Window Tint FAQ

In or near Knoxville, TN and just searched “window tinting near me?” To learn more about FILM INSTALLERS™, East TN’s professional mobile window tinting service, please click here.

FILM INSTALLERS™ brings professional window tinting to your doorstep. Their mobile window tinting service uses high-quality, American-made films to enhance your vehicle or home’s comfort and style.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-107 states:

• It is unlawful to operate any motor vehicle in which any window has a visible light transmittance of less than 35 percent; or
• With exception of factory installed shade band reduces the visible light transmittance of less that 70 percent on the windshield.
• A legal label must be applied to the lower right-hand corner of the driver’s window. The label must include the installing companies name and state: “Complies with Tennessee Code Annotated, § 55-9-107”.
• The owner of the vehicle is responsible for providing proof that the vehicle in question complies with local regulation.
• Violating Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-9-107 is a class C misdemeanor.
• Law enforcement vehicles are exempt from this regulation.
• Rear windows beyond the driver and passenger are exempt from this regulation if:
  • Vehicle registered in another state complies with that state’s local regulations for tinted windows.
  • Vehicle is registered by a private investigator or investigator company.
• Tennessee does recognize medical exemptions if the person’s physician provides certification that the person has a medical condition requiring the vehicle to have window tint installed beyond the stated limitations.

To see a state-by-state list of window tint laws, please visit our Window Tint Laws page.

Alot of contributing factors can affect the time it takes to tint a car including environment, film choice, technician skill level and difficulty of the vehicle. For most seasoned window tint installers, the average time to tint a 4-door car is 1 to 3 hours with some installers in perfect conditions doing 4-door cars in about 45 minutes.

Keep in mind that it is very difficult to keep up with quality in a high paced environment, the quality and care for your vehicle during the process of having it tinted should be the first and foremost importance.

Window film is applied to the inside of the window so nothing you do to the outside of the vehicle will affect your newly tinted windows. Within the first 48 -72 hours, please refrain from rolling your windows down or wiping the insides of the windows. This is to prevent the film from shifting causing blemishes during the curing process.

Use a soft microfiber cloth and an ammonia free glass cleaner to clean your tinted windows. Most glass cleaners will state “Safe for Tint” on their product labels. If not stated, look for an ammonia free or check the ingredients of the cleaner. Always practice safe methods of cleaning like testing a small portion of the window with the cleaner first or spraying cleaner directly onto your microfiber towel instead of directly on the window.

Using cleaners that have harsh ingredients such as ammonia can chemically burn or discolor the film.

The answer to how long your tint will last depends solely on the quality of the film itself. The sun’s UV radiation is brutal to anything that stands in its way. Window film that isn’t designed to handle the aggressiveness of the sun will ultimately fade, distort, discolor or bubble. Most general-purpose films will have a 1-year life expectancy, while higher end ceramic films, in most cases, are backed by manufacture lifetime warranties and are standardly outperforming 10+ years on a vehicle with minimal failure issues.

Rest assured; Film Installers LLC only uses automotive window film lines that are backed by a comprehensive manufacture lifetime warranty. For more information on the automotive window films we carry, please click here. To visit our film providers website please click here.

You should wait 48 – 72 hours before rolling your windows down on a newly tinted vehicle. Climate can have an effect on the curing process and in some cases in hot climates freshly tinted windows can be rolled down almost immediately without affecting the install.

Film Installers LLC recommends the traditional precaution of 48 -72 hours even in warmer climates. This gives the films edges enough time to create a strong bond with the glass preventing excess moisture from finding its way into your window.

No, the way residential or commercial window tint is designed to handle the heat is different from the way automotive film is designed to handle the heat. Window tint that is meant to be on a car absorbs the sun’s heat and disperses it evenly throughout the glass. When this type of film is applied to a home or building the glass is put under extreme thermal stress and different temperatures in the glass casted by shadows under this extreme thermal stress can cause glass breakage. Also, the way the film disperses the heat can have adverse effects on the internal temperature of the house or building as a vehicle is not stationary.

Although with the right amount of will and dedication anything can be accomplished, it’s always best to let a seasoned professional handling your tinting needs. Most warranties are voided if not installed by an authorized dealer or professional and access to high quality films are usually protected to dealers as well. Overall, saving a couple bucks could cost you big down the road.

Don’t just research the credibility of your local window tinter, make sure to research the film and product they offer as well. There are many great brands available on the market and all offer ranges of lower to high end films.

In Tennessee as long as your vehicle is compliant with the local regulations against window tint in the state the vehicle is registered in, then you won’t have anything to worry about as you visit or pass through.

Yes, Film Installers LLC accepts debit and most major credits cards including American Express and Discover.