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Madico provides its dealers with swatch samples of automotive window film in a wide range of shades and colors to facilitate customer selection. Our professional dealers' role is to assist you in making a final selection. The one mandatory contribution they will make will be to ensure your final selection is in accordance with the state/province laws in which your vehicle is registered. So, in addition to reviewing our automotive window film products on this website, we highly recommend visiting our dealer directory to find a local authorized Madico dealer to spend time with to help make your window film selection.

Window film laws vary from state to state, and country to country. Many countries allow window film on the entire car as long as they meet certain light transmission standards. In the U.S., window film is not permitted on the front windshield but allowed on the side windows and back windshield. The amount of allowable light transmission varies depending on state laws. Talk with your Madico window film dealer to ensure you're within legal boundaries or check out these window film rules and laws per state, courtesy of the International Window Film Association (IWFA).

While installers use the outside of your car's window to cut out a pattern, automotive window film is always applied on the inside of your vehicle's glass. Windshield protection film is installed on the outside of your vehicle’s windshield.

No. Installing window film requires highly-nuanced techniques and skills. It's far too easy for dirt, dust, or hair to contaminate the film. Even if you consider yourself a DIY expert, it wouldn't be possible because Madico films are not sold to the public. Our products are shipped directly from the factory to our distributors, who then fulfill orders and ship them to Madico dealers. Our professional dealer/installers have experience and/or training to help them identify unique or unusual circumstances which may affect either the installation or performance of a particular product in a given situation, that might not otherwise be noticed. Professional installation will ensure your satisfaction and provide you with the warranty protection you deserve. From product selection, to professional installation, to providing industry-leading warranty programs, Madico dealers ensure customers are completely delighted with their window film purchase and product performance.

While we're aware that many installers have perfected their own methods to install window film, the following information is a popular way professionals install car window film on most vehicles.

• Step 1: The tinting environment. Bring the car to be tinted into a dust- and wind-free space, usually a large interior bay of a building.

• Step 2: Prepping the windows. Clean the windows of the car to be tinted—inside and out—using a soap and water solution, sponge, and squeegee to remove all dirt and debris

• Step 3: Measuring & cutting. Measure the car’s windows and cut pieces of film from a master roll to fit those measurements. Lay out the film on the exterior surface of the car window to cut it down more precisely. Heat shrink the film using a heat gun, to contour the film so that it curves to the glass. Rest assured a proper, professional heat gun designed for this process emits heat at a low setting and will not harm the vehicle.
  

• Step 4: The Peel Board. After the film is cut down to match the pattern of the window, remove the film and place it on a glass “peel board” to cut the finer details of the window’s shape. This is where the release liner is usually removed.

• Step 5: Installation. Once the film has been cut down to the correct size and shape, spray a soap and water solution onto the window as well as the film itself. Then remove the film’s release liner and apply the film to the interior of the window. Use a squeegee to remove any excess solution that may be under the film and activate the adhesive that secures the film to the window.
  

• Step 6: Final Inspection. Take a final look at your work, examining the window from both the inside and the outside to spot any imperfections that need to be fixed.
  

• Step 7: Dry Time. Once the tint job is complete, do NOT roll down the vehicle’s windows for three days. Depending on weather conditions and the film type, it can take up to three weeks for the film to fully dry and cure. During this time, small water bubbles and/or a hazy appearance may appear. This is normal and will disappear as the film dries.

It shouldn't. If the window film on your automobile turns purple, peels, or bubbles, it usually means that a low grade of film was used and that it wasn't installed correctly. Adhesives and dyes in low quality films eventually break down over time. All window films by Madico are engineered and manufactured with the highest quality standards and, when professionally installed, are backed by factory warranties.

All Madico dealers and installers are highly trained, experienced professionals. The process can take anywhere from 45 minutes to a few hours depending on how many windows are being tinted. Tinting just two side doors will obviously go faster than tinting all four side windows and the back window. A good rule of thumb is to allow a half-day to get a car done. This allows ample time for the installer to do the best job possible, while giving the film a chance to dry before returning the vehicle.

The cost of automotive window film depends on many factors. Your local Madico dealer will provide you with both a consultation and an estimate to address your individual needs. Visit our dealer directory to find an authorized Madico dealer near you.