Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost?

Price is vehicle specific. The best way to get a free estimate is to give us a call or email us.

Why do I see bubbles (right after install)?

The moisture we use for installation can remain between the film and windows for up to 2 to 3 weeks and sometimes longer in colder climates. Moisture or condensation comes in the forms of haziness and water bubbles or pockets. They clear up and the moisture simply evaporates. Never try to push around any of these water pockets, for this can create air pockets which don’t go away on their own.

What can I clean the windows with?

Always wait about a week to clean the windows after film install. Moisture that gets to the outside edges of freshly installed film can get sucked under the film and create bubbles. Never use a cleaning cloth or pad that is abrasive.

Are the rear windshields tinted in one piece?

99% of the vehicles that come through AudioMotive are heat shrunk via a prepping process and then installed in one piece on the rear windshields.

My car is equipped with a feature that drops the window slightly when I open the door...will this cause a problem for tinting

No, not at all. We, as well as the majority of tint shops, are well aware of this feature. It has been around for years. We know what to do so that the windows will be tinted in the full up position so that no gap will result when the doors are closed.

Do I need felt moldings installed?

Chances are you don’t. This started as a temporary fix that brought tint shops a way to charge more money for unnecessary felt installs. We will inform you if your vehicle needs felt on the moldings, but there is a very simple way to get past the scratching issues that does not cost the customer any additional money.

But what about the heavy, thick section of dot-matrix on my rear windshield? Does it cost extra to remove old film?

LLumar is regarded as the best in the industry, by far! We can provide all the warranty information in person. But for simplicity sake: LLumar’s ATR (metallic) and ATC (non-metallic) both come with a Lifetime warranty against bubbling, peeling, fading, demetallizing, delaminating, and colour change!

How long does it take to tint the windows on my vehicle?

Vehicles vary from one to the next. The average installation time is about an hour. Some factors that may play a part in the time involved are: what kind of vehicle it is; the number of installers working on the vehicle; if there are any unforeseen scenarios that come up, such as a rear deck lid needs to come out; or If old tint removal is involved.

Does the tint go on the inside or outside of the windows?

All tint is installed on the inside of the vehicle windows. Sometimes a customer may see prepping being done on the outside. For example: the shrinking of the rear windshield.

Can I wash my car right after install?

Yes, since all the film is installed on the inside of the windows, the outside of the car being washed (or rained on, for that matter) will not create any problems. Just make sure the inside remains uncleaned for about a week.

How long do I need to keep my windows up?

After installation, the tinted windows will need to remain up for three days.

What's with the dot-matrix pattern around my windows?

Dot-matrix is very common. It’s the small black dot pattern that lines the outside of most rear windshields, and sometimes others as well. The thinner, more common dot-matrix patterns will look uneven when a film is first installed but should even out to create a “framed” look when dry.

Will I lose any navigation/ xm/ radio reception?

There are only a handful of vehicles on the market today that will have interference due to the metallic nature of good-quality film. We are aware of these vehicles and offer non-metallic solutions in these cases.

What are the laws on tinting?

Window tinting changes from province to province. Each province has specific laws and inspection criteria regarding tint. As for PA inspection, except for the front windshield, there currently are no criteria for aftermarket window tinting. There hasn’t been for several years now. You can fail PA inspection for tint on the front windshield. On the other hand, it is up to the discretion of the police officer.  If they feel it’s too dark, they have every right to ticket the tint. Basically, that puts any film on question. Some police are lenient towards lighter films (30%+), whereas some may be completely against it. Window tinting from any professional shop is always at the customer’s risk. Make sure you read more about the law for your province.

What film matches my factory tint on my SUV/Pick-up/Mini-van?

Most vehicle manufacturers on the market today use 15% as their factory film. Sometimes the brand of film may play a part in the color matching. We’ll offer suggestions for every specific vehicle.