Headlight & Taillight Tinting in San Diego
Smoked and light-smoke film that gives your lights a cleaner, darker look and shields the lenses from rock chips and UV haze. Film only, never spray, so it comes off clean.
- Clear protective, light smoke, dark smoke and blackout
- We tell you which finishes stay street legal
- Removable film, no damage to the lens
- Most cars finished the same day
Get a free light tint quote
Same business day reply, Tuesday to Saturday. Or call (858) 291-8200.
400+ five-star reviews
Certified installers
San Diego since 2004
Removable film, never spray
In-house Sorrento Valley shop
What light tint does for your car
It changes the look, but the film also protects lenses that can cost several hundred dollars each to replace.
Shields the lenses
The film takes rock chips, sand and road grit instead of the housing. One saved headlight assembly pays for the job.
Stops UV haze
San Diego sun turns factory lenses cloudy and yellow faster than most people expect. The film blocks the UV that causes it.
Cleaner, darker look
Light smoke ties the lights into dark paint and tinted windows. Go darker for show cars.
Hides small blemishes
Existing fine scratches and small chips in the lens become far less visible under the film.
Film, not spray. Here is why.
Some shops spray tint onto lenses. We do not. Film gives a better finish today and keeps your options open later.
| Film (what we install) | Spray-on tint | |
|---|---|---|
| Removal | Peels off, lens left intact | Wet sanding and polishing, lens not always saved |
| Finish | Even edge to edge | Easy to lay unevenly |
| Protection | Takes rock chips and blocks UV haze | Little impact protection |
| Lease and resale | Returns to stock any time | Effectively permanent |
More detail in the pros and cons of headlight and taillight tinting.
Is headlight and taillight tint legal in California?
It depends on how dark you go. We will tell you which option is safe for your car before we install anything.
Headlights
Vehicle Code 25950 requires the light from the front to be white or yellow. A light smoke that keeps the beam white and close to stock output is the street-legal choice.
Tail lights
Vehicle Code 24600 requires tail lamps to show red and be visible from 1,000 feet. A light tint normally stays inside that. Heavy smoke usually does not.
If you get a ticket
Tail light violations are correctable under CVC 40303.5: fix it, get a sign-off and pay a $25 dismissal fee. Ignore it for about 30 days and it becomes an infraction over $100.
Dark smoke, blackout and colored films that change what other drivers see are show-only choices. We will say so rather than let you drive off into a ticket.
Choose your finish
Price depends on how many lenses you are doing and how deep the housings are. Pick the look, and we quote your exact car.
Clear protective
Invisible film for lens protection
Street legal
- Stops rock chips and pitting
- Blocks UV yellowing
- No change to the look
Light smoke
The look most drivers want
Street legal
- Darker, cleaner lights
- Beam stays white and close to stock
- Protects the lens too
Dark smoke and blackout
Show cars and off-road use
Show only
- Maximum murdered-out look
- Also blue, yellow and red films
- We will tell you what is not road legal
Add-ons
- Side markersQuoted with your lights
- Fog lightsQuoted with your lights
- Third brake lightQuoted with your lights
- Old film or spray removalQuoted per car
A pair of flat tail lights is a very different job from deep projector headlights that need film heat-formed into every recess. Send your year, make and model for a real number.
How light tinting works
Most cars are in and out the same day.
Get a quote
Send the form or call with your year, make and model. You get a number for your exact lights the same business day.
Pick the shade
We show you the shades on your own housings and tell you which ones stay street legal before you commit.
Install
Lenses are cleaned and the film is heat-formed into every curve. Flat lenses take a couple of hours, deep housings longer.
Drive away
Most cars leave the same day. Wash normally, and keep pressure washer tips off the film edges.
Smoked lights, before and after
Audi R8 headlights and taillights before and after smoked film, plus our installers at work.
What San Diego drivers say
Over 400 five-star reviews from drivers across San Diego County. A few of them:
Headlight and taillight tinting FAQs
Straight answers on California law, light output, film versus spray, and how long the job takes.
Are tinted headlights legal in California?
It depends on how dark you go. Vehicle Code 25950 requires light visible from the front to be white or yellow, and Section 26101 bars devices that change how factory lighting performs unless they meet state standards. A light smoke that keeps the beam white and close to stock output is the street-legal choice. A dark or colored blackout is not.
Are smoked tail lights legal in California?
Vehicle Code 24600 requires tail lamps to show red and be visible from 1,000 feet to the rear. A light tint normally stays inside that. Heavy smoke usually does not. Tail light violations are correctable under CVC 40303.5 with a $25 dismissal fee once fixed.
Does tinting headlights reduce light output?
Yes, every film reduces output somewhat. A light smoke costs a small percentage that most drivers never notice at night. A heavy blackout can cut output enough to matter on unlit roads. We show you the difference on your own housings first.
Is film or spray better for headlight tint?
Film, in almost every case. It sits over the lens, gives an even finish and comes off later without damage. Spray is effectively permanent, easy to lay unevenly, and removing it means sanding the lens.
How much does headlight and taillight tinting cost?
It depends on how many lenses you are doing, the size and shape of the housings and the finish. Send your year, make and model through the form and we will give you a real number rather than a range.
How long does it take?
Most vehicles are finished the same day. Flat lenses can take a couple of hours. Deeply curved or multi-piece housings take longer because the film has to be heat-formed to the shape.
Can light tint be removed later?
Film, yes. It is designed to come off and leaves the original lens intact, which matters at trade-in or lease return. Sprayed tint is a different story.
What colors can I get besides smoke?
Clear protective film, light and dark smoke, blue, yellow and red, plus full blackout for show cars. Remember the rule: headlights must read white or yellow and tail lights must read red on the road.
Does tint protect the lenses?
Yes. It takes rock chips and road grit instead of the housing and blocks the UV that turns lenses cloudy and yellow.
Where can I get tail light tint near me in San Diego?
Our shop is at 5264 Eastgate Mall in Sorrento Valley, and we take cars from across San Diego County, including La Jolla, UTC, Del Mar, Carmel Valley, Miramar, Kearny Mesa, Clairemont and Poway. Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm.
Pair it with
Light tint is often done alongside one of these. Ask and we will quote them together.
Light tint guides from our team
Ready for smoked lights?
Send your year, make and model and the look you want. We reply with a real number the same business day, and most cars are done in one visit.
5264 Eastgate Mall, San Diego, CA 92121 · Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm