I ask this as my windscreen was replaced in 2015 with new film and it is now bubbling quite badly.

The passenger window which was changed a couple of years later and new film added is also starting to go. Yet the other 4 glass areas are ok and date back to 2011.

 

All the film is Hi Kool all be it at different levels. So has the original just lasted well or the quality of the more recent was less?

 

Can anybody recommend a different car window film shop in Pattaya environs other than POP Autoglass?

 

 

I think it’s down to whether or not you park in the sun.

 

I wouldn’t object to changing film every 10 years.

Get rid of any film on the windscreen.

I had mine removed shortly after buying a new Isuzu. Stupidest idea ever to reduce visibility in a windscreen. Side and back fair enough. Not where you need 100% to see where you are going, particularly at night.

3 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

I think it’s down to whether or not you park in the sun.

 

I wouldn’t object to changing film every 10 years.

Yes. But rear passenger window no change - higher tint.

Front passenger window - going. Windscreen not fully in the sun when parked - in fact hardly at all. Rear window much more so and no impact.....

You may well be correct about 10 years but it was just the relative difference.

4 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Get rid of any film on the windscreen.

why?

Film on the front windscreen is dangerous

1 minute ago, topt said:

why?

So you can see. Did you ever see full windscreen tint anywhere else?

 

4 hours ago, topt said:

I ask this as my windscreen was replaced in 2015 with new film and it is now bubbling quite badly.

10 years is about right.

I have had my Jazz for 19 years and it has been perfect until last month when only the rear window became crinkly, but that's all my fault for parking too close to the air con external unit.

30 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

Film on the front windscreen is dangerous

 

Excessive tint is dangerous and a lot of cars do have that here in Thailand - but light tint cuts the glare and is actually safer IMO and perfectly acceptable for night driving.

 

UK & Sweden Law: Windscreen tint must pass at least 75% light (& front side windows 70%).

EU, US, Japan Law: Windscreen tint must pass at least 70% light.

 

Thus: as long as the windscreen permits greater than 70-75% of visible light through then its not considered an issue in the countries mentioned above as an example - so its not considered dangerous. 

 

 

 

Ours lasted for 7 years on the rear windows before it started to bubble...  we parked nose in under car port and it was primarily the rear window that was exposed to the sun at any time of day.

 

IMO - if your tint is lasting 10 years - thats pretty good.

27 minutes ago, JBChiangRai said:

Film on the front windscreen is dangerous

 

26 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

So you can see. Did you ever see full windscreen tint anywhere else?

 

I have 10% on the front - never been an issue...........

Was a big topic years ago when I bought about the level and still today some people think they are ok with much higher levels.

However having had a vehicle nearly 30 years ago in another Asian country where if it rained I couldn't see properly and had to wind the window down - in my defense I bought it second hand.....So I am more than well aware of potential issues thanks.

26 minutes ago, stubuzz said:

10 years is about right.

Thanks

9 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Excessive tint is dangerous and a lot of cars do have that here in Thailand - but light tint cuts the glare and is actually safer IMO and perfectly acceptable for night driving.

 

UK & Sweden Law: Windscreen tint must pass at least 75% light (& front side windows 70%).

EU, US, Japan Law: Windscreen tint must pass at least 70% light.

 

Thus: as long as the windscreen permits greater than 70-75% of visible light through then its not considered an issue in the countries mentioned above as an example - so its not considered dangerous. 

 

 

 

How and who measures this in Thailand?

From what I have read on this forum is that a vehicle travelling into Malaysia from Thailand will have the windscreen light permissivity measured and quite a few Thai vehicles fail.

I generally tint 30-40% cut on all the windows front included. If I could only cut the infrared thermal on the front windscreen then I would, I will look into that next time.

 

However, at nighttime having a tinted front window is like downgrading your headlamps.  Many countries ban it outright.  On my daughter's Suzuki Ciaz the first thing I did was upgrade what laughingly passed as headlights to Xenon HID.

