Got quotes for $60 total on the two front door windows from a mobile installer who will come to me. Then another quote for $100 to take it into a tint shop to get it done.

Has anyone had a mobile installer put their tint on? The car won't fit in the garage and I worry about outdoor elements getting trapped in the tint when they install? Or am I thinking to much into that?

Factory tint on the two front windows is 20%, correct? I have to be at 35% in MA. So because there is factory tint of 20%, what would I want in the front so its not darker than the 35%?

 

The percentages they list are light transmission, so at 0% you'd be unable to see anything and 100% is [sort of] clear glass.

The net effect is that 35% will be lighter than the back windows.

 

What tint? $60 for both from a mobile guy probably isn't high quality product. I paid $100 for the pair up front, and later $100 for the pair in the back (SCREW), at a shop, which got Llumar CTX (quality ceramic tint with warranty). If it's a good product at the shop for $100 I'd do that.

Factory privacy glass on the rear windows is roughly 20% or so. If you want heat rejection you will want to tint over that however as privacy glass doesn't do much to stop heat.

This is 25% front and 50% over the factory privacy glass rear.

 

Front tint is zero from the factory, there is none due to differences in laws in different locations.
Front(and rear) legal limit varies by state.
Tinting outside is ok, assuming there's no wind or pollen.
I've tinted many outside and not gotten any dirt or debris stuck in it.
You should pay After it's done and you're satisfied anyway.

 

Many tint shops don't have A/C, doors are open all day. Not exactly keeping the environment out.

 

I agree with the earlier comment on here, price shouldn't be your deciding factor until you have decided on product. There are tints that just darken the window, might end up bubbling within 6 months, and only provide whatever heat resistance you get from the darker color. Then there are higher quality tints, ceramic and that, which actually add a level of heat reflection and further improve interior comfort.

I tint the windows more for improved comfort on sunny/hot days, not just privacy, so I wouldn't spend $65 on budget tint.

If all you are chasing is a look and can gamble on it not bubbling quickly, go for the cheaper option. Doing it outside shouldn't be any more an issue than it being in a dirty shop or whatever. Odds are the mobile guy has done it enough he will know if the conditions aren't right. Also even if your entire truck won't fit in the garage, if you are just doing the front windows, you would control things quite a bit if you can at least get the front half in there.

 

So the glass itself doesn't even have tint on the front two roll downs? I need to be at 35% in MA, but if I choose to have 35% applied i need to make sure there isn't already factory tint or else itll be darker with the 35% applied. Mainly going to keep the sun out, and privacy, not necessarily heat.

 

Any business doing tint will know the laws of their state and advise you of such. Factory doesn't tint front windows, it wouldn't be 50 state legal. They almost surely won't put tint over tint anyway, so if there was tint you'd either leave it as is or they'd remove what's there and then apply the new. That's why we specify privacy glass for what the rear comes with from the factory, as that is not tint, and any tint you put over the rear privacy glass 'stacks' with the % already there (hence why I only did 50% on the rear of mine yet it's still darker than 25% up front)

 

there is tint on it from the factory.. I’ve got 5% on my side windows.

 

So a difference of about 20%?