Tinted car windows can give your car a cool and sleek look while protecting you from harmful sun rays and giving you more privacy in your car.
While it’s more of a personal taste, there are also some legal considerations regarding tinted windows. As a Honda owner, you may wonder if it comes with tinted windows and if yes, what’s the percentage.
This article tries to answer the most common questions regarding tinted windows in Honda cars. It covers 13 questions about tinted car windows, including consideration about aftermarket tinting.
Do Honda Windows Come Tinted?
Honda cars come with tinted windows when you get them from the factory. It doesn’t look like a layer of tint applied to the glass, so you can’t peel it off.
It’s saturated and embedded within the window glass. Factory tints can be of different colors, but Honda mostly uses green on its windows, while you may find bluish hues too.
How Much Does It Cost to Tint Windows on a Honda?
While you can’t reduce the factory tint, you can increase it by getting an aftermarket tint. You can increase its UV protection and, of course, beauty. You could tint your windows at the dealer or a professional tint film installer, with the latter costing less.
Tinting a Honda’s windows can cost from $50 to $600, depending on the type of tint you use. This range is for standard tint film that’s not reflective or a specific material.
For example, specialty materials like ceramic, carbon, or metallic films can cost up to $800.
The cost of tint film depends on the model of your car and how many windows you want to cover. In addition, the shape of your car windows can affect the price, with curved windows costing more than regular-shaped ones.
Also read Is Honda Pilot A Midsize Or Full-Size SUV?
What Percent is Factory Window Tint Honda?
The factory tint on Honda windows is like most other makes and brands, which falls within the legal range. According to federal laws, all car windows should let at least 70% of light in.
In Honda models, the tint percentage is between 70% and 80%. It means the windows let in 70%-80% of the outside light and deflect 20%-30% of it.
If you’re unsure about the percentage of your Honda’s window tint, you can check out the windows themselves, where the manufacturer’s data is written.
You can find the type of glass and the VLT percentage. Visible Light Transmission is the percentage of light that car windows let in.
Does Honda CR-V Have Tinted Windows?
Honda CR-V comes with tinted windows, just like other models. However, the tint may be so weak that you may not notice it.
That’s because of the regulations that don’t allow factories to apply tints darker than 30%. Still, if you pay attention, the glass doesn’t look 100% transparent like house windows.
Does Honda Civic Have Tinted Windows?
Honda Civic has the minimum percentage allowed by federal laws, which is 70%. The windows let in 70 percent of the outside light and deflect 30%.
That means the UV protection isn’t that much, and if you want to protect your skin and the car’s upholstery and dashboard from the sun’s harmful rays, you can get it tinted through aftermarket tinting services.
Does Honda HR-V Have Tinted Windows?
Honda HR-V comes with factory-made tinted windows. They’re different from aftermarket tints applied to windows in that you can’t reduce them because they’re integrated within the glass.
The percentage is so low that you may never think of reducing the tint, though.
How Long Does It Take to Tint Windows on a Car?
Depending on the type of vehicle and the number and size of windows, it can take between 2 and 4 hours to tint a car’s windows.
On average, tinting each window can take between 20 and 40 minutes for small windows and an hour for larger windows.
The tinting process starts with some preparatory steps, such as cleaning the glass inside and out. Then, the installer cuts the tinting film to fit the exact size of the window and puts it on the glass.
Here, they should make sure there are no wrinkles or bubbles under the film, using a squeegee to drive out any air bubbles.
Is 35 Percent Tint Dark?
A 35-percent tint means 35 percent of the light gets through. The lower the percentage, the darker the tint because this percentage means the amount of light that gets through, not the degree of the tint’s darkness.
Thirty-five percent is noticeably tinted but may not be that dark, although it depends on your personal preferences. However, if you want to go for a darker tint, you must check the state regulations. Each state has different rules for tinting car windows, and some of them don’t allow it.
Can You See Out of 20 Percent Tint at Night?
Window tints are different from other UV-protecting tools, like, say, sunglasses. If you wear sunglasses at night, you can’t see anything.
But car window tints aren’t designed that way. You can use any percentage with no visibility issues at night.
That said, some car owners have reported that they’ve experienced some visibility issues at night with 20 percent tints and lower.
For more visual proof that 20 can give you decent visibility at night, check out this useful video:
The only thing you should remember before applying 20% tint is legal limitations because it’s near the borderline of getting illegal in most states. In addition, you should check if you can tint your front windows as it’s illegal in many places.
Can You Wash My Car After Getting the Windows Tinted?
Since the tinting film is applied on the inside of the car windows, washing the windows doesn’t make the film come off or damage.
The film is applied inside to protect it from dirt, rain, sunlight, and other harsh elements. That means if you ride through mud or dirt, the splashes don’t damage the newly applied tint.
However, you may want to put off washing your car and windows until the tint has completely dried. When you wash your vehicle, it may produce moisture inside the car and delay the drying process.
In addition, moisture can create bubbles under the film, which will stay there until it has completely cured. So, it’s better to give the film up to four days until the film dries.
Plus, note that you should avoid cleaning the inside of the window and the film for 3 to 4 days, too. And never use harsh cleaning materials since it can damage the thin film.
Can I Roll My Windows Down 3 Days After Tint?
Rolling down the windows can damage the newly applied tint, especially since it’s installed inside the window. Don’t roll out your windows for 3 to 4 days until the tint has completely cured.
However, the number of days depends on the weather and season. During cold and damp days of winter, the drying process may take longer than 4 days. The worst thing that can happen is that the new tint will come off, and you’ll have to reinstall the film.
However, if a seasoned professional has installed the film and has used high-quality materials, the chances are low. But you may end up with bubbles under the film, which may go away after a few days. That said, wait until the tint dries to be on the safe side.
What If It Rains After I Tint My Windows?
Rain can’t directly affect your car’s window tint because it’s not applied on the outside. However, since moisture is high during rainy days, the drying process may take longer, raising the risk of bubbles forming under the film.
If it rains after you tint your windows, take your car to a warm place where there’s little moisture. You can turn on the heater inside the car to evaporate the moisture and help with drying.
That’s why it’s generally recommended that you get your car windows tinted during summer or even spring when there’s a lower chance of rain.
Still, you should consider the humidity levels in your area, too. For example, the summer can get humid in some locations, which is not a good time for tinting. So, it’s better to consult professionals and do it when the temperatures are high, and humidity is low.
What NOT to Do After You Tint Your Windows?
The tint film is attached to the window glass through a special adhesive that dries three to four days. So, you should avoid some things during this time.
As mentioned earlier, don’t roll down the windows until the tint is cured. That’s the most important thing to remember.
Don’t touch the film until it has completely dried.
And avoid cleaning the film with things that leave scratches on the film, even paper towels. Use a microfiber cloth instead.
Final Thoughts
Honda cars come with a certain percentage of legally allowed tint on their windows. They usually have a 70-80 percentage and a green or blue hue. This percentage means that 70 to 80 percent of the sunlight can get into the car.
If you want a darker tint and more protection and privacy, you can use an aftermarket tint. But make sure to check your state laws as each state has its specific limitations.
