Car Window Tinting | Recommendations and Experiences?

I always go for the darkest I can get.

Kevin.
YES, there are regulations and ANY Tint company should NOT apply darker than is allowed by LAW. otherwise you are unroadworthy. Very dark, by it's shade would indicate MORE HEAT ABSORBING than lesser tint. It is the REFLECTIVE ABILITY/ HEAT REJECTION ability of the FILM which reduces heat. NOT necessarily the DARKNESS. Best to make yourself aware of the factors affecting tint, light transmission and heat rejection properties.
Police often carry a TINT TESTER which has a unit on each side of the glass to measure LIGHT TRANFERRENCE, If too dark it is YELLOW STICKER time! RED CARD if a SOCCER player.

A very pedantic mate of mine (who explores every avenue before spending a cent (tight as!!!) recently got his windows tinted with a ceramic film. Expensive but he said that is is so much cooler inside than the normal tint. I have the darkest legal and would not consider any darker. I do not do much night driving now but find even the legal tint hampers the drivers side and passenger side front windows visibility!! Not ideal if doing a lot of night driving. On the front windows I would go under the highest legal. I think if I had the option again I would go for ceramic....Longevity: Ceramic tints are more resistant to fading, bubbling, and scratching, maintaining their performance and appearance for longer.
Clarity: Ceramic films offer superior optical clarity and do not degrade color over time, unlike some regular dyed films.
Good luck

Both of my sons have had recent experiences in this area. One bought an older car - his train station bomb - which failed its roadworthy cert because of the tint on the glass. The other one bought his 79 Series new about 7 years ago and the dealership fitted the tint. He sold it a few months back and it failed it's roadworthy for the same reason. I don't know if specs have changed or the testing process has changed. As has been said there is a darkest legal standard which one would think the Toyota dealership would be across . I think I would step back and install something less than the darkest currently allowed.

Kenell

Hi Kevin,

My last two vehicles I have gone darkest legal front, and darkest legal rear. Whilst they do keep the vehicle a noticeably cooler, it is not the same as a reflective window shade. When touring, I also fit the reflective window shades on the rear wagon windows to keep the sun off the fridge.

Macca.

You also have to watch out for any protection that is built into the window glass. Read through the South Oz regs -
Window tinting. Here is a resume of all the states regs - Australia Window Tint Laws

Also, a NSW one - How do I know my windows and window tint are legal in NSW?

Pretty simple don't go beyond the max legal tint. You just have to pick a colour to suit the vehicle.

Our truck had tinted windows when we bought it. They are quite dark & look great from outside. There is no question however that the vision from my side mirrors is far better when the window is down. They may be the darkest legal tint allowed, or they possibly could be darker than that, I have no idea. If were to ever get them re-done I would consider going lighter & take note of what others here have said about ceramic film.