We just got a new car and I'm thinking about getting the windows tinted.

I went to tint world for quote. Not only were they expensive, they were skeezy as fuck.

So any recommendations on products or shops would be greatly appreciated.

The car is a 2012 ford focus hatchback and I've heard on forums that the job should run between 200 to 300.

Thanks

7/14/2012 10:59:18 PM

From what Ive seen on here, Pete at TVP is the place to go. I no longer live in the area so I cant really provide much first hand feedback.

If all else fails, I would call up some dealerships (Porsche, BMW, etc) and let them know you just purchased a car they sell and want a recommendation for a place that does a good job on window tints. I did this in Cincinnati and ended up at a whole in the wall in Cincinnati, per my Audi dealership, and am thrilled with the result.

7/14/2012 11:03:01 PM

sun protection does all my stuff. call kathy and see what she will set you up for.

7/15/2012 11:00:08 AM

A guy I know has a shop and has been doing window tinting for close to 15-20 years, but he's in Kinston. No clue what his rates are, but I know he's a stand-up guy.

Let me know if you want his info.

7/15/2012 4:17:40 PM

^ Yeah, most definitely. Could you pm it to me?

7/15/2012 4:58:19 PM

PM sent!

7/15/2012 5:58:09 PM

you won't find anybody better than Pete at TVP

7/15/2012 7:06:34 PM

go see Pete @ tvp

7/15/2012 7:26:29 PM

Just another +1 for Pete & Rich(?) at TVP Auto. He had a Bentley and a new corvette in the shop when I got there... I guess I was the day's po'man.

5/30/2014 2:51:58 PM

I much prefer Tinted Atmosphere. Pete from TVP did an okay job on the Lexus. There were a ton of dust particles and a hair or two caught in the rear tint of my wife's IS250. i had him redo it 2 times and each time was no real improvement over the former. He said that it's hard and I was being a bit picky, though per his policy he'd be "happy" to keep trying. I also had ghosting on the widows and had him redo those once. The second time around was much better, but some ghosting is still present if you have the right light conditions. I stopped having him fix the rear after the third try. It wasn't terrible, but you could notice it easily if you looked for it.

Tinted Atmosphere has never given me any problems. Quality installation with same lifetime warranty. I go there for all my tinting needs.

[Edited on May 30, 2014 at 7:26 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on May 30, 2014 at 7:27 PM. Reason : .]

5/30/2014 7:26:04 PM

How is tinted atmosphere price wise?? I'm looking for the best price to do my ls400 which has some funky pillar/window intricacies.

5/31/2014 3:04:21 PM

we have a bit of ghosting in a window and they also werent able to handle the little dots at the edge of the window, i'm probably going to try someone else next time i need tinting

[Edited on May 31, 2014 at 3:51 PM. Reason : .]

5/31/2014 3:50:40 PM

What about A1?

5/31/2014 4:08:19 PM

Any more input??

6/21/2014 1:49:47 AM

I have got all my cars done at tinted atmosphere. Nothing but flawless work from them that I have experienced.

6/23/2014 1:43:07 PM

Anybody ever used tint world in Cary? They have a living social deal

6/27/2014 10:49:33 AM

^ that place is sketch. buddy of mine got a groupon for a $100 wash there and they did a real shitty job. check their Yelp reviews...some of them look like fake.

I think i'm gonna try Formula All Pro Tine One in North Raleigh. Great reviews and same owner for 20 something years. - http://www.allprotint.com/<]

6/27/2014 10:54:32 AM

^^,^FWIW, I did a groupon deal in the past (detail+tint) and it was a good experience. Detail was top notch, tint was top notch, well worth what I paid. No clue on their normal prices/work, but at least what they did for me that one time was good work.

[Edited on June 27, 2014 at 3:22 PM. Reason : .]

6/27/2014 3:21:40 PM

do you remember what you paid? and what grade of tint you got? how long ago did you do it?

Ive been doing tons of reading about the different film types and brands cant decide

6/27/2014 11:23:55 PM

definitely not trolling here but have an honest question...

what's the advantage to window tinting? I know private investigators sometimes do this for anonymity etc, but what's he purpose for the average person?

