Vehicle Light Tinting and the Law

The worry for many drivers when considering light tinting is whether the tints that they choose will not only pass an MOT, but also be seen as road legal by the police. To pass as road legal, any car must pass all MOT rules and regulations:

-          Headlights – Once tinted, both headlights must be able to emit light of the same colour and intensity. Headlights, must continue to emit a yellow or white colour even when tinted and must remain visible from a reasonable distance.

-          Brake Lights – Your brake lights must still emit a steady read light once tinted. It is vital that at least 50% of the lamp remains visible from the rear light, and brake lights have to be visible from a safe and reasonable distance.

-          Rear Reflectors – For reflectors with light tinting, at least 50% of the reflecting surface must be seen from a safe and reasonable distance.

-          Indicators – All indicators must be able to emit amber light. As with other vehicle lights, indicators must remain to be visible from a safe and reasonable distance when light tinting is applied.

Essentially, as long as all vehicles light outputs are not substantially reduced and they continue to emit the right colour, as long as the tinting film is attached securely, there is no reason for a vehicle to fail its MOT based on light tinting.

When choosing light tinting for your vehicle, it is important to consider that not all tinting films are road legal. SPi Vision is a tinting mesh that can be applied to both headlights and rear brake lights and reflectors, creating a factory finish dark smoke effect. Whereas some means of light tinting require you to remove the light fittings from your vehicle, this is not the case with SPi Vision vinyl, which is designed and built to match most light contours and can be applied quite quickly.

Although SPi Vision is simply an adhesive film, it is extremely durable, with excellent resistance to typical road and weather conditions. When secured to your vehicle by a professional, it is completely waterproof and dust proof and remains looking great as long as you decide to keep it. Should you wish to remove light tinting from your vehicle, SPi Vision can just as easily be removed as installed, leaving very little if any residue from the adhesive, and your headlights and rear lights looking as good as new.

Should you choose SPi Vision tinting for your vehicle, it is important that you take note that this type of film is not appropriate for certain types of light bulbs. For example, if your vehicle has H.I.D or Xenon high-intensity discharge light bulbs, sustained high beam use could use to excessive heat build-up, potentially causing your tinting film to melt.

If your high beam bulbs have a silvered tip of cowling in front of them, then you should be able to safely tint them, however, your lights may have a protecting coating which is not suitable for SPi Vision. When tinting vinyl is removed, protective coating or lacquer can be damaged, so it is vital that you check your headlight configuration before opting for light tinting.

To find out more about light tinting you can visit pro-tints.co.uk or call 01794 367 088 to book your vehicle in.  

What Can Businesses Gain From Vehicle Sign Writing?

Sign writing can be one of the most cost effective ways of advertising your business, transforming your vehicle into more than simply a means of transport. As well as acting as your main method of getting from A to B, your vehicle acts as a mobile advertising board, promoting your service wherever your vehicle goes.

In recent years, sign writing for vehicles has become a much more sophisticated process, with advanced in technology allowing for close to unlimited design capabilities, allowing your vehicle to have a highly professional appearance, helping you to stand out from your closest competitors. Whilst in the past, vehicle sign writing was likely to mean block lettering, your company logo and colouring can now be printed and applied to your vehicle, ensuring that your brand is consistent across all of your marketing methods.

Sign writing for your vehicle, or in some cases, your fleet of vehicles helps to keep your brand on the move, building awareness of your company and the services that you provide wherever your vehicles may travel. By branding your vehicle, you can massively increase awareness of your company within your local community, where you are likely to be seen on a regular basis, especially if you have a number of vehicles.

If your business means that your vehicles are likely to travel further afield on a regular basis, this can help to establish your brand on a wider basis, perhaps on a national, or even international stage. Recent reports suggest that as many as 24,000 people can see a fleet of vehicles on the roads, in service or parked up in the space of a single working day. Due to advances in vehicle sign writing technology and the hardwearing nature of sign vinyl, by simply branding your vehicles, you can stand to make a considerable impact over time.

If you are looking to go a stage up from sign writing, vehicle wrapping allows you to fit custom effects, branding or colours to any part of your vehicle, even the whole exterior. By wrapping your vehicle with graphics and custom colours, your fleet stands even more a chance of being noticed. Vehicle wraps can act as a corporate uniform for your vehicles, so that your vehicles will automatically be associated with the services that your business offers.

If you would like to find out more about the benefits of sign writing for your vehicle, you can contact us at 01794 367088. 

