A Chameleon tint is a tint for your vehicle’s front windscreen that gives a ‘Chameleon’-like effect. The popular trend is different to a regular window tint, as it is not one solid colour like ordinary window tints. Chameleon tint contains coloured dyes which generate a gradient of purple, green or blue. These colours change when the vehicle is moving, or depending on the weather, lighting or angle of view. This gives the ‘Chameleon’ effect, as the tinted windows appear to change colours depending on outdoor conditions.
A stylish upgrade to your car, you can have a Chameleon tint professionally fitted to your vehicle windows, or you can do it yourself.
Chameleon Tints were originally manufactured by prestigious vehicle brands to protect their drivers from sun glare.
At Car Specialist Customs, we provide Chameleon Tints in aqua blue, sunset orange and Cadbury purple. This comes with a one-year warranty for your peace of mind.
Can you see through Chameleon tint?
When a car has a Chameleon tint on the front windscreen, it doesn’t affect the driver’s view. The driver will be able to see the road clearly from the driving seat, as normal. But the tinted window will reflect what is seen.
Because the windscreen is angled upwards, it will reflect what it sees in the sky. The colours you see in your tinted windows will vary, depending on the weather or how bright or cloudy the sky is.
So, that answers “what is a Chameleon tint?” – but what are the benefits?
- Stunning appearance – our Chameleon tint looks sleek, modern and attention-grabbing. If it is a bright day with fluffy clouds in the sky, this will be reflected in your window tints!
- Daytime privacy – the reflective film inside the Chameleon tint prevents vision through the glass, affording the driver and passengers a level of comfort that they won’t find in non-tinted cars.
- Security – the darkened glass from the Chameleon tint makes it harder for thieves to gain access to your car to steal any valuables you store inside.
- Shade from the sun and protection from damaging Ultra Violet Rays – the film in our Chameleon tint blocks 99% of UV Rays. This is ideal for individuals with sensitivity to sunlight or skin diseases. Too much UV radiation emitted from the sun damages the DNA in our skin cells, which can lead to skin cancer.
- Reduced glare – sunlight, flood lights and oncoming traffic headlights can be very distracting for drivers. The Chameleon tint reduces the blinding impact of this lighting, helping you to concentrate better on the road.
- Cooler interior – our Chameleon tint offers 80% Infrared (IR) Heat Rejection. The tint keeps out the sun’s UV rays, meaning the driver and passengers will stay cooler and more comfortable in the vehicle.
- Durability – if the windscreen glass gets shattered in an accident, the Chameleon tint holds the glass together.
- Protection for your car’s interiors – because it blocks the sun’s rays, a Chameleon tint prevents your dashboard and upholstery from sun damage. Copious amounts of sunlight can cause the leather in your car interiors to discolour and crack.
Is a Chameleon tint road legal in the UK?
Perhaps the most important question after “what is a Chameleon tint” is whether it is legal or not. The answer? Yes, it is legal for you to have a Chameleon tint on the front windscreen in the UK. This is because a Chameleon Tint lets in more than 75% of light.
By law, vehicles first used on 1 April 1985 or later must have a front windscreen that lets in at least 75% of light through. The front side windows must let at least 70% of the light through.
For vehicles first used before 1 April 1985, the front windscreen and front side windows must let at least 70% of light through.
If your vehicle windows are tinted too much, this is dangerous. Your vision will be impaired and you won’t be able to see other road users, pedestrians or road traffic signs. An overly darkened front windscreen would also prevent other road users from using eye contact to communicate with you while driving. Therefore, an incorrect window tint significantly increases your risk of getting into road accidents. The risk would be greatest at night when it is already dark.
You could face a penalty if your car windscreen or windows are incorrectly tinted. It is illegal to fit or sell glass that breaks the rules on tinted windows. It is also illegal to sell a vehicle already fitted with glass that breaks the rules.
The police, or the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) vehicle examiners can inspect your vehicle’s window tint using light measuring equipment.
If your front windscreen or front side windows are tinted too much, you could be served a ‘prohibition notice’. This stops you from using your vehicle on the road until you have removed the extra tint. Or, you could be served a penalty notice of 3 points on your driving license and a £60 fine. You could also be served a court summons.
Always inform your insurance company that you have tinted your car windows. Failure to disclose any window tints could cause your claim to become invalidated.
The rules surrounding window tints vary, depending on which part of the world you are in. For example, in California, for sedans, the front side windows must allow in more than 88% light. In contrast, in Australia, only a strip of tint is allowed on the uppermost 10% of the front windshield.
To find out more with regards to the legality surrounding Chameleon tints in the UK, we have covered this topic extensively in a blog article.
I have just had Chameleon tints applied to my car windows. What should I do next?
Tell your insurance company that you have window tints, as this counts as a modification to your car. If you need to make an insurance claim but haven’t told your insurance provider that you have tinted windows, you may not be eligible for compensation.
Immediately after the Chameleon tint has been applied, don’t open and close the windows for about 10 days, as the tint could still be wet. You need to allow some time so that the tint can set properly.
Avoid cleaning your tinted windows right away, as the tint needs time to dry and adhere to your window surface.
How do I take care of my tinted windows?
- Clean your tinted windows regularly. You can hand clean them, use a jet wash, or take your car to a car wash facility.
- Never scrub your windows harshly. Instead, use a soft cloth to wipe away dirt.
- Never use cleaning products or disinfectant wipes that contain alcohol or harsh chemicals such as ammonia. These will damage the film in your tinted windows and reduce the clarity.
- Use a spray that is specially formulated for cleaning car windows. Don’t spray it directly onto the car windows; spray it directly onto the cloth.
- Don’t use paper towels to clean or dry your tinted windows. These will leave tiny fibres all over, which are annoying and difficult to remove.
- Avoid continually touching your tinted windows with your hands, as this will leave streaks and smudges.
Will my car pass my MOT test if I have a Chameleon tint?
Yes, your car will still pass an MOT test, because Chameleon tint allows more than 70% of light to come through, which abides by the law.
If your car has too much tint on the windows, you will fail an MOT test.
However, if you pass an MOT test, don’t just assume that your window tints are legal. Check that your window tints are within the legal requirements and make sure you are abiding by the law.
How do you remove Chameleon tint?
You may decide to remove your Chameleon tint if the film becomes damaged and needs replacing.
All window tints may show signs of wear and tear over time, especially if they are exposed to lots of sun and heat.
Cheaper window tints may be made of lower-quality materials and thus degrade faster. So, invest in a good quality window tint which will last you for years to come.
To remove your Chameleon tint:
- Consult a professional window tint service if you do not want to remove a Chameleon tint yourself.
- To remove the Chameleon tint yourself, grab a heat gun, hair dryer or steamer.
- Remove any stickers from your car windows.
- Apply the heating device at a distance of 5cm away from a corner of the tint.
- Steam it carefully, to make the tint peel away.
- Take your time to peel off the window tint, taking care not to scratch or smudge the car windows.
- Use a soft cloth or sponge to wipe away the adhesive glue.
- If the adhesive is particularly stubborn and won’t come off, try wiping the area with adhesive remover, nail polish remover, washing-up liquid or WD-40 cleaner.
Give your windows a good clean and make sure they fully dry.
We hope that this article provided the necessary information to answer the question “what is a chameleon tint?”.
Find out more about Car Specialist Customs by visiting our website here.
We offer a range of services including window tints, light tints, Chameleon tints, vehicle trackers, Ghost Immobilisers, Pandora alarms and starlights.
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