If you’re looking for a guide price for car window tinting, you’ve come to the right place.
In 2019. 2021 and again in April 2022, we asked 11 tinting firms from various locations around the UK to provide us with prices for window tinting two cars – a Ford Focus and a Vauxhall Zafira.
Use our guide on this page to get an idea of how much car window tinting costs.
We’ve also researched do-it-yourself prices for kits that you can purchase online.
How Does Window Tinting Work?
If your vehicle was manufactured with tinted windows, this will most likely be coloured glass.
Retrofitted window tints are different, they’re created by sticking a plastic film to the inside of the glass.
There are many benefits to window tinting:
- Privacy
- UV light protection, this protects your skin from UV damage and the interior of the vehicle from fading
- Glare reduction
- Glass shatter protection
- Solar heat reduction, you’ll use the air-con less as the vehicle is cooler
How Much Do You Think Car Window Tinting Will Cost?
We often ask visitors to our site how much they think specific projects will cost.
Tens of thousands of people have taken part in this poll so far.
Answer the question and see the results:
Your Options and The Law
The law in the UK states that for cars first used after April 1st 1985:
- For front windscreens: 75% of light must pass through.
- Front side windows must allow 70% of light through.
- There are no light penetration rules for tinting the rear windscreen or rear side windows.
Don’t Forget…
Clear glass doesn’t let 100% of the light through.
In fact, a typical clear glass windscreen will probably only allow around 80% of the light through.
For this reason, front windscreens and front side windows shouldn’t be tinted at all, although a clear security film may be applied.
Many drivers and owners mistakenly calculate that this means a window tinting of 30% is acceptable. This is not the case as windows without tinting do not let in 100% of light; even clear glass only lets in around 70% to 80% of light. Applying 30% window tinting will then drop the light passing through to well below the legal limit. – The Windscreen Company
Penalties For Non-Compliance
If your windows are tinted illegally, you can be issued with a fixed penalty notice, this is usually a fine and 3 licence penalty points.
For window tinting that is only slightly over the legal limit, you may be given a vehicle defect rectification notice and 14 days to remove the tint.
Illegal modifications can also invalidate insurance policies meaning you could be liable for the financial repercussions of an accident, this is very likely if your insurer thinks you couldn’t see properly out of the front window, for example.
You should also inform your insurer of any and all modifications to the vehicle, even if they are legal.
Evidence of illegal window tinting can also be used as evidence towards a prosecution for dangerous driving should you be involved in a serious incident.
Window Tinting Prices For Professional Installation
Now we’ve got the legal bit out of the way, here’s our price guide for car window tinting in 2022.
The figures are an average of all the prices given to us by our chosen 11 firms this year.
The tinting will be in compliance with UK law so only the rear windscreen and rear side windows will be tinted:
| Car: | Price: |
|---|---|
| Ford Focus | £160 |
| Vauxhall Zafira | £190 |
| Get a Custom Price Here | Get a Custom Price Here |
Want to add a security film or light tint to the front and front-side windows too? Based on our research that will cost you about 70% extra.
DIY Tinting Prices
If you fancy having a go at tinting the windows yourself, you can save a packet.
The table below contains a price guide for the supply of window tinting film, pre-cut to the specifications of the car and comes with a fitting kit.
We sourced these prices from a selection of websites and by contacting firms by email, the prices are averaged and include VAT.
Again, we have only sourced prices for the rear windows:
| Car: | Price: |
|---|---|
| Ford Focus | £49 |
| Vauxhall Zafira | £55 |
Questions We Asked The Window Tinting Firms
As with all of our researched price guides here on our website, we asked our chosen firms questions that we thought were relevant:
Q) Can heated rear windscreens be tinted?
A) Yes, good quality window tinting film can be fitted to any heated windscreens. But do check with the manufacturer if you are installing a tint yourself.
Q) How easy is it to remove the tint?
A) Very easy, ammonia will dissolve the adhesive and the film should then peel off without any trouble or damage to the window.
Q) How can I reduce the UV rays entering through the front windows?
A) While there are strict limits on how much light must pass through front windows, you can fit a clear UV film. It won’t reduce the amount of light transfer to below legal limits but will offer protection from harmful UV rays.
This guide to car window tinting costs was written by Danny Woodley and was last updated in April 2022.
You’ll find many more cost guides in our motoring corner where we delve into the costs of car ownership and maintenance.
From car servicing and air-con recharges to driving lessons and signage.
