Ceramic vs. carbon tint — what's the difference?

Both block 99% UV and won't turn purple. Carbon rejects moderate heat and is the value choice. Nano-ceramic rejects up to 96% of infrared heat at any shade. Neither interferes with phone, GPS or radio signals.

How long until I can roll my windows down after tinting?

Leave windows up for 3–5 days while the film cures. Light haze or small water pockets are normal during that time and disappear.

Do you remove old window tint?

Yes. Old purple, bubbling or peeling film is removed and the glass cleaned before new film is installed. Defroster lines are protected. Removal is quoted separately.

Red SUV with dark ceramic window tint installed at Stereo 1 Wherehouse in Fresno

Window tinting · Fresno, CA

Ceramic Window Tint That Beats Fresno Heat

Q: Is 20% tint legal in California?

On rear side windows and the back glass, yes. On front side windows California requires 70% VLT, so 20% up front is not legal. We install 70% ceramic on the fronts, which still blocks 99% UV and most heat.

Q: How long does window tinting take?

Most cars and trucks take 2–4 hours. Same-day appointments are usually available.

Q: What does the lifetime tint warranty cover?

SolarFree film is warrantied against bubbling, peeling, cracking, delaminating and fading for as long as you own the vehicle.

Q: Can you tint a Tesla glass roof or a windshield?

Yes. We tint EV glass roofs and install clear or lightly tinted ceramic on front windshields. Cameras and sensors are never covered.

SolarFree® nano-ceramic film installed by the crew that's tinted Fresno since 1985. 99% UV blocked, up to 96% of heat rejected, a lifetime warranty, and most cars done the same day.

Call for a Tint Quote Compare Films

99%UV rays blocked

96%Infrared heat rejection (nano-ceramic)

2–4 hrsTypical install time

LifetimeWarranty — as long as you own the car

750+Five-star Google reviews

Why tint in the Central Valley

Your car sits in 105° sun. Your tint should work as hard as your A/C.

Fresno averages more than 100 days a year above 90°. A parked car hits 140° inside in under an hour, and cheap dyed film does almost nothing about it. Nano-ceramic tint rejects the infrared band that carries the heat — so the cabin cools faster, the A/C cycles less, and your dash, seats and screens stop cooking.

Cooler cabin

Up to 96% of infrared heat stopped at the glass. Noticeably cooler on the first hot day.

99% UV blocked

Protects skin on long commutes and keeps leather, plastics and stitching from fading and cracking.

Glare cut

Less squinting on the 99 and 41 at sunrise and sunset. Safer, more comfortable driving.

Privacy & security

Keeps eyes off your gear and your kids. Film also holds shattered glass together.

Driver shielding eyes from harsh sun glare through an untinted windshield — Untinted · 4 pm on the 41

Film options

Two films. Both warrantied for life.

We keep it simple: a value carbon film and our premium SolarFree® nano-ceramic. Both are computer-cut for your exact vehicle and installed by hand, edge to edge. Available in 5%, 20%, 35%, 50% and legal 70% shades.

Carbon

The value pick — solid UV protection, good looks, no signal interference.

UV rejection: 99%
Infrared heat rejection: Up to 60%
Signal interference: None
Color stability: Will not turn purple
Warranty: Lifetime

Best for: daily drivers, work trucks, budget-minded tint that still looks factory.

Quote carbon tint

SolarFree® Nano-Ceramic

The film we put on our own cars. Maximum heat rejection without going dark.

UV rejection: 99%
Infrared heat rejection: 93–96%
Signal interference: None
Clarity: Crystal clear, low haze
Warranty: Lifetime

Best for: Fresno summers, Teslas and EVs (helps battery range), families, anyone who parks outside.

Quote ceramic tint

Authorized SolarFree® dealer. Every roll we install is genuine, registered film — which is what makes the lifetime warranty against bubbling, peeling, cracking and fading real, not a handshake.

California tint law

What's legal in California — and what we install

California Vehicle Code §26708 sets the rules. We install legal film on your front windows and whatever shade you want behind the B-pillar — and we'll tell you straight if a request would get you a fix-it ticket.

Window	Legal minimum	What we install
Front side windows	70% VLT (lets 70% of light in)	70% ceramic — nearly clear, still blocks 99% UV & most heat
Rear side windows	Any darkness	5%, 20% or 35% — your call
Rear windshield	Any darkness (dual side mirrors required)	Match the rear sides
Front windshield	Strip above the AS-1 line only	Clear ceramic strip or full clear ceramic on request
Reflectivity	No more reflective than standard glass	Our films are non-mirrored

Medical exemptions exist for certain conditions with a signed letter from a physician or optometrist. Ask us — we've handled plenty. Laws change; this reflects CVC §26708 as of 2026.

The process

From quote to cured in a day

Quote in 60 seconds
Call or walk in with your year, make and model. We price by vehicle size and film, no surprises.
Free · no appointment
Computer-cut patterns
Your film is plotter-cut to the exact window shape — no razor blades on your glass, no gaps at the edge.
Vehicle-specific
Hand installed
Windows cleaned, film heat-shrunk to the curve and squeegeed by techs who've done thousands of cars.
2–4 hours
Cure & enjoy
Keep windows up 3–5 days while the film bonds. Light haze during that time is normal and disappears.
Lifetime warranty starts

Straight from the bay

See it, hear it, drive it home

Real installs from our shop on N First St — tap any clip for sound.

Why ceramic?A quick walkthrough of how nano-ceramic tint works and what to expect.

