Have you noticed that many new cars these days come with the rear and back passenger windows already darkened as though they were tinted? Wait, what do I mean ‘as though they were tinted? Well, believe it or not, car window tints and privacy glass are actually two totally different things even though they are at times advertised as ‘Factory Tints’.
For many, if they had known the difference between privacy glass and window tints, they would have most likely have changed their decision. This is often the case for those who purchase brand new cars from the dealership and are at times offered a ‘privacy glass’ upgrade.
If you are looking to buy, have purchased a new car or simply looking to have you car tinted, then you should definitely read this to find out what options you have, especially if you already have privacy glass installed.
What is Privacy Glass?
First of all, let us dive into the process as this will allow you to understand what exactly you are getting.An electrical process called ‘deep digging’ results in the tinted glass. It involves dyeing the inside of the glass with a dark colour pigment. The glass is made in the same manner as how tempered glass is manufactured for cars. The dyed pigment helps to block light out and makes it difficult for people outside to look into the car – hence the name privacy glass.
In short, Privacy tints is much like your glass being stained with a shade to reflect a darker colour. There is no additional protective film being applied on to your windows
Differences between privacy glass and automotive window tint
Some people want to have tinted windows installed on their cars but are not clear about the difference between privacy tints and automotive window tinting. People usually think that these two are one and the same thing. They may look similar but there are some big differences between the two.
Privacy film is naturally manufactured with less transparent glass, but the tinted windows have a darker hue by applying a tinting film to the windows.
UV rays are extremely harmful to the car as well as to the people inside. Privacy glass cannot block the UV rays but window tints with the right film can block up to 99 % of the harmful rays
Infrared rays can produce a lot of heat. As the day progresses, the heat gets more intense. The infrared rays can easily penetrate the privacy glass. Whereas for automotive tinted glass, it possesses effective infrared blocking features that can block the rays and along with the heat. More than just looks, it offers fantastic heat rejection, coolness and protection.
Can you tint over Privacy Glass?
Great question, in fact, many Australians who have privacy factory glass in their cars still go ahead and get the privacy glass tinted. Why? This is an excellent idea if you want to get more comfortable especially during the hotter months. Privacy glass is made by dyeing the glass and the dye has very limited or no heat absorption capabilities. It also has no UV blocking ability. This is why it is popular for man Australians to apply tinted film to the privacy glass to achieve the best of both worlds – excellent privacy and heat-rejecting/protecting properties.
Those who have a ceramic coating on the car paint and on the glass, are not to confuse the glass protection with tints. Always remember that tints are applied internally and the glass coatings are applied on the outside of the glass. They serve 2 different purposes and therefore can be stacked up for better protection all year round.
Advantages of privacy glass on your car
There are a few advantages of privacy glass which are as follows:
1) It can block out some sunlight and provide shade.
2) People inside the car will have privacy.
3) It also gives a sense of security. You will feel more secure about leaving things in the back seat knowing that people from outside cannot see them.
4) One major reason why many people get privacy windows in their cars is that it increases the style quotient. The coloured glass can make your car stand out with a nice delicate and modern finish.
Disadvantages of privacy glass on your car
There are some disadvantages of privacy factory glass as well.
1) It offers little to no protection against harmful UV rays, whereas tinted windows can block up to 99%
2) Barely any heat rejection. One of the main reasons for having tints is to keep your car cool, unfortunately, it does not do much in this aspect.
3) Privacy windows tends to be already dark and so if you are worried about it being too dark, it is always recommended that a tinting professional applies a light shade, almost clear film on top. Yes, even clear film offers heat rejection and UV protection.
Conclusion
The final verdict? If you have privacy glass installed, we would always recommend having them tinted with a clear or light film on top (this makes sure it complies). Safety is always paramount and especially if you have kids or often drive passengers such as family, friends or even ride-sharing customers, you should be protecting them from harmful UV rays and keeping them cool during Summer. If privacy and safety is paramount to your lifestyle, then you must consider installing a hardwired dash cam with parking mode enabled. This ensures that even with privacy and window tints, should a thief proceeds to try and break into your car, it will trigger your dash cam to record upon contact with excellent surveillance footage.
Car Care Advice For The Everyday Driver & Enthusiast
As a seasoned author on our team, Chester also known as ‘Gadget’, for his love for all things mechanical, brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, particularly when it comes to automotive topics.