Automotive Window Tinting and the Law

There is no denying that installing car window film to your vehicle is one of the best, quickest and easiest ways to change the appearance of your vehicle. Tinted windows give your car a stylish, sophisticated look that can enhance the value of your vehicle. Automotive window tinting can also have a wide range of other benefits:

• Tinting can reduce the glare of the sun; reducing summer heat by as much as 57% and UV radiation by as much as 99%. This in turn helps to protect children and pets from the dangerous rays of the sun.
• Window film strengthens the glass in your windows, deterring car crime and increasing safety by reducing the risk of flying glass in the case of an accident.
• Tinting protects the interior of your vehicle, preventing the sun from fading the upholstery.
• Window tinting improves visual security and gives added personal privacy.

Whilst there are unquestionably many benefits of installing car window film to your vehicle, it is also important to take into account the laws on tinted vehicle windows. Whilst there are no rules for the tinting of the rear windscreen, or the rear passenger windows, if the front windscreen and side windows are tinted, they must comply with certain government regulations set by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA):

Vehicles first used on 1 April 1985 or later

The front windscreen of a vehicle must allow at least 75% of light through, whilst the front side windows must allow at least 70% of light through. These regulations apply to the majority of vehicles on the road today.

Vehicles first used before 1 April 1985

Both the front windscreen and front side windows must both let at least 70% of light through.

There are also a number of enforcement standards in place depending on the level of visible light transmission (VLT) that a tinted window film allows. Specially trained officers can perform an instrumented check with VLT meter should they suspect that a vehicle does not comply with DVSA regulations.

•  If a vehicle’s front windscreen or side windows allow between 65%-46% of light through, the driver will be advised that the legal requirements set by the DVSA have been breached. The driver will then be expected to fix this.
• For vehicles allowing between 45%-30% of light through the front windscreen and side windows, a prohibition notice will be given to the driver. This will usually give them 10 days to have their automotive tinting removed before going to a certified Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) testing centre to have their VLT re-checked.
• For vehicles with a VLT of 30% or less, the driver is prohibited from driving the vehicle until the tinting film is removed as the vehicle is considered dangerous and un-roadworthy.

Officers without VLT testing instruments can also make subject assessments by sitting in the driver’s seat with the doors closed. Should the tints be dark enough to restrict visibility, a police officer can issue an immediate prohibition. However, if the VLT is not evidently dangerous, the driver will then be advised that they may be breaching legal requirements, and therefore it is up to the owner to investigate.

For more information on the benefits of legal automotive window tinting, you can visit pro-tints.co.uk.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Window Tinting Southampton

Vehicle window tinting is quickly becoming ever more popular in the United Kingdom. As well as making a difference to the aesthetics of a vehicle, window tinting Southampton can also have a wide range of additional benefits such as increasing privacy, decreasing the amount of UV rays that are radiated through the windows and even increasing the strength of the glass.

Automotive window tinting can benefit vehicle owners quite significantly, and unsurprisingly increasing amounts of people are realising that it is worth the investment. One of the major benefits of window tinting Southampton is its sun protection attributes. As well as reflecting light and solar energy, window tinting also reduces the amount of heat absorbed into the car by blocking UV rays.

The ability of window tinting Southampton to block UV rays allows vehicle owners to save money. As the tinting film prevents as much heat from being absorbed, summer heat can be reduced inside the car by as much as 57%. This in turn helps vehicle owners by considerably reducing the need to run somewhat costly air conditioning. As the amount of UV rays radiating through the window are reduced, window tinting can also help to stop carpet and upholstery within the car from fading, removing the need to replace or update it.

As well as saving vehicle owners money, window tinting Southampton can also help to make vehicles safer. With UV rays reduced, there is also a reduction of glare from the sun, therefore preventing eye strain and helping drivers to see the road more clearly in extremely bright and potentially dangerous weather conditions.

Window tinting can also enhance a vehicles privacy and security. As people outside the car cannot see in, the level of privacy is increased dramatically. Tinted windows can also massively reduce the risk of thieves breaking into a vehicle; as they are unable to see inside the vehicle, they do not know if anyone is sitting in the vehicle, or what kind of valuables may be inside, spurring them to move on. Window tinting also makes it harder to break into a vehicle, as the tinting film gives the glass of a window extra strength. This can also improve a vehicles safety, as the film helps to keep glass intact, thus preventing the risk of flying shards of glass.

Window tinting Southampton is not only restricted to vehicles and is also popular in commercial and residential buildings. As in a vehicle, building window tinting also helps to prevent a large amount of heat in the warmer months, making it much more comfortable to work or relax indoors, as well as preventing glare from affecting furniture, and television or computer screens.

