coupe
$249*
Mobile Window Tinting in Pacific Beach
Carbon and ceramic film, fitted where you park
Rated 5 stars 5.0 1,000+ five-star reviews on
Overview
We install window tint at your place in Pacific Beach, not ours.
Tint is not only about how the car looks. The right film cuts the heat that builds in a parked car, takes the glare out of a drive and keeps UV off your seats and dash. PB is mostly apartments and alley parking, which means a lot of cars here never see a garage from one year to the next: sun, salt and blown sand, all day, every day.
We fit carbon and ceramic films, from a straightforward carbon tint up to Apex Ultra ceramic at 95% heat rejection, and we will tell you honestly which one is worth the difference for how you actually drive. Every package, price and coverage diagram is set out on this page, so you can decide before you call.
Film goes on best in a clean, covered space, so a garage or carport helps if you have one. Our technicians are licensed and fully insured. Family-run since 1994, rated 5.0 across more than 1,000 five-star reviews on Google, Yelp and Facebook.
Packages & pricing
Window tint packages, prices and coverage
Three full-car film tiers, plus front-window and windshield options you can fit on their own. Prices are set by the film you choose and the size of the vehicle, from a coupe up to a full-size SUV or truck, because bigger and more complex glass takes more film and more time.
These are our standard San Diego County prices. Each package shows what the film does, which glass it covers, the shades available and the warranty that comes with it.
Bronze Carbon Tint
Choose vehicle type swipe
sedan
$299*
compact suv
$329*
truck
$349*
full-size suv
$399*
What's included
- 50% Heat Rejection + 99% UV Rejection
- Application of GeoShield C2 Carbon Film to All Windows (Excluding Front Windshield & Sunroof)
- Your Choice of 50%, 35%, 20%, or 5% Film
- 3 Year Film Warranty
- Only Available In Shop
The one tier that cannot come to you, since C2 Carbon must be fitted indoors. That one is done at our San Marcos shop.
Vehicle condition & upgrades
Addons:
- Tint Removal ($90/hr*): Complete removal of existing window tint from the vehicle.
- Tint Front Windshield (Starting at $299*): Application of GeoShield Pro Nano Ceramic Window Tint to the front windshield.
- Tint Sunroof ($100*): Application of GeoShield Pro Nano Ceramic Window Tint on 1 sunroof.
Silver Ceramic Tint
Choose vehicle type swipe
coupe
$349*
sedan
$399*
compact suv
$429*
truck
$449*
full-size suv
$499*
What's included
- 76% Heat Rejection + 99% UV Rejection
- Application of GeoShield Pro Nano Ceramic Film to All Windows (Excluding Front Windshield & Sunroof)
- Your Choice of 70%, 50%, 35%, 20%, or 5% Film
- Low Haze
- Lifetime Film Warranty
The tier most PB drivers pick, and the cheapest we can fit at your address. Pro Nano rejects far more heat than carbon at the same shade.
Vehicle condition & upgrades
Addons:
- Tint Removal ($90/hr*): Complete removal of existing window tint from the vehicle.
- Tint Front Windshield (Starting at $299*): Application of GeoShield Pro Nano Ceramic Window Tint to the front windshield.
- Tint Sunroof ($100*): Application of GeoShield Pro Nano Ceramic Window Tint on 1 sunroof.
Gold Ceramic Tint
Choose vehicle type swipe
coupe
$549*
sedan
$599*
compact suv
$629*
truck
$649*
full-size suv
$699*
What's included
- 95% Heat Rejection + 99% UV Rejection
- Application of GeoShield Apex Ultra Ceramic Film to All Windows (Excluding Front Windshield & Sunroof)
- Your Choice of 70%, 50%, 35%, 20%, or 5% Film
- Low Haze
- Lifetime Film Warranty
The one that makes the biggest difference to a car that is parked outside permanently. Apex Ultra gives the largest drop in cabin temperature we can fit.
Vehicle condition & upgrades
Addons:
- Tint Removal ($90/hr*): Complete removal of existing window tint from the vehicle.
- Tint Front Windshield (Starting at $399*): Application of GeoShield Apex Ultra Ceramic Window Tint to the front windshield.
- Tint Sunroof ($200*): Application of GeoShield Apex Ultra Ceramic Window Tint on 1 sunroof.
Front Windows
Choose your film swipe
C2 Carbon
$149*
50% heat rejection · in shop only
Pro Nano Ceramic
$199*
76% heat rejection
Apex Ultra Ceramic
$249*
95% heat rejection
What's included
- Your Choice of GeoShield Film to Front Two Windows
- Your Choice of 70%, 50%, 35%, 20%, or 5% Film
- High Optical Clarity
- Lifetime Film Warranty
Common on a newer car that came with factory-tinted rear glass, so only the front two windows need bringing up to match.
