Cool it down

SoCal car window tint

Parked hot.Tint. Done.

Drag the film across the glass and watch the cabin cool. Tell us your car and the film you want, and tint shops near you quote the job.

Book a tint job

Every field you fill cools the car a little. Try it.

Booking runs on Lokuli. Each shop sets its own price.

Dark dashboards and seats can reach 180 to over 200°F in a parked car, says the National Weather Service.

The colors are an illustration, not a measurement. Ask the shop for the film's spec sheet to see real heat and UV numbers.

Why people book

Heat, UV,
glare, privacy

Pick the one that's bugging you. We'll pass the reason to the shop with your request.

01HEAT

Hot seats, hot wheel

Sun through the glass heats everything inside while you're parked. Film is made to cut that.

Carbon or ceramic
02UV

Side window sun

Windshields block most UVA. Up to 50% can pass untreated side windows. SCF

UV blocking film
03GLARE

Squinting at noon

Bright sun bouncing around the cabin. Rear shade takes the edge off.

Any film
04PRIVACY

Stuff in the back

Work gear, groceries, car seats. Darker rear glass keeps them out of view.

Darker rear
05SIGNAL

Keep your bars

Metallic film can block phone and radio signals. Carbon and ceramic don't, per NAPA.

Carbon or ceramic
06NEW

Just got the car

Start clean. Pick a film now and ask for the spec sheet and the front window certificate.

Full tint
07OLD

Gone purple

Dyed film can fade in the sun over time. Strip it and start over with something that holds.

Tint removal
08OLD

Bubbles and peeling

California says front film that tears or bubbles has to be removed or replaced.

Tint removal

The craft

Four films,
told straight

Film stops sunlight three ways: it absorbs it, reflects it, or targets the infrared you feel as heat. Here's what each type does and where it falls short.

GLASSFILM CABIN UVLIGHTINFRARED

Dyed

    Quote this film →

    Film behavior from NAPA Know How and, for ceramic, the US Department of Energy as cited by Wikipedia. Brands vary, so compare spec sheets.

    Before you pay

    Ask for the
    spec sheet

    Every film maker publishes numbers for its films. They're the only honest way to compare. Tap a line to see what it means.

    Film spec sheet

    Your film, your numbers

    VLT

    How dark it looks

    The share of visible light that gets through. Lower is darker. It's the number California's front window rule is written in.

    Ask: is that the film alone, or film on my glass?

    The hot car truth

    180 to 200°F+Dark dashboards and seats in the sun, per NWS

    Cracking a window doesn't fix itLeaving windows slightly open does not significantly slow the heating, says the National Weather Service.
    Shade barely helps eitherRolling windows down or parking in the shade does little to change the inside temperature, says NHTSA.
    Kids heat up fasterA child's body temperature rises three to five times faster than an adult's, per NHTSA.

    Tint makes the drive more comfortable. It does not make a parked car safe. Never leave a child or a pet in the car, tinted or not.

    The menu

    Pick the job

    Not sure which film? Book the job and ask the shop to show you spec sheets side by side.

    01The usual

    Full tint, legal front

    Your shade on the rear sides and back glass, clear UV film on the front sides, as California requires.

    • Rear sides
    • Back glass
    • Clear front
    Get quotes →
    02Heat first

    Ceramic film

    Made to cut heat without going as dark. Usually costs more than basic film, so compare the spec sheets.

    • No metal
    • Signal friendly
    • Holds color
    Get quotes →
    03Matte look

    Carbon film

    Absorbs more infrared than dyed or metallized film, with no signal trouble and little fading.

    • Infrared
    • No signal issues
    • Low fade
    Get quotes →
    04Start over

    Tint removal

    Purple, bubbled or too dark up front. Old film and adhesive off, glass ready for new film or none.

    • Film off
    • Adhesive off
    • Retint optional
    Get quotes →

    California rules

    Cool, and
    legal

    Heat film is only worth it if it passes. California's Vehicle Code 26708 sets the limits.

