What Car Window Tinting Color Options Do You Have?

1. Classic Charcoal or Gray

This is the most common of the possible window tint colors. You might see it called gray or charcoal. It's not the flashiest type of window tint, but it does the job well.

These tints will protect you from excess brightness and give you a bit of privacy. And if you think privacy on a car window is going too far, you should know that it can also promote safety and prevent break-ins.

When you park your car, anyone can peek into your windows and see what's there. If you've accidentally left a purse or other valuable item on the seats, this could make you a target of robberies.



And finally, a good window tint will reduce the heat in your car when it's hot outside. By limiting the sun's rays, a tint can provide much more protection than a clear glass window.

2. Gold

Here's an option that's less standard than the basic gray, but still pretty common in the world of standard tints. Lots of shops will include gold tints as part of the normal selection, and you shouldn't have to go through much trouble trying to get it.

What you might have some trouble getting is a reflective gold tint. As we'll explain below, state laws have restrictions on how reflective a vehicle's window tint can be.



Keep this in mind when you're choosing a color, because reflective gold looks pretty different from non-reflective gold. The reflectance is what would give it a metallic shine.

3. Blue

You might already be used to one type of blue tint: the top 6 inches or so of many cars' windshields have a blue tint here to protect from the sun. Keep in mind, though, that you won't be able to extend tints below the very top of your windshield unless you live in Ohio and North Dakota. The other states have banned front windshield tints, and even Ohio and North Dakota have tight restrictions on how heavy the tint can be.



At the time of this writing, blue tints are banned in two states, California and Texas. So if you live in these states, you'll have to opt for something else. We'll explain banned colors more below.

4. Restrictions on Car Window Tinting Options

There are quite a few window tint color options out there, but the choices aren't endless. Depending on what state you live in, there could be restrictions on certain tints. Check your local laws before you get a tint so you don't end up with something that'll get you pulled over.

Red

In certain states, like Georgia, red is banned as a window tint shade for cars. In fact, red is one of the most commonly banned window tint colors out there.



There isn't much official information out there explaining why certain colors, including red, are banned, but some people say that these colors may make your car look like an emergency vehicle. Another possibility is that certain colors can interfere with your ability to see important signifiers on the road, like brake lights and traffic lights.

Amber and Yellow

Amber is another color that is sometimes banned as a window tint. And yellow is banned in fewer states, but that number is still 10 at the time of this writing.

By this point, you may be wondering what happens when you drive to another state. For example, what if amber tints are allowed in your state but not the next one over?

Usually, you're supposed to follow the road laws of the state you're in, no matter where you're from. But in the case of tint laws, you can't exactly switch out your windows depending on what state you're driving through.



The answer here is that the local law enforcement shouldn't ticket you as long as your tints are okay for your state's laws. They might still pull you over though, so be prepared.

Black

You might think black tints should be allowed since they're pretty similar to gray or charcoal tints. But they're banned in the states of Washington and Oregon.



The line between black and gray, especially if you're abiding by the light transmission laws in your state, can be a bit blurry. Talk to a window tint professional to make sure you're within your legal limits.

Reflective Tints

If you're interested in reflective tints, check your state's laws first to see what the regulations are. Often, there will be a rule banning reflectance over a certain amount. And these reflectance limits will pertain to the side windows, not the windshield.



For the windshield of your car, you'll need to choose a non-reflective tint.

Go With Your Favorite

Car window tinting options can come with some tricky restrictions, but as long as you stay within them, you'll be able to show off your style while increasing privacy and safety at the same time. So, talk to a professional tinting service like Enterprise Window Tinting, figure out your local laws, and you'll be ready to get out on the road in your newly upgraded vehicle.

For a free estimate of how much this will cost (and how much you can save), just fill out some information and you'll be on your way!