Fresh installEdge-to-edge ceramic on a red coupe, straight off the bay.

Tesla Model Y & Cadillac CTSTwo very different cars, same clean result.

"It's frickin' awesome"A Model 3 owner's first look at his new tint.

Recent work

Cars, trucks, Teslas, work vans — we tint them all

White Dodge Charger with ceramic window tint parked under trees in Fresno

Tint technician cleaning a car window before applying film

Technician heat-shrinking window tint film to the curve of a rear window

Sports car with tinted windows driving into a Central Valley sunset

Stereo 1 Wherehouse tint shop storefront on N First St, Fresno

Who we tint

EV owners and fleet managers, this part's for you

Tesla Model Y with fresh ceramic window tint at Stereo 1 Wherehouse Fresno

Tesla & EV owners

The cheapest range upgrade you can buy

Less heat through the glass means the climate system pulls fewer watts on the way to Clovis and back. We tint Model 3, Model Y, Model S/X, Cybertruck, Rivian, Mach-E and Ioniq regularly — including the big one-piece rear glass — without touching cameras or sensors.

Full clear-ceramic windshield for maximum heat rejection with zero tint
Glass-roof tinting to tame the greenhouse effect
Signal-neutral film: Supercharger comms, keycard and phone-key all work normally

Stereo 1 Wherehouse tint shop on N First St in Fresno

Commercial & fleet

Work trucks, vans & fleets

Keep drivers cool and cargo out of sight. We tint Transit and ProMaster vans, F-Series and Silverado work trucks, and whole fleets on a schedule that keeps vehicles on the road. Volume pricing available — call and ask for Greg.

Fleet scheduling around your routes
Consistent film and shade across every vehicle
Invoicing for business accounts

Tint reviews

Why Fresno sends their friends here

4.7

★★★★★

750+ Google reviews

Ceramic tint★★★★★

Greg and his staff are legit! This is my review after 7 months of having my tint done. Best customer service in this industry.

Tint★★★★★

I had my tint done today! The process was extremely straightforward. The owner and the staff were so accommodating and kind!

Tint★★★★★

I was recommended here by a lot of people and this place didn't disappoint. The owner and staff were incredibly courteous and professional.

8 years later★★★★★

First car I had tinted there over 8 years ago and it's still great.

Tint★★★★★

Greg!!!! Awesome, honest, up-front guy, and great service. Love my new tint!!

Tint + headrest screens★★★★★

Victor was very knowledgeable and professional.

Tint FAQ

Questions Fresno drivers ask us every day

How much does window tinting cost in Fresno?

It depends on vehicle size, film (carbon vs. nano-ceramic) and how many windows. A sedan is less than a crew-cab truck; ceramic costs more than carbon but rejects far more heat. Call (559) 836-0949 with your year, make and model and we'll quote it in under a minute. Financing through Snap, Acima and PayPal Credit is available on any tint job.

Is 20% tint legal in California?

On rear side windows and the back glass, yes — any shade is legal there. On the front side windows, California requires 70% VLT, so 20% up front is not legal and can get you a fix-it ticket. We install 70% ceramic on the fronts, which still blocks 99% UV and most of the heat while looking nearly clear.

Ceramic vs. carbon — what's the real difference?

Both block 99% of UV and neither will turn purple like old dyed film. Carbon rejects a moderate amount of heat and is the value choice. Nano-ceramic uses ceramic nanoparticles to reject up to 96% of infrared heat at any shade, even the legal 70%, so it's the one to get if heat is your main reason for tinting. Neither interferes with phone, GPS, radio or toll transponders.

How long does window tinting take?

Most cars and trucks are done in 2–4 hours. Full-size vans, vehicles with old tint to strip, and windshields take longer. Same-day appointments are usually available — call in the morning and you'll typically drive home tinted that afternoon.

How long until I can roll my windows down?

Leave the windows up for 3–5 days while the adhesive cures (a bit longer in cool weather). Light haze or small water pockets during that time are normal and evaporate through the film. Don't clean the inside of the glass for a week; after that, use an ammonia-free cleaner and a soft cloth.

Do you remove old tint?

Yes. Purple, bubbling or peeling film from another shop is removed, the glass is cleaned of adhesive, and new film goes on. Rear windows with defroster lines are handled carefully so the lines stay intact. Removal is quoted separately from the new tint.

What does the lifetime warranty cover?

SolarFree® film is warrantied against bubbling, peeling, cracking, delaminating and fading for as long as you own the vehicle. Bring the car back and we make it right. Because we're an authorized dealer, the manufacturer backs the film too.

Can you tint a Tesla's glass roof or a windshield?

Yes. We tint Tesla and other EV glass roofs to cut the greenhouse effect, and we install clear or lightly tinted ceramic on front windshields (a full clear ceramic windshield is legal because it isn't dark). Cameras and sensors are never covered.

Tint service area

Window tinting for Fresno, Clovis and the Central Valley

We're on N First St just south of Highway 180. Drivers come from across the 559 because the film, the warranty and the install are worth the trip.

Fresno
Clovis
Madera
Sanger
Selma
Reedley
Kingsburg
Fowler
Kerman
Dinuba
Visalia
Hanford
Tulare
Lemoore
Merced
Chowchilla
Oakhurst

Ready to stop baking? Get tinted today.

Mon–Sat 9–6 · Sun 10–5 · 454 N First St, Fresno · Walk-ins welcome

Call (559) 836-0949 Request a quote