Some vehicles come with factory tint directly from the manufacturer. Factory tint is a tint that’s embedded within the glass of the window. Factory tinted glass & aftermarket tint look very similar in appearance, but they’re very different in their materials, manufacturing & installation processes. These differences give automotive window tinting film additional benefits that factory tint doesn’t provide. Factory tint cannot be made lighter, but it can be made darker through the application of aftermarket tint. Let’s talk more about the differences so you can decide if you’d like an aftermarket auto tint on top of your factory tint!

Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Factory-tinted glass contains dyes and pigments that are mixed into the glass itself during manufacturing. These additives darken the glass color and prevent some visible light from passing through the windows. Aftermarket window tint is a product applied to the window made from multiple layers of polyester film. Different types and quantities of metals and dyes impact the tint’s color, light transference and reflective properties of the film.  

Aftermarket Tint Installation

There are no installation procedures after the window is manufactured and installed in the vehicle from the factory. In contrast, aftermarket tinted film is applied to the interior surface of the vehicle’s windows after the car has been manufactured and sold.

Automotive Factory Tint Removal

It’s not possible to remove factory tint from a car window because the dyes and pigments are mixed inside the glass. Aftermarket tinting film can be removed from the glass by using tools to peel the film and solvents to break down the adhesive coating.  

Protection From Ultraviolet Rays and Solar Energy

Auto manufacturers typically only place factory-tinted glass in the vehicle’s rear windows. While this tint filters visible light, it does not provide the same level of protection from ultraviolet rays as aftermarket tint. Most folks are unaware of the amount of UV light exposure they get while in their cars, especially because factory tinted windows appear to let in less sunlight. Factory tinted windows are primarily for aesthetics, visual comfort and privacy. While glass on its own can block most UVB rays — the solar energy responsible for sunburn — it cannot block UVA rays — the light responsible for skin tanning, skin aging and wrinkles. Both types of UV rays contribute to skin cancer, and factory-tinted glass does not provide broad-spectrum UV protection or keep your car’s interior cool. Adding auto window tint film to your vehicle’s front and rear windows reduces the volume of harmful UV rays that enter the car. Most aftermarket tinted window films block 99% of the sun’s harmful UV rays. Aftermarket film also reflects and absorbs the sun’s solar energy from infrared light. Factory-tinted glass does little to reduce heat gain inside the car, while aftermarket film reflects the infrared energy in sunlight. Infrared protection from aftermarket tinting maintains a more comfortable temperature inside the car and can even let you turn down your air conditioning to save on gas. Dyed glass by itself cannot provide this added temperature control.

Shattered Glass Protection

Although factory-tinted glass is tempered and strengthened to increase durability, it provides little protection when the glass breaks. When you install aftermarket window film, the adhesive and protective polyester layers work to hold shattered glass in place, reducing the chances of bodily injury for passengers.