6/28/2014 5:52:25 PM

i do it to keep the interior cooler, it makes a big difference
(i also like the way it looks, but looks alone wouldn't be enough for me to spend $200-$300 for it)

6/28/2014 7:30:53 PM

^ what he said. looks cool but more importantly makes it cool by blocking heat and uv which also saves your leather and the cars.

6/28/2014 8:47:35 PM

what is TVP?

I got my last car done at North Raleigh Auto Spa for $200 and I was happy with it.

Anywhere that does a good job for less?

7/7/2014 11:45:10 AM

^ I do like that place for detailing...

Quote :

"what he said. looks cool but more importantly makes it cool by blocking heat and uv which also saves your leather and [your skin]"

[Edited on July 7, 2014 at 1:46 PM. Reason : ^ http://www.tvpauto.com/tint.html]

7/7/2014 1:45:56 PM

Quote :

"do you remember what you paid? and what grade of tint you got? how long ago did you do it? Ive been doing tons of reading about the different film types and brands cant decide"

Not exactly. The groupon was $30 for a detail and $100 their ultimate tint package. I remember the total being something in the mid $100s. Film quality was fine and I never had any issues with it.

7/7/2014 4:56:18 PM

Pete @ TVP did my Accord for $180. 32% tint

7/7/2014 11:38:39 PM

Anyone used Tinted Image in Garner?

7/14/2014 7:20:32 PM

what's the maximum legal % tint you can have? and can you do everything but the front and rear windshields?

i realize it's personal preference, but what's a "reasonable" percentage for someone who just wants to keep the car cooler? i've got a ruby red 2014 focus hatchback that i want to get tinted, but don't want to look like i'm trying too hard

10/21/2014 8:03:36 AM

^35% minus a 3% acceptable deviation. So technically 32%; however, your factory film is a few percent, so most shops will still put 35%ish film on just so you stay legal.

And it's not terribly dark, so don't go any lighter. Seriously.

Can't tint windshields in NC (below AS1 line)
35% (32%) is legal on all vehicles on all other windows
Private passenger cars have a max of 35% (32%) for those other windows
Trucks/SUVs have no maximum for all windows behind the driver; 35% (32%) max for front side windows.

Here is 32%ish tint on my ruby red fusion:

It was a cloudy day, at a good angle to show the tint as darker. In the sun, you can see through it fairly well.

and: http://www.ncdot.gov/download/dmv/inspection_windowtinting.pdf

[Edited on October 21, 2014 at 9:06 AM. Reason : .]

10/21/2014 8:59:00 AM

Print the waiver form, go to a eye doctor and get it signed. Do 20% FTW

10/21/2014 9:02:43 AM

^is any doctor willing give you a false diagnosis so you can get illegal tint (and redo that every 5 years)?

[Edited on October 21, 2014 at 9:09 AM. Reason : .]

10/21/2014 9:08:55 AM

It doesn't specify what medical conditions apply, so if you get headaches from sun just find a doctor to fill out the form

10/21/2014 9:38:06 AM

Seems like any doctor worth a damn would want to investigate the issue, rather than sign some DMV form...

10/21/2014 9:40:28 AM

Just got a new to me car. I guess because I test drove during the day I didn’t realize how dark the tint is. I have very good vision but feel unsafe at night. In Texas 25% is allowed versus 35% in NC, and no limit on rear side windows. How can I determine what percentage my tint is? I feel like it can’t be legal even in Texas. Is it expensive to have removed? I don’t think back windshield is legal either(25% as well); at night without camera in reverse, I can not see anything when I back out of a spot.

[Edited on December 20, 2019 at 9:50 PM. Reason : Old car has nc legal tint and i can see fine]

12/20/2019 9:48:54 PM

removal is free if you have the patience

12/21/2019 1:32:12 PM

Sounds like 5% or less.
I have 5% over factory 20% and it is very dark.

12/23/2019 10:59:45 PM