Vehicle condition & upgrades
Addons:
- Tint Removal ($90/hr*): Complete removal of existing window tint from the vehicle.
- Tint Front Windshield (Starting at $299*): Application of GeoShield Pro Nano or Apex Ultra Ceramic Window Tint to the front windshield.
- Tint Sunroof ($100, 200*): Application of GeoShield Pro Nano Ceramic or GeoShield Apex Ultra Ceramic Window Tint on 1 sunroof.
Windshield Ceramic Tint
Choose vehicle type swipe
coupe
Pro Nano $299*
Apex Ultra $399*
sedan
Pro Nano $299*
Apex Ultra $399*
compact suv
Pro Nano $299*
Apex Ultra $399*
truck
Pro Nano $399*
Apex Ultra $499*
full-size suv
Pro Nano $399*
Apex Ultra $499*
What's included
- Up to 95% Heat Rejection + 99% UV Rejection
- Application of GeoShield Pro Nano Ceramic or Apex Ultra Ceramic Film to The Front Windshield
- Your Choice of 70%, 50%, 35%, 20%, or 5% Film
- High Optical Clarity
- Lifetime Film Warranty
For low afternoon sun heading west towards the beach. Windshield film is a separate job and can be added to any package above.
Vehicle condition & upgrades
Addons:
- Tint Removal ($90/hr*): Complete removal of existing window tint from the vehicle.
- Tint Sunroof ($100, 200*): Application of GeoShield Pro Nano Ceramic or GeoShield Apex Ultra Ceramic Window Tint on 1 sunroof.
* Plus tax. All prices are estimates and subject to change until the vehicle has been inspected to verify condition and size/complexity of the windows. A covered area is recommended for installation. Additional labor will not be charged without customer approval. By tinting your windows at Smith Bros, you are acknowledging and agreeing to the Window Tint Disclaimer.
Everything above can be fitted on-site in Pacific Beach except Bronze C2 Carbon, which is in-shop only. The full technical comparison of the GeoShield range is on the main window tinting service page.
Choosing your shade, and what is legal in California
Every package lets you choose a shade, measured as VLT, or Visible Light Transmission: the share of visible light the film lets through. 70% is very light, 5% is limousine dark. The strip above shows the five shades side by side.
The rule is set by the state, so PB is treated the same as everywhere else in California. Front side windows must let at least 70% of visible light through. Rear side windows and the rear windshield can be any shade you like.
Is a 35% tint legal in California?
On the back, yes. A 35% film is legal on the rear side windows and rear windshield and is a popular privacy choice, particularly if you keep gear in the back. It is not legal on the front two side windows, which are held to 70%. Anyone offering to fit 35% up front is quoting you a fix-it ticket.
For a car with no garage, the number that actually matters is heat rejection rather than shade. A 70% Apex Ultra ceramic film rejects far more heat than a dark carbon film, because ceramic particles do the work. Going dark does not fix a hot car; better film does.
We will go through the combination with you before anything goes on the glass.
Why we fit GeoShield film
We are a GeoShield dealer and fit their film exclusively across all three tiers. The ceramic films block heat with nano-ceramic particles rather than a metal layer, so they reject a lot of infrared without interfering with phone signal, GPS or tyre-pressure sensors the way older metallised films could.
The films resist surface scratching, hold their colour instead of turning purple after a few summers, and both ceramic tiers carry a lifetime film warranty against bubbling, peeling, cracking and colour change. Cheap film is cheap because it does none of that.
A permanently outdoor car by the beach is the hardest test we have for film: full UV exposure, salt in the air and sand along every window seal. None of it harms a properly fitted ceramic film, but it makes short work of budget film and of edges that were not cut and tucked correctly.
The full film-by-film comparison is on the main window tinting service page.
How mobile window tinting works in Pacific Beach
We come to you, and in PB that usually means the alley, an assigned space or the street. Film wants a clean, covered space, so if your building has a garage or a covered space, that is the one to use. If not, we need a still, sheltered spot with room to open all the doors, and a calm morning beats a breezy afternoon.
Wind and blown sand are the two things that make an open install harder here than almost anywhere else we work, which is worth being honest about. Tell us the parking situation when you book and we will plan for it rather than improvising on the day.
The C2 Carbon film is in-shop only, both as the Bronze full-car tier and as the front-window option, and is fitted at our San Marcos shop.
What the appointment looks like
We are out seven days a week, 7am to 7pm, covering Pacific Beach from the Garnet Avenue corridor across to Crown Point and the streets behind the boardwalk. Your technician texts on the way and again when the car is finished.
A full-car tint is normally a half-day job.