If you would like to find out more about window tinting Southampton, why not visit www.pro-tints.co.uk.  

The Benefits of Vehicle Wrapping

The real benefit of vehicle wrapping is how versatile it is. As well rapidly, and in some cases, drastically updating the aesthetics of your vehicle, vinyl wrapping also has protective properties to prevent your vehicle from being damaged by scratches or other minor damages.

A key attraction of vehicle wrapping for many people is the wide range of different colours and designs that are available to them. When looking to buy a car, for most individuals, the power, style and brand of a car are more important to them than finding a car in a certain colour. Car wrapping can be an affordable solution to changing the colour of your vehicle to one that you would prefer. Vinyl wraps mean that you can focus more on the performance of a car when looking to buy it, and then deal with the colour choice after purchase.

The range of high quality wraps available offer a high variety of colours and styles. You may choose to go for a more conventional colour choice such as a vivid blue, or perhaps a deep red. However, some of the most popular wrapping choices include matt black, gloss white, carbon fibre and coloured carbon fibre varieties, which are often chosen to give vehicles a sporty look. More commonly, people are looking for more eye catching wraps and choices such as metallic and chrome are quickly becoming the most popular way to make an already great looking car stand out even more.

Vehicle wrapping has also grown to be increasingly popular with businesses. Through a vehicle wrap, businesses can advertise their brand, products, services and contact details on the move. Rather than having graphics applied to individual vehicles, specially designed wraps can be added to each vehicle. This can be a great alternative to individual vehicle graphics.

Wrapping your vehicle can actually protect its value as well as its paintwork. Normally, due to the general wear and tear associated with using a vehicle, a car will suffer from some form of abrasions to the paint work. However, the vinyl used in wrapping a vehicle protects against this, and a car can be restored to its original, untouched paintwork simply by having the wrapping removed by a trained wrapping professional. Should you wish to sell a car, due to wrapping it, it is unlikely to lose any value based on its aesthetic qualities.

For more information on vehicle wrapping, you can visit the Pro-Tints website or give us a call on 01794 367088 or 07986 716786.

How Commercial Window Tinting Makes Your Building More Appealing

As well as offering extensive vehicle window tinting services, we also provide tinting services for the windows of commercial and residential buildings.

In commercial buildings, during the summer months, offices and shops can be extremely hot and stuffy. As well as hot computers, workers and customers, a lot of heat can come from solar energy transferred through the windows of a building. This heat gain combined with glare from the sun could cause a commercial building to be uncomfortable to be in, possibly leading to a drop in a business’s sales or productivity. Commercial window tinting can help to prevent this.

Window tinting can reflect bright light and solar energy, in some cases by up to 78%. This therefore can considerably reduce the build-up of heat in a commercial building as far less heat is absorbed through the window. In addition to cutting down on heat generation, a major benefit of commercial window tinting is the reduction of glare. On brighter days, glare from the sun can be a real problem, particularly in offices where computer screens can be hard to see properly.

Although glare on a computer screen can be cancelled out simply by closing window blinds, this can make an office environment seem more claustrophobic as there is less natural day light. Workers are generally happier and more productive when they have good access to daylight and a view of the outside world. As opposed to blinds, window tinting can reduce glare from the sun by as much as 93%, whilst still leaving a bright and more open feeling work environment.

Another major benefit of commercial window tinting is that it can give offices a larger degree of privacy as well as security. Windows with tinted films can be ideal for private meetings, where people outside of the room cannot look in. Tinted windows also give staff privacy from the outside world, as well as giving extra security to a business by hiding valuable products, technology or equipment.

By investing in commercial window tinting for all of the outward facing windows of a building, a business can achieve a highly modern and professional look to their premises.

If you would like to find out more about Hampshire window tinting services, you can visit the Pro-Tints website or call us on 01794 367088 or 07986 716786.

How Window Tinting Hampshire Companies Can Help Benefit Your Vehicle

Undoubtedly, window tinting can dramatically improve the aesthetics of your vehicle, creating a highly stylish effect that will draw people’s attention wherever the vehicle goes. However, the installation of window film to your vehicle has many more benefits in addition to simply making your vehicle look great.

First of all window tinting Hampshire services can offer considerable protection from the sun. Correctly installed window films can reduce the glare from the sun; this can lessen summer heat by over half as well as reduce UV radiation almost completely. For vehicle owners with pets or children travelling with them, this extra sun protection is a considerable benefit to their safety.

