Is car film applied from the outside or the inside?
3 Answers
Car film is applied on the inside. Car film includes front windshield film, rear windshield film, window film, and sunroof film, all of which are applied to the inner side of the windows. Car film refers to applying a thin layer of material, also known as solar film or heat insulation film, to the front and rear windshields, side windows, and sunroof of a vehicle. Additional information: 1. Avoid opening windows and washing the car within three days after applying the film. Try to minimize opening windows for a week to prevent moisture from causing displacement, peeling, or detachment of the film. 2. Do not turn on the rear window defogger for a week, as moisture can also negatively affect the defogger lines.
Car window films are actually applied on the inside of the glass. I was puzzled about this at first too, until I specifically asked an experienced technician. The main reason for applying it inside is to protect the film itself—just imagine, if the film were applied outside, exposed to wind, sun, and rain, it would bubble or get scratched within days. Safety-wise, in case the glass shatters, the explosion-proof film applied inside can firmly hold the glass fragments together. However, the installation requires particular skill: the technician first measures and cuts the film outside the glass, sprays soapy water for positioning, then removes the backing and transfers it to the inside. The entire workshop also needs to be misted to reduce dust, as even a single speck of dust can cause permanent bubbles. Thinking about it now, those cheap films from roadside stalls are really not worth applying—without a dust-free workshop, you’d end up with a screen full of tiny bubbles.
I learned my lesson the hard way with car window tinting! Last year, I cheaped out and went to a roadside shop. The technician just slapped the film on the outside of the windows. At the time, I didn't know better and thought it was quick and convenient. But when it rained, the wipers caused the film to peel at the edges. Later, a knowledgeable friend told me that all proper automotive films are designed to be applied on the inside. The windshield film is especially particular—professional shops measure the glass curvature and use a heat gun to mold it into a 3D shape. Now, the edges of my film are peeling off in sheets, and the worst part is the wrinkled film in the rearview mirror area when reversing, scattering the light from cars behind at night. My advice? Go to a professional shop—don't end up like me, wasting money and suffering the consequences.
