What tint percentage should you actually get?

The most common question in the shop isn't about price, it's "how dark should I go?" The honest answer is that the darkest legal option isn't automatically the right one.

New Mexico permits 20% VLT on the front sides, rear sides and rear window — darker than most states. But what's legal, what looks right on your car, and what's pleasant to live with at night are three separate questions.

What VLT actually measures

VLT stands for visible light transmission: the percentage of visible light that makes it through. Lower number, darker window. The figure that matters legally is the glass and the film together, not the film on its own — which is why a 20% film on already-tinted factory glass can measure under the limit.

The shades in practice

70–50%

Nearly invisible. You keep the factory look and lose the glare, and with ceramic construction you still get serious heat rejection. This is the right answer for windshields and for anyone who doesn't want a dark-looking car.

35%

The sweet spot for most daily drivers. Clearly tinted from outside, but at night you can still see your mirrors and what's behind you when reversing. If you're torn, this is the safe choice.

20%

New Mexico's legal limit and a genuine privacy shade. It looks excellent on trucks and SUVs, particularly on rear glass. The trade-off is night visibility — backing out of an unlit driveway means trusting your camera more than your mirrors.

5% (limo)

Belongs on rear glass of work trucks and family haulers where cargo privacy matters. We'll generally talk you out of it on front windows: it's outside the legal limit here and genuinely hard to see through at night.

A combination that suits most people

Something lighter on the front sides and 20% behind the B-pillar satisfies more drivers long-term than any single shade across the car. You keep night visibility where you need it and get privacy where it counts.

Want a recommendation per window rather than a guess? Get a tint quote →