As well as improving safety conditions in regards to the considerable sun protection that is provided by tinted windows, window tinting can also protect your vehicle from damaging sun rays. Bright sunlight can over time damage the interior of a vehicle, so by blocking these rays, vehicle owners can prevent faded carpets and upholstery.

The reduced glare provided by window tinting can on the whole make driving a lot more comfortable, which can be particularly important on long journeys. On bright, sunny days, drivers and passengers will benefit from far less glare, whereas at night time, window tinting Hampshire services can mean that you are less likely to be dazzled by the overbearing headlights of other vehicles. Overly bright lights can cause extra strain on the eyes during driving, leading to fatigue on long journeys.

If you are travelling a long distance with children in your vehicle, the reduced window glare from tinted windows can much improve the viewing of in-vehicle dvd/tv screens, keeping your children much happier and quieter on a lengthy drive!

If you would like to contact a specialist in window tinting in Hampshire, you can visit the Pro-Tints website or call us on 01794 367088 or 07986 716786.

Vehicle Wrapping For Your Business

Vehicle wrapping is a high quality product that allows you to add custom effects and colours to your vehicle. Not only does custom wrapping make for an eye-catching and distinct look for your vehicle, but it also provides extra protection for your paintwork by covering it.

Wrapping your vehicle offers more options than vinyl graphics and stickers; this process allows you to be able to use am almost unlimited amount of colours and styles, from matt black, to coloured carbon fibre, chrome or even full colour photographs. Unlike graphics or stickers, vehicle wrapping is not limited only to the exterior of a vehicle, but can be fitted within the interior.

While sign writing for your vehicle can be an extremely cost effective solution for advertising your company, vehicle wrapping is perhaps the ultimate travelling marketing tool, leaving a lasting impression on potential customers that may see it parked or on the roads. Whether you are a small business with a single vehicle, or a larger business with a fleet of vehicles, vehicle wrapping can be a fantastic way for businesses to increase awareness of their brand.

It the cut-throat world of business, image is vital for companies to be able to get the better of their competitors. As well as producing fantastic long term effects with fantastic advertising every day of the year, a strikingly wrapped branded vehicle allows businesses to instantly make themselves known to a vast audience and instantly increase profits. Wrapping allows businesses to advertise the quality service that they provide in way that mirrors their standard of work.

By branding a whole fleet of vehicles, businesses can cover more distance and make more people aware of their brand, company logo and colours.  In the long term, vehicle wrapping could save businesses of all sizes a lot of money. Advertising in newspapers, magazines or even billboards will need continual payments, whereas the wrapping of a vehicle will need only a single payment and will provide a travelling billboard for a business for a much longer period of time.

For more information on vehicle wrapping services, you can visit the main Pro Tints site.

Top Tips On Creating Eye Catching Vehicle Sign Writing

We all see vehicles on our day to day travels which advertise different companies – in fact, it is thought that a sign-written car or van can be spotted by over 3000 people per hour when in a busy area.  Vehicle sign writing is therefore a highly effective and economical way of marketing a businesses’ name and branding, as the average business vehicle is utilised for approximately 3 years before being replaced.  This means that it can work out to cost just pennies per day to promote the company logo and name which is why all sorts of businesses, from small one man bands to large corporations, will sign write their cars and vans.

Most professional sign writing companies will discuss with their customers the best ways of displaying their company name on a particular vehicle.  Here are a few of our top tips to ensure the graphics stand out and the information can be clearly read:

·         Keep things simple – if the designs are too complicated that it can be difficult to replicate these onto other vehicles

·         Make sure the sign vinyl text is not too small – ensure it can be read easily even from a distance whilst the vehicle is moving

·         Choose a font which is clear to read – don’t choose anything too fancy as it can’t be read easily

·         The back of the vehicle is the best place to add extra information, as this can be read by drivers sat immediately behind the vehicle when sitting in traffic

·         Ensure the colour of the font can be read easily over the colour of the vehicle – don’t use a dark text on a dark coloured vehicle!

·         Try to make sure the telephone number or website address is easy to remember

·         Include a snappy strap line which gives an overview of what the company does

·         Finally – it sounds simple but make sure the business name is shown on all sides of the vehicle!  Even if the traffic is moving too quickly for a person to be able to read all of the telephone number of website address, at least if they have memorised the company name then they can enter the name into an internet search engine to find further details

Vehicles can act as a fantastic mobile advertising hoarding board for a business but it’s important that the graphics are designed with the vehicle and branding of the business in mind, so it really is best to contact an experienced and specialist vehicle sign writer for any kind of sign writing projects.