    Rear sidesAny shade on side windows behind the driver.
    Back glassAllowed with outside mirrors on both sides.
    Front sidesClear film only: 88% or more, made to block UVA, 70% with the glass, certificate in the car.
    WindshieldA top strip only, above the 29 inch line, not red or amber.
    Vehicle Code 26708The tint rules, window by window, and the certificateFull text → California Highway PatrolWindshield and front sides: no aftermarket tint beyond clear UV filmCHP FAQ → National Weather ServiceHow fast a parked car heats up, and why cracked windows don't helpHeat safety → NHTSAChild heatstroke in hot cars, and how to prevent itHeatstroke → Skin Cancer FoundationSide windows let through far more UVA than the windshieldDriving and UV → US EPAUVA ages skin and adds to skin cancer riskUV basics →

    The history

    How tint
    cooled off

    1. 1966

      Sun control film

      3M launches its original sun control window film.

    2. 1991

      A shared voice

      The International Window Film Association forms to give brand neutral information on film.

    3. 1999

      Clear film up front

      California lets clear, colorless UV cutting film go on the front side windows, effective January 1, 1999.

    4. 2017

      A dermatologist's note

      AB 1303 is chaptered, letting a dermatologist certify a need for clear UV film on any window.

    5. 2026

      Today's rules

      Vehicle Code 26708 as last amended by SB 506, in effect January 1, 2026.

    6. Now

      Book it cool

      Pick your film, compare tint shops near you and request a time on Lokuli.

    Sources: 3M's 50 year release, Wikipedia, the CHP FAQ, Digital Democracy and VC 26708.

    How it works

    Three steps
    to done

    1. Pick car and filmYear, make, model, ZIP and the film you want, or "not sure yet".
    2. Pick a shop and timeCompare tint shops near you and request a slot on Lokuli.
    3. Get the paperworkThe spec sheet for your film, and for front windows, the certificate the law says to keep in the car.

    Near you

    Tint shops in
    the hot zip codes

    The Inland Empire and the desert, where a parked car bakes the longest. Plus anywhere else Lokuli covers.

    Good to know

    Tint questions

    Which film is best for heat?

    By how they work, carbon absorbs more infrared than dyed or metallized film, and ceramic is a step above carbon. But brands differ a lot, so compare the infrared rejection and total solar energy rejected numbers on each spec sheet.

    Can I put ceramic film on my front windows in California?

    Only if it's clear: the film must let through at least 88% of light and be made to block UVA, and the glass with film must stay at 70% or more. Keep the installer's certificate in the car. Ask the shop which clear films they carry and for their spec sheets.

    Does window film block UV?

    Film sold for California front windows has to be made to block UVA. For any film, ask for its UV rejection number. The Skin Cancer Foundation notes windshields already block most UVA, while untreated side windows let much more through.

    Will tint make it safe to leave my kid or dog in the car?

    No. Parked cars heat up fast, and NHTSA says even rolling windows down or parking in shade does little. Never leave a child or a pet in a parked car.

    Will metallic film mess with my phone?

    It can. Metallic film can block phone and other radio signals from inside the car. Carbon and ceramic films don't have that problem.

    Why did my old tint turn purple?

    Dyed film often fades in the sun over time. Book a tint removal to strip the old film and adhesive, then pick a film that holds its color.

    How dark can I go?

    Rear side windows can take any shade. The back glass can be tinted if you have outside mirrors on both sides. Front sides take clear film only, and the windshield a top strip only.

    How much does it cost?

    Each shop sets its own price based on your car, the windows and the film. Shops quote you through Lokuli, so you can compare before you book.

    Run a tint shop?

    Get these bookings

    Tint Done sends drivers to shops on Lokuli. Go live free, take booking requests online, and pay no commission on any plan.

    List your shop →See a demo page