[PriusMarv]

Before making a snap decision to just quickly go to your nearest local tint shop to have your car tinted, I suggest that you do some research and decide which type/brand of tint you want to use.

Most tint dealers/installers carry only very specific brands, not all of them.

Some brands of tint are difficult to find locally and may not be found in many states.

Every brand of tint has different colors, compositions, characteristics, heat rejection, reflectiveness and visible light transmission(VLT=DARKNESS). Nearly all give 99% UV protection.

Warranties differ greatly too. And watch out for those! You may get one with a lifetime warranty against FADING but not COLOR CHANGE.

Every state has its own tint law regarding how every window can or cannot be tinted. Most state laws limit the amount of reflectiveness and VLT allowed on the front side windows, the back side windows and the rear window.

Solar Gard has a very nice State Tint Law chart(Adobe Acrobat Reader required).

View State Tint Law chart

To find out more about tinting check out these links...

Tintcenter

Tintdude Forum

To learn about the different tint film manufacturers check out these links...

Llumar
FormulaOne
Madico
3M
HuperOptik
Johnson
Sungard
Solar Gard
Suntek
V-Kool

There are some others. Some are cheap and some are expensive.

You should also go and check out your dealers/installers and actually view the tints and their work.

Finally, Enjoy your research! Have fun! And enjoy your newly tinted Prius!

 

[Sonwise]

Thanks for the tips and info.

I am about to investigate having tint applied. Here in Texas we can get some pretty brutal sun. I've heard $200 is a ballpark for a good tint job. Anyone have a recommendation of a provider in Austin (OK, it doesn't hurt to ask).

 

[An04Prius]

I did the entire inside of my P* windows (cept driver's) with contact paper. 7.99 a roll (Walnut) and had enough for the back shelf.

Blocks out the sun & heat terrific. Breaks every known anti-tint law. But I'll probably only get fix-it ticket, then tear it down & put up a different pattern.

Nice homey feel inside.

(just a joke!)

 

[KTPhil]

Why did you stop with only the windows? Why not make a "Country Squire" woody wagon out of your Prius and put it on the doors, too?

Then put your Brady Bunch 8-track, er I mean CD, in the player.

 

[An04Prius]

Why did you stop with only the windows? Why not make a "Country Squire" woody wagon out of your Prius and put it on the doors, too?

Then put your Brady Bunch 8-track, er I mean CD, in the player.

Oh man ! I never even thought of that. Of course, it is a natural. And probably only cost one double roll, 12.99. Cool.

We never upgraded to 8 track. The Victrola still works just fine. With the hand crank, it does not drain the battery when the cubs play it while parked. :wink:

But speed bumps are murder on the needle & 78s. Last week it cracked right through one of my favs--the 1929 "Happy Days Are Here Again" by Glen Gray & the Casa Loma Orchestra :x .