints that come in shades of black, the most common window tinting option by far. Drivers who opt for a window tint in another hue will find that the manufacturer lists both the color and a percentage as the VLT, such as “red 35%.”

This is because window tints in other shades will have different light-filtering qualities than the traditional black films. In other words, you’ll need to pay close attention to how a colored window film looks before taking the plunge for installation on your vehicle.

What to Expect From the Most Common VLT Options

Most major window film manufacturers will offer a range of tints in a few standard VLTs: 50%, 35%, 20%, and 5%. As discussed above, this spectrum ranges from allowing more light into your car to allowing less light.

A tint of 50% is one of the more common choices our team tends to see, as this option will block half of the light that enters your vehicle while allowing great visibility.

A tint of 35% blocks more light while remaining easy enough to see through, allowing drivers to remain safe while enjoying darker, luxury-inspired windows.

A tint of 20% offers great privacy, darkening your windows enough to keep bystanders from peeking inside.

Last is a tint of 5%, which blocks the vast majority of light. However, this tint is illegal in most states, including the state of New Jersey.

It’s easiest to find window tints in this standard range, but you can also find more specific shades as needed with a bit more work. This is especially helpful when you want to match the specific factory tint of your vehicle, for example, as most cars come with tints of somewhere between 15-20%.

Lighter vs. Darker Car Window Tinting Percentages

As you work to understand and narrow down your options for window tinting, you’ll probably start asking yourself a broad question: should I go lighter or darker?

In general, lighter tints can be the better option if you’re on the fence between two percentages. This is the case for several reasons.

First, lighter tints still offer the health benefits you’d get from darker tints, namely the ability to block up to 99% of UV radiation. These tints also allow you increased visibility at night, enhancing your safety. What’s more, you might even find that darker window tinting can increase your car insurance rates in some cases!

Choosing the Best Tint Percentage

As you weigh your options to find the best tint percentage for your car, there are a few key factors to keep in mind.

The state of New Jersey allows car window tinting, but there are strict laws about the percentages you can choose. Your permitted VLT will depend on the type of vehicle you drive and which windows you want to tint.

In addition, if you’re planning to drive your car in any nearby states, it’s worth considering their laws as well. Opt for the lightest possible VLT that adheres to the law in all places you plan to drive.

Some drivers are looking for a specific aesthetic when they tint their car windows. Whether you want something a bit darker than your factory tint or you’re looking for the dark and classy look of luxury limo windows, finding the right VLT for your desired aesthetic can help.

In terms of privacy and security, your chosen VLT makes a big difference.

Lower VLTs can make it harder for other drivers and onlookers to see into your car. This means added privacy and security from would-be thieves, but it can also make it hard for other drivers to see gestures like a wave to indicate permission to pull in front of you.

As mentioned above, one of the benefits of car window tints is that even higher VLTs block up to 99% of UV radiation—which is why the Skin Cancer Foundation is a major advocate of window tints for all drivers.

However, darker tints can offer added protection to any drivers with conditions that make them more sensitive to sunlight. If you’re looking for enhanced health benefits, a darker tint may be right for you.

We get it: debating the pros and cons of different car window tinting percentages can be tough, especially since it can be hard to envision the final look. That’s why our team has a range of tools to help, including our online auto window film viewer, which lets you take a peek at what your car would look like with different tints.

In addition, our experienced pros are happy to advise you on the best tints for your needs and preferences. We’ve worked with a huge range of satisfied drivers throughout New Jersey, and we’re here to help you find the perfect shade for your vehicle. For more information, contact us today at The Window Tinters or reach out for a free estimate.