Window tinting: film, darkness and fitters' prices
Which matters more, the film or the fitter?
Both do. The film decides how the car looks, how hot the cabin gets and how long the tint lasts. Dyed film is the cheapest, but it fades over time. Metallised film reflects heat better, but it can weaken your phone and GPS signal. Ceramic and heat-rejecting films cost the most, yet they block heat well and stay clear. The fitter is responsible for the finish: no bubbles, dust or scratches. So experience really counts.
What to put in your request
- which windows — rear side and back glass, front side windows, the windscreen or just a top strip, the whole car;
- darkness — the visible light transmission you want, for example 5% or 20%;
- make, model and body type — sedan, hatchback or estate, for example Toyota Camry;
- film — type and brand, such as Llumar, 3M or SunTek, or “suggest what suits me”;
- old film — whether the old tint must be removed first;
- city, timing and budget.
Example: “Toyota Camry, I need the rear side and back windows tinted with 5% film, heat-rejecting 3M, and a lighter film on the front side windows. Please remove the old tint at the back. Islamabad, today or tomorrow. Budget up to Rs 19,000.”
The rules and sensible darkness
The windscreen and front side windows must let enough light through, and there are limits on them. Breaking them can get you fined. Check the current rules, and in your request ask the fitter to suggest an option that stays within them. The rear windows are usually treated more leniently.
How to compare offers
The percentage alone tells you little: two films with the same darkness can differ a lot in heat rejection. Ask which film exactly, where it comes from, and whether there is a warranty from the maker and from the fitter. Check that the price includes removing old tint, finishing the edges and neat fitting around the defogger lines on the rear glass.
On BlaBlaPrice you describe your car and wishes once, and fitters reply in chat with the film, the price and a date. The site shows the best offer first, with reviews next to it. Fitters can see where they stand among the others and adjust their terms, and your contacts open only to the one you choose.
Common mistakes
- choosing a film that is too dark for the front windows and having to remove it later;
- not insisting on a clean, dry bay with no draughts;
- rolling the windows down in the first few days, before the film has dried;
- saving money on film that has no warranty against fading and turning purple.
If the glass has cracks or chips, replace or repair it first and tint afterwards. For other services, see Car & motorcycle servicing.
