Window Tint Guide: Get Tinted
How to Prepare Your Car for Window Tint
Window film is applied to the inside of the glass, inches from your door pockets, seat backs and rear deck. Anything in the way slows the job, and anything dusty or loose near the glass can end up trapped under the film. Ten minutes of prep the night before helps the install go smoothly.
Here is what to do before a tint appointment at The Auto Show, and why each step matters. Most of it applies at any tint shop.
The short answer
To prepare for window tint, empty the door pockets and rear deck, clear the area around every window being tinted, and take parking passes, decals and toll tags off that glass or tell us where they are. Leave old film alone and mention it. Bring any medical exemption paperwork, plan a ride because there is no waiting area, and call if you need drop-off after 6 pm.
Key points
- Empty door pockets, the rear deck and cargo area near the glass so installers can reach every window.
- Remove stickers, parking passes and suction mounts from glass being tinted, or tell us about them.
- Do not apply glass cleaners or treatments to the inside of the windows right before the appointment.
- Mention existing aftermarket film; it has to come off first, and that changes the job.
- Plan a ride, since there is no waiting area, and call to arrange drop-off after 6 pm if you need it.
A week before
Settle the decisions early
Decide which windows you want tinted. Our published prices cover the two front side windows: from $125.99 in LLumar Carbon and from $199.99 in LLumar Ceramic. If you want the rear doors and back glass too, request a quote for the full vehicle so you know the price before the day.
Check two things that can rule a job out. We do not tint vehicles more than 8 years old, because aging door seals and trim are likely to break. And if you want darker film under a medical exemption, bring the paperwork and ask us before you book, not on the morning of the appointment.
Finally, find out how your vehicle is classified. Look at the certification label on the driver's door edge or door pillar; federal rules require it to state the vehicle type, such as MPV or truck. South Carolina's limits on windows behind the driver do not apply to multipurpose passenger vehicles but do apply to pickups, so knowing which you have helps you understand what shades are possible.
The night before
Clear the car around the glass
Door pockets
Empty them. Installers need to reach the bottom edge of each roll-down window, and water from the slip solution can drip into pockets.
Rear deck and cargo area
On sedans, clear the shelf under the back glass completely. On SUVs and wagons, move cargo away from the rear windows and tailgate glass.
Seats near the windows
Take car seats, boosters, seat covers and bags off the seats beside the windows being tinted. They block access and collect dust.
Loose debris
Vacuum pet hair and crumbs from the door sills and rear deck. Anything loose near the glass can drift onto wet film.
Valuables
Take them out. You will be away from the car for the appointment, and it is simpler to leave nothing behind.
On the glass
Stickers, tags and mounts
Film cannot go over a parking decal, dealer sticker, inspection or school pass, or the adhesive outline one leaves behind. Peel off anything on glass you are having tinted, and keep what you need to replace later. If you would rather not remove something, such as a gate pass that is hard to replace, tell us at drop-off so we can talk about options.
Remove suction-cup phone mounts, sunshades and anything clipped to the windows. Unplug aftermarket dash cameras if their wiring runs near the glass being tinted, or let us know they are there.
Toll transponders and parking tags on the windshield usually stay where they are, because South Carolina does not allow film below the AS-1 line on the windshield anyway. Mention them if you have asked about a windshield strip.
Do not
Things to skip before your appointment
- Do not apply rain repellent, interior glass treatments or protectants to the inside of the windows. The glass is cleaned as part of the job, and residue can work against the adhesive.
- Do not try to peel old aftermarket film yourself. Partial removal leaves adhesive and can damage rear defroster lines.
- Do not schedule the appointment for the day before a long road trip with the windows down. New film needs to dry before you roll windows down.
- Do not leave a dog's travel crate or a full laundry basket on the rear deck. It all has to come out anyway.
Old film
If your car already has tint
Tell us when you book if any window already has aftermarket film, even faint or peeling film. New film should not go over old film, so the old film and its adhesive would have to come off before anything new is applied. Removal is not something we advertise, so tell us up front and we will confirm what your options are before you book, rather than discovering it at drop-off.
Factory tint is different: it is in the glass itself, not a film, and new film goes over it. It still matters, because it already reduces light, and that is part of the legal shade check we do before installing.
Timing
Pick a day that suits the cure period
New film needs time to dry before the windows go down, and the International Window Film Association notes that drying time depends on temperature and humidity. In practice that means thinking about the few days after the appointment, not just the appointment itself.
If your week includes a drive-through coffee run every morning, a gated lot with a card reader, a toll booth or a parking ramp where you hand over a ticket, plan a workaround: open the door instead of the window, or use the passenger side if it was not tinted. Avoid booking right before a beach trip or a Lake Hartwell weekend when you would want the windows down. Ask us how long to keep them up for your film and the season; we confirm the details when you book.
What to bring
Paperwork and information
- Your booking confirmation. A deposit confirms the appointment; its amount and the cancellation policy were shown when you booked.
- A signed medical exemption affidavit, if you discussed one with us. South Carolina requires it to be in the vehicle whenever it is driven.
- Notes on anything unusual: a slow window motor, a recently replaced window, aftermarket electronics near the glass.
- A phone number where we can reach you during the appointment.
Logistics
Getting there and getting home
We work by appointment only at 112 Metro Drive, Suite B, in Anderson, and there is no waiting area. Arrange for someone to drop you off and pick you up, or plan around a ride service. If you are coming from Greenville, Clemson or Easley, plan that return trip before the day.
If dropping off during the day is hard, call (864) 202-6934 and we can arrange drop-off after 6 pm. For pickup, give yourself a few minutes to look over the film and the compliance stickers and ask about aftercare before you drive away.
Ready to book?
Book online or request a quote for a full vehicle. Call (864) 202-6934 to arrange drop-off after 6 pm.
Common questions
Should I wash my car before getting it tinted?
An exterior wash is optional; the film goes on the inside of the glass, and the windows are cleaned as part of the job. What helps more is a tidy interior around the windows: empty door pockets, a clear rear deck and no loose pet hair or dust near the glass, since anything loose can drift onto wet film.
Can I leave my toll tag on the windshield?
Usually yes. A windshield toll transponder sits in an area where South Carolina does not allow film below the AS-1 line anyway. If you are asking about a strip along the top of the windshield, mention the tag and any mirror-mounted electronics so they are accounted for.
Do I need to remove my old window tint first?
No, do not remove it yourself. Tell us about it when you book. Old film and its adhesive have to come off before new film goes on, and doing it at home often leaves residue or damages rear defroster lines. Knowing ahead lets us tell you your options before you book.
Can someone else drop off my car?
Yes. Whoever drops off should know which film and windows you booked and how to reach you during the appointment. If evening drop-off is easier for them, call (864) 202-6934 to arrange drop-off after 6 pm.
Keep reading
Sources
- S.C. Code Ann. § 56-5-5015, South Carolina Legislature (https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/t56c005.php), accessed October 2026
- 49 CFR 567.4 Requirements for manufacturers of motor vehicles (certification label), Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/567.4), accessed October 2026
- 49 CFR 571.3 Definitions (multipurpose passenger vehicle), Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School (https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/49/571.3), accessed October 2026
- Automotive Installation Process, International Window Film Association (https://iwfa.com/automotive-installation-process/), accessed October 2026
- Automotive Window Tint Frequently Asked Questions, LLumar (https://llumar.com/en/resources/automotive-window-tint-frequently-asked-questions/), accessed October 2026
Prices on this page are The Auto Show’s published starting prices. Film ratings and warranty terms come from the manufacturer. This guide explains South Carolina law in plain words; it is not legal advice.