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Straight answers
These are the questions the phone rings with. Read them here, then call when you are ready to put a car on the schedule.
Pick a shade
What each percentage actually looks like
The number is VLT, visible light transmission. Lower number, darker glass. 5% is limo. 70% is barely there and mostly working on heat.
5%Limo
20%Dark
35%NC legal limit
50%Light
70%Heat only
A screen is a rough guide. Bring the car by and we will hold samples against your own glass in daylight before anything gets cut.
North Carolina law
What is legal here
How dark can I legally go in North Carolina?
On a passenger car, the front side, back side and rear windows all have to let
at least 35% of light through. Enforcement allows a 3% variance, so a meter
reading above 32% passes. SUVs, vans and pickups classed as multi-purpose
vehicles have no limit behind the driver, so those back windows can go as dark
as you want. Windshields take non-reflective film above the AS-1 line only.
What about reflective or mirrored film?
North Carolina caps reflectivity at 20% on the front and back side windows.
Mirror and metallic looks that go past that are not street legal here.
I have a medical reason to go darker. Is there an exemption?
Yes. North Carolina issues medical exemptions through the DMV’s Medical Review
Program on a waiver form your physician signs. Get the exemption approved first,
then bring it in with the car and we will tint to what it allows.
Will I fail inspection?
No. Window film came off the North Carolina vehicle inspection on
December 1, 2025, so it is not checked there anymore. The 35% limit still
applies on the road, though, and you can still be cited on a stop. Tell us the
car is a daily driver and we will keep it legal. If you
want to go darker than the law allows on a show car or something off-road,
say so up front so we are both clear.
The job itself
Time, care and cost
How long does a car take?
Most cars are a few hours. Removal of old film adds time. Call with the year,
make and model and you will get a real window rather than a guess.
How much does it cost?
Two front windows start at $139, and most land between there and $189.
A full four-door car starts at $249. A windshield is $199, or $269 in
ceramic IR film. Where you land depends on the car, the glass and the film
you pick, so call and describe what you drive. You get a number on
the phone instead of a form that disappears into an inbox.
When can I roll my windows down?
One to three days, depending on the weather. Film cures slower when it is cold or damp. You may see haze or small
water pockets in that first week. That is normal and it clears on its own as
the moisture works out.
How do I clean tinted windows?
Any glass cleaner without ammonia, and a soft cloth. Ammonia breaks film down
over time. Skip it and the tint outlives the car.
Can you take off somebody else's bad tint?
Yes. Purple, bubbled and peeling film comes off, the adhesive gets cleaned down
to bare glass, and new film goes on. It takes longer than a fresh install, so
mention it when you call.
What film do you carry?
SunTek window film. We match it to the car and to what you want out of it,
heat rejection, darkness, or both. Every pattern is hand cut in the shop to fit
your glass. Call and we will walk through the options and what each one costs.
What are your hours, and do I need an appointment?
Open Monday through Thursday, 9:00 to 4:00, and Friday, 9:30 to 4:00. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
Call before you come. It saves you a drive and gets your car in at a time
that actually holds.
Do you do more than cars?
Boats, excavator and tractor cabs, box trucks, work vans, storefront glass and
houses. If it has a window, bring it or send a photo.
See all services.
