By Lori Straus
Window tinting has come a long way from being just another add on to improve your car’s looks. Because of the materials available today to tint your windows, you’ll realize more benefits that could change your mind and motivate you to pick up the phone to book an appointment. In this blog post, we’ll cover the basics of window tinting, the benefits, and current laws about window tinting in Ontario.
Benefits of Tinting Car Windows
Tinting the windows of your car helps in several ways.
For starters, dermatologists and ophthalmologists have noticed an increase in skin cancer and cataracts on the left side of adults in North America who drive a lot. Having windows tinted with a film that blocks out UVA rays can significantly reduce your chances of skin cancer if you drive frequently.
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation in the United States, both UVA and UVB rays can cause sunburns and tanning, which increase your risk for skin cancer. Window glass usually filters out most UVB rays, but UVA rays can still get through. Moreover, they can reflect off water or snow, so simply having shade over your head isn’t necessarily enough.
Secondly, depending on the film used to tint your windows, you reduce the risk of your glass shattering in a car accident. Although all glass out of the factory is now tempered to prevent massive shards from slicing through you in an accident, tinting can help keep the smaller shards from falling into the cabin.
A third benefit of tinting your car windows is reducing the heat that reaches the cabin. This not only makes the cabin much more comfortable when you get inside after the car has sat in the sun for a few hours, it also helps prevent the materials in your cabin from cracking and fading.
Options for Tinting Your Car Windows
Tinting car windows in the factory is only available for new car orders. For used cars, you have several options for third-party film tints.
- Carbon window tint is a matte finish that blocks out a good amount of infrared radiation (IR). IR is the main reason the inside of your vehicle is so hot after the vehicle has sat in the sun for a few hours in the summer.
- Metallic window tinting leaves a reflective finish on your windows and blocks UVA radiation, the primary culprit that causes signs of aging in our skin.
- Crystalline window tints provide both IR and UVA protection without darkening your windows.
- Ceramic tints block nearly 50% of the heat produced by the sun, 99.9% of UVA rays, and they do not restrict visibility.
Ontario Laws About Window Tinting
Window tinting is graded based on how much light the tint allows through. Laws change from time to time, so always check the current law before tinting your windows. However, at time of writing, the windshield in Ontario may not be tinted at all, and the front driver and passenger windows may only be tinted to 30% opacity. In other words, 70% of light must transfer through the window. There is no limit to tinting for any of the rear windows.
No Longer Just About Looks
Tinting the windows of your car is no longer just about looks. You can even retain full visibility, depending on the tint you choose. If you’re concerned about skin health or better protecting your car’s interior to improve resale quality down the road, window tinting might just be the answer to both goals.