Costs
Car window tinting cost, and the legal limits by state
A full professional tint usually costs a few hundred dollars, more for ceramic film and big vehicles. How dark you can go depends on your state and which window it is. Here are both, sourced and dated.
Hitch & HighwayChecked 3 October 20262 min read
Quick answer
Published prices for a full professional tint range from about $220 to $800, depending on the vehicle and the film. In Melbourne, one tint shop lists sedans and dual-cab utes at $345 to $395 in carbon film and $445 to $550 in ceramic. In NSW, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT, front side windows must let through at least 35% of light, and the windows behind the driver at least 20% on cars with mirrors on both sides.
What tinting costs
| Vehicle | Carbon film | Ceramic film |
|---|---|---|
| Hatchback or single-cab ute | $295 to $350 | $395 to $465 |
| Sedan or dual-cab ute | $345 to $395 | $445 to $550 |
| Large SUV or wagon | $395 to $450 | $495 to $650 |
| Two front windows only | $200 to $250 | $250 to $320 |
Prices from R1 Auto's 2026 Melbourne guide. Yellow Pages' 2026 guide puts a full tint at $220 to $800 nationally. Removing old film typically adds $100 to $250.
Carbon or ceramic?
Carbon film darkens the glass and blocks UV, and does not fade purple like cheap dyed film. Ceramic film adds much stronger infrared (heat) rejection, which is what makes a cabin cooler in an Australian summer. For a van or ute that sits in the sun, ceramic is usually worth the extra.
Legal limits by state
VLT (visible light transmittance) is the share of light the window lets through: the lower the number, the darker the glass.
| Window | NSW | Victoria | South Australia | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windscreen | 70% minimum, top band only | 70%, no film, top band only | 75% (post-1971 vehicles) | Top band only |
| Front side windows | 35% | 35% | 35% | 35% |
| Behind the driver (cars) | 20% with two rear-vision mirrors | 20% with a mirror each side | 20% | 20% |
| Behind the driver (vans and utes for goods) | See the rules | No minimum, with a mirror each side | See the rules | No minimum |
Check Queensland, WA, Tasmania and the NT with your own road authority, and ask your installer to confirm the film's VLT on the invoice.
Common questions
How much does car window tinting cost?
Usually $220 to $800 for a full professional tint, depending on the vehicle and film. In Melbourne, sedans and dual-cab utes are about $345 to $395 in carbon film and $445 to $550 in ceramic, per one shop's 2026 guide.
What is the darkest legal tint?
In NSW, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT, 35% VLT on the front side windows and 20% behind the driver on cars with mirrors on both sides. Goods vehicles have different rules behind the driver.
Sources
- Yellow Pages, car window tinting prices (2026)
- R1 Auto, cost to tint car windows in Melbourne (2026 price guide)
- Transport for NSW, how do I know my windows and window tint are legal (May 2025)
- VicRoads, window tinting information
- SA Government, window tinting
- Access Canberra, vehicle windscreen and window tinting
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