Tinting windows

[Mitchy]

those tints look really nice, but if I am going to do it i am going to make sure i am within the law - cant afford to be pulled over and have to remove them. Probably gonna get security film on the front windows or something.

Looks really nice tho

Pabs, over the last 4 years ive had the medium smoked tints on all 4 of my cars.

Not once have i been pulled for them so touch wood it stays that way! I guess its just luck at the end of the day.

 

[RobDon]

It is down to luck - but if you have your front windows tinted and do not tell your insurance company, effectively your policy is void as you are illegally modifying your car, if you do tell your insurance company they'll probably just tell you to take them back off or they'll cancel your policy. If you're in an accident and you have front tints - guess what, no insurance payout!!! If it's your fault and your insurance refuses to pay out for the other car due to an illegal modification - you'll be taken to court.

Legal limit is 70% light on all glass forward of the B-pillar - that means NO tinted film is legal. Clear security film is totally legal though and a much better idea, that's what I had done after I got pulled over and fined for 35% front tints and non-standard plates.

So, is it really worth having illegal front tints done? Nope.

 

[Pabs]

see, i would DEFINATELY tell my insurance company about tints, mainly as I would get security film on the front and it might even REDUCE the premium (although i very much doubt it)

Besides, if you WERE to install without telling the insurance company, and then for one reason or another need to make a claim, they are not easily/quickly removed before the vehicle inspection. Therefore you are about 99% likely to get caught if u need to claim. Far too risky. Tell the insurance company!

 

[Mitchy]

It is down to luck - but if you have your front windows tinted and do not tell your insurance company, effectively your policy is void as you are illegally modifying your car, if you do tell your insurance company they'll probably just tell you to take them back off or they'll cancel your policy. If you're in an accident and you have front tints - guess what, no insurance payout!!! If it's your fault and your insurance refuses to pay out for the other car due to an illegal modification - you'll be taken to court.

Legal limit is 70% light on all glass forward of the B-pillar - that means NO tinted film is legal. Clear security film is totally legal though and a much better idea, that's what I had done after I got pulled over and fined for 35% front tints and non-standard plates.

So, is it really worth having illegal front tints done? Nope.

Where have you got this info from robdon as i would disagree and i have the proof to prove it!

I wrote my ZR160 off by ploughing it into a field! My car had tints the same colour as i have now. A few weeks later i received a cheque for £12000.

Insurance inspector never said a word!

1 of my best mates has just written off his focus st170 and that too had tints all round! Guess what, he too received a cheque last week!

 

[Pabs]

well my mate wrote off his golf and lost out due to his tints - THEY said it was his fault in the accident because he couldnt see properly and THEY didnt pay out.
Thats proof enough for me.

EDIT: Ok maybe the tints might have been quite dark - perhaps if they werent so obvious they may not have noticed. Still not a risk I would take though.

 

[Mitchy]

well my mate wrote off his golf and lost out due to his tints - said it was his fault in the accident because he couldnt see properly and didnt pay out.
Thats proof enough for me.

Well what an idiot is all i can say!

Said he couldn't see properly, what did he expect

From my own experience its a lot of bollocks as i have the proof to say otherwise

 

[Pabs]

no u mis-understand mitchy - THEY (the insurers) said he couldnt see properly. Not him. THAT would be silly

 

[Pabs]

edited post to make more sense LOL

 

[Mitchy]

He could have said the windows were down and his visibility was perfect! Surely the insurance company would then need to prove he was lying. Not an easy thing to do!

Also if it was a head on impact, why are the tinted windows to blame? If he pulled out of a junction and a car whacked his side then fair enough but if a head on collision they wouldn't have a leg to stand on!

There are too many myths going on about how insurance companies always refuse to pay out. Ive never known anyone nor have i read on any car forum sites of companies refusing to pay out! Its just bad publicity at the end of the day!

If they refuse to pay out, are you entitled to a full refund of the money you have paid for the insurance?

 

[Pabs]

i am not going to bother going through it all as I dont know much info about my mates accident anyway, just that it was a messy process.

What I can say is that the law is there for a reason - break it and only you can be held responsible for your actions. It might be an IF you get caught, but its still a possibility - one which I would rather not have to deal with.

 

[Mitchy]

Very true pabs and here's hoping my lucky streak continues!

I'd hate to have to rip the front tints off, car would look like a van

 

[SCTints.co.uk]

Telling the insurance company

Do you have to tell the insurance about tints?

Yes, window tinting is classed as a vehicle modification and on most policies they let you have about 4 mods a year.

Providing your vehicle has been tintted within the law its simply a tick in the box and your premium is not effected.

We work cloase with VOSA and the law to ensure our work is with in the limit but there are plenty of companies providing an illegal service out there and further more not telling their customers that 1. they are illegally trading and 2. that the customers vehicle is null and void as soon as they have finished.

It is a ridiculas regulation. Ask your local company to put a light meter on your windows before and after you will see how little 30% tint is. i.e, 70% of light must pass throug the front side windows.

Simon.

 

[Empi5]

Simon,

Ive recently had my tints done from a company in Stoke on Trent, On each window there are about 5 spec marks, which really do stand out when its clean. Its as if the films have been just put on top of the glass without preparation.

Is this usual for the "cowboy" fraternity, bearing in mind it cost £230.00 for 5 Windows. To his defence he has asked me to take it back for him to look at, but if you could give me some technical jargon to throw back at him.

Cheers

 

[SCTints.co.uk]

Hi,

There is no excuse for a bad job, our work ends up looking like the glass, we simply do not hand the vehicle back unless it is perfect.

What most tinters suffer with is called contamination, this is normally when small particles from the vehicle its self (felt edges from the rubbers) or crap in the water etc. get inbetween the film and the glass. Cheaper films also don't work as well and most tinters cut the corner on cheap films to help reduce the price. This is often backed by companies who go mobile and you cannot get a clean install if you are a mobile tinter. So in a nut shell you have evry right to ask for your money back. They may wish to remove the films if they give money back but if its a bad job they you loose nothing bar a bit of your time and bit of hassel.

At least then you can hunt down that perfect company to provide the job you were looking for.

The best tint companies will stand fast on insisting that you go to them.

 

[Pabs]

still got this on my to-do list i recon....

 

[dannyk]

What 'tint' does the leon cupra come with as standard??

Cheers

Danny

 

[SCTints.co.uk]

Your standard glass would be about 18-22% tint believe it or not. Even what we think of as clear glass blocks about 4% of light.

Your best bet is security based films for the fronts, this way you prevent the smash and grab oiks who wanna a peice of your interior and the reflective nature (providing they are good quality films) brings the tint of the rear forward. It works well and keeps you with in the law.

 

[Pabs]

thats exactly what I am going to go for - security film just make so much sense - and might even help reduce insurance premiums? (Well I live and hope!)

Just got so much on my to-do list I am gonna need a seperate mortgage for my car!

 

[SCTints.co.uk]

Join the club, it's a never ending list.

On the security film side there are many options depending on how far you wanna protect.

 

[Pabs]

what options are there then... do tell?
I would be on a budget, and i dont want my car to look like a van... but i want something stylish (which no doubt is what everyone wants lol) but with the added security at the front.
cheers