Window tinting is one of the most popular vehicle modifications out there today due to the ease of access and legalities of tinting. There are also some who would say that tinting your vehicle makes it much sexier. Whatever your stance on tinting is, there’s no doubt that you’ve seen several vehicles on the road with tinting and asked many questions about it such as “How do they do that?” or “Is that even legal?”. As always dear reader, we’re here to walk you through your many questions and provide the clarity you need.

What Is Window Tinting?

While it may look like the whole window has been darkened to stop sunlight from coming into the vehicle, window tinting is actually a lot simpler than that. Because darkening a whole window would require custom glass being made at the manufacturer, what window tinters do is to take the regular clear glass that’s on a vehicle, and add a tinting film onto the glass. This allows for shade customization, easy removal, and customized locations. It also makes it easier for the tinters as they can use a non-specific film size and just cut it to fit the vehicle’s unique window shapes and sizes.

How Do They Tint The Window?

As I mentioned above, it’s actually pretty simple to tint a window. Once an order for a tint comes in, the tinter finds the film that matches the tinting level that has been requested (usually based on an opacity percentage level), cuts the film to the shape and size of the window, then uses a combination of application solution and tools (such as squeegees and cloths) to apply the film to the window and smooth it down. Once the film has dried, the new tinted vehicle is good to go.

Why Would You Tint A Window?

There are several reasons someone might want to tint their windows. For some people, it’s all about the looks. Some people believe that having tinted windows makes their cars look cooler, and will even match the colour of the tint to the colour of the car. Other people do it for security purposes. If you’re someone who keeps valuables in your vehicle, having a tint on your windows may discourage people from snooping and looking into your car. On the other side of this, having a tint on your window may also make people think you have something worth hiding. Tinting also has benefits in the summer, as the tinting will reduce the amount of sunlight and UV rays that will enter your car, restricting the heat that will come in from the sun and increasing the longevity of your interior.

Is Window Tinting Legal?

Yes, but to varying degrees. Different provinces in Canada have different laws regarding window tinting. In Ontario for example, the windshield cannot have any tinting, save for the manufacturers tinting at the top of the windshield. The front driver’s and passenger windows cannot have an opacity of more than 70% (blocking 30% of light), however this can also be subjective as anyone beside you MUST be able to clearly see you. So if a police officer can’t see you clearly, you could face a fine of up to $500. Also in Ontario, there are no laws restricting tinting levels on your back windows, however you must have rear side mirrors if you tint your back windows.

As far as other provinces are concerned, in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia it is actually illegal to have ANY tint on the driver and passenger windows. In Quebec, they use the 70% opacity as well for the front windows, but the police may only give you a warning if they don’t have a way to measure what your tint is. At the end of the day, if you’re planning on tinting your windows, check your local laws and the laws of any place you plan on visiting in that vehicle.

Where Can I Get My Windows Tinted?

Believe it or not, WEINS Auto Group actually offers window tinting. If you come to any of our dealerships and talk to one of our service reps, we can send your vehicle to our tinting station in Gormley and have your windows tinted to whatever level you choose (within legal boundaries of course).