Do Cars Come With Factory Tinted Windows?

Tinted windows give your car a modified and stylish look, but too dark tints can also be harmful and illegal. Now you might have noticed your rear windows to be slightly dark as compared to the other windows when you buy a new car, ever wondered why? Are they already tinted? Let’s find out whether cars come with factory tinted windows or not.

Do Cars Come With Factory Tinted Windows?

Yes, most of the cars these days do come with factory tinted windows and the reason behind a slight difference in the colour of the rear windows and other windows is factory tint only.  Though it’s illegal to have tinted windows in some of the states of the US, the new cars come with factory tinted windows in those states as well. You might want to check those tint laws.

Now you might be wondering then why can’t you peel off and feel the layer of factory tint. Well, this is a major difference between factory tint and aftermarket tint. To understand this let’s first have a look at what a factory tint is.

What Is a Factory Tint and What Is It Made of?

Unlike aftermarket tint, a factory tint can’t be peeled off. A factory tint is a composition of 2-3 chemicals mixed while making the glass. As the name says factory tint, this kind of tint is applied on windows in the factory itself which means the dyes and chemicals are mixed while making the window. A factory tint can only be made darker by applying an aftermarket tint and it is not possible to make it light. 

Also Read: Can Cop Cars Have Tinted Windows?

Factory tint is just made of dyes and pigments that only help to give the window a slightly darker shade to avoid direct sunlight from coming into the car. Now let’s see what are the major differences between factory tinted windows and aftermarket tinted windows. 

Difference Between Factory Tinted Windows and Aftermarket Tinted Windows

• Factory tinted windows are provided by the manufacturers while buying a new car whereas, on the other hand, the customer(if they wish to) has to purchase an aftermarket tint to get windows tinted.
• Factory tinted windows are very light in color, aftermarket tinted windows can be as dark as the customer wants.
• Factory tinted windows are legal and come in almost every car whereas aftermarket tinted windows are legal in only some states and that too with restrictions.
• Generally, the VLT rate for factory tinted windows is 70%-75% whereas the VLT rate for aftermarket tinted windows depends on customers’ requirements and the allowed limit in that state.

How Dark Is a Factory Tinted Window?

A factory-tinted window is quite less dark as compared to an aftermarket tinted window. As you know there are different tint laws for different states and some states have strict laws whereas others have lenient laws, to keep it uniform factory tinted windows have more VLT percentage so that less light gets blocked through the tinted window.

Also Read: Can You Use Windex On Tinted Windows?

Generally, the factory tinted windows have a 70%-75% VLT rate which means stopping only 25%-30% of the light from getting transmitted into the car. Factory tinted windows are kept between 70%-75% VLT keeping in mind the states having the strictest laws.

FAQ’s

Do factory tinted windows protect from UV rays?

Usually, factory tinted windows don’t do much. Mostly, factory tinted windows don’t protect from UV rays. 

Is it possible to change the factory tint?

No, it is not possible to change factory tint as mentioned above, the dyes and pigments for factory tint are mixed while making the glass window.

Do factory-tinted windows get dark as they get old?

No, as factory tint is made from dyes and pigments that are mixed while making the window the tint colour does not get darker as it gets old. 

Verdict

Most of the car manufacturers in the US provide factory-tinted cars these days but the VLT rate is kept at 70%-75%. So yes cars do come with factory tinted windows but in most cases, the factory tint is there only on the rear windows of the cars.