After we leave
Keep the windows up for three days while the film cures. Haze, small bubbles or trapped moisture is normal at first and clears on its own, usually in one to two weeks in summer, and three to four weeks through a damp coastal winter.
Real reviews
What San Diego drivers say
Requested service online and they came out the same day, two hours later. Fantastic field service management, with updates as to when the agent would arrive along with his personal phone number. Nicholas was young but professional. The car went from looking like a 3 year old warzone to a brand new car.
After requesting a quote through Yelp, Luke got back to me very quickly with a thorough explanation of their products and pricing. They had next day availability and Donnie showed up right on time and worked diligently to bring my Honda Pilot back to life. After 4 hours she looks brand new, and the pricing was very fair for the quality of work. I love finding a service professional who takes pride in their work.
I requested the exterior detail to remove some house paint that had been splattered on my car, then ended up going with the silver ceramic package. I am seriously impressed on all levels: customer service, detail, and quality of work. Andrew ceramic coated it to perfection, it looks better than it did brand new off the lot. I cannot thank these gentlemen enough.
Rated 5.0 across more than 1,000 five-star reviews on Google, Yelp and Facebook. Get a free quote for your vehicle.
Recent work
Recent window tint work
More finished cars, tint and everything else we do, are in our work.
Can I add ceramic coating, PPF or detailing?
A ceramic coating does for your paint what ceramic film does for your glass: it rejects UV, sheds water and keeps the finish from dulling. On a car that lives outside near the sand it also makes the regular rinse-off much less of a chore. We are an authorized Opti-Coat installer, with tiers from $599. See the tiers and pricing.
Paint protection film takes the rock chips and road debris a coating cannot stop, with packages from $1,000 using self-healing Autobahn film. See PPF packages.
Booking more than one at a time saves an appointment, since the car only has to be free once. We also fit mobile auto detailing in Pacific Beach, ceramic coating in Pacific Beach and paint protection film in Pacific Beach.
We cover the surrounding area too, including La Jolla, Downtown, Kearny Mesa, Torrey Pines and Sorrento Valley. The full list is on the services page.
Good to know
Pacific Beach window tinting FAQs
How much does window tinting cost in Pacific Beach?
Full-car film runs from $249 for Bronze carbon on a coupe up to $699 for Gold ceramic on a full-size SUV, plus tax. Front windows on their own start at $149, and a windshield runs $299 to $499 depending on the film and the vehicle.
Every price is broken out by vehicle type in the packages above, so you can price your own car rather than work from a range.
I park in an alley or on the street. Can you still do it?
Usually yes, and it is how a lot of PB jobs get done. We need a still, sheltered spot with room to open all the doors, and calm conditions matter more than a big space.
Tell us the parking situation when you book. If there is a building garage or a covered space, that is the better option.
Does sand or salt affect the tint?
Not the cured film, which is sealed against the inside of the glass. It affects the install: wind-blown sand is exactly what you do not want landing on wet film.
It can also slow curing, because damp coastal air keeps trapped moisture in the film for longer than it would inland.
What tint is legal in California?
Front side windows must let at least 70% of visible light through. Rear side windows and the rear windshield can be any shade you want.
We will walk you through a combination that stays legal, and a 70% ceramic film at the front still rejects a lot of heat.
Is a 35% tint legal in California?
On the rear side windows and rear windshield, yes. On the front two side windows, no. Those are held to 70% VLT, so a 35% film up front is not road-legal in California.
Can you remove my old tint first?
Yes. Tint removal is $90 per hour and covers stripping the existing film off the vehicle before the new film goes on. How long it takes depends on the film and how long it has been on the car.
Film that has gone purple or started to bubble is the slowest to remove, and a permanently outdoor car gets there faster. We will estimate once we have seen it.
How long before I can roll my windows down?
Three days. The film needs that time to adhere fully, and rolling a window down early can damage it.
Why does my tint look hazy or bubbled?
That is trapped moisture and it is normal straight after an install. It clears as the film cures, usually within one to two weeks in summer, and up to three or four in a damp winter stretch.
Does ceramic tint really block more heat?
Yes, and measurably so. C2 Carbon rejects about 50% of heat, Pro Nano Ceramic about 76%, and Apex Ultra Ceramic about 95%. All three block 99% of UV.
If the car has no garage, that difference is the single biggest thing you can do about a hot cabin.
Is the tint covered by a warranty?
The Silver and Gold ceramic packages carry a lifetime warranty on the film, as do the ceramic front-window and windshield options. The Bronze Carbon option carries a 3-year film warranty.
The warranty covers the film against bubbling, peeling, cracking and colour change.
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Mon–Sun · 7AM – 7PM · San Diego County & Southern California