 

AI has this to say (it's probably wrong about Japan as RS has pointed out).

 

❌ Countries That Generally Do Not Allow Front Windscreen Tinting

• Norway: Front windscreen tinting is prohibited.

• Germany: Only the top edge (sun visor strip) may be tinted; full windscreen tint is not allowed.

• France: Tinting is banned unless it allows more than 70% light transmission.

• Switzerland: No tinting allowed on the front windscreen.

• Netherlands: Windscreen must allow at least 75% light through; darker tints are illegal.

• Australia: Most states prohibit tinting the front windscreen except for a narrow top strip.

• New Zealand: Similar to Australia, only a top strip is allowed.

• Japan: Tinting is generally prohibited on the front windscreen.

• Malaysia: Requires at least 70% visible light transmission; enforcement is strict at border crossings.

• South Africa: Front windscreen tint must allow more than 70% light transmission.

Lamina film on both vehicles, eleven years on one and not a single flaw. Find a good installer and don’t go cheap on quality.

10 years on my triton, just very minimal bubbles on the front screen in a small area, but not a distraction.

 

You should never have to change it. 
If its bubbling or distorted, its crappy film or if it happens right away its the installer.

I've had cars/trucks with film that 20yrs old and been in the deep Souths bright sun their entire life

3 minutes ago, Slowhand225 said:

You should never have to change it. 
If its bubbling or distorted, its crappy film or if it happens right away its the installer.

I've had cars/trucks with film that 20yrs old and been in the deep Souths bright sun their entire life

It's not always about the tint, it's the heat deflection too.

Sure the tint film can stay intact etc but is it doing it's job, I found about 5-7 yes and it's not doing a damn thing to keep the heat out.

Carbon and dyed film has the propensity to degrade quickly. A good quality ceramic film is highly resistant to fading and degradation properly installed should last ten plus years and are more effective at blocking uv rays.   

2 hours ago, novacova said:

Find a good installer

Hence the second part of my question in the OP.........

 

18 hours ago, topt said:

Can anybody recommend a different car window film shop in Pattaya environs other than POP Autoglass?

 

Decades

On 10/25/2025 at 3:41 PM, topt said:

I ask this as my windscreen was replaced in 2015 with new film and it is now bubbling quite badly.

The passenger window which was changed a couple of years later and new film added is also starting to go. Yet the other 4 glass areas are ok and date back to 2011.

 

All the film is Hi Kool all be it at different levels. So has the original just lasted well or the quality of the more recent was less?

 

Can anybody recommend a different car window film shop in Pattaya environs other than POP Autoglass?

 

 

Mine lasted for 17 years, parking in a carport.

Mine are 18 years and still ok.

Front was replaced for free in the first year because of some bubbles

near the mirror.

So that one 17 years , trouble free.

On 10/25/2025 at 8:17 PM, emptypockets said:

Get rid of any film on the windscreen.

I had mine removed shortly after buying a new Isuzu. Stupidest idea ever to reduce visibility in a windscreen. Side and back fair enough. Not where you need 100% to see where you are going, particularly at night.

And I  thought i was the only one with this thinking... Yes Tinted Windscreen dangerous

1 minute ago, actonion said:

And I  thought i was the only one with this thinking... Yes Tinted Windscreen dangerous

 

Yeah, sure.... black limo tint on the screen is a bit ordinary but lighted shades are ok.

I run 20% on all my vehicles windscreens (rest of the glass is 80%), not an issue at all.

I run with 30% all round in my SUV.

Dark on only side windows in my truck, took the front and back off, bought second hand, could not see through them

On 10/25/2025 at 8:21 PM, topt said:

why?

  Should be Obvious  ,less clear vision at night. 

Have read about posters on here driving into Malaysia. At the border a machine is used to test the amount of light passing through any tint. Too much tint equals problems.

40% on the windscreen and 60% elsewhere. Never a problem on my cars and trucks.