Your Thoughts

[Nige]

I am awaiting delivery of my surf (3.0 TD SSRX manual '93). I have to say I just stumbled across it, liked it loads and bought it.

The boot side and rear windows have a tinted film on them, not a problem I thought.
My insurance (Direct line) would insure me for £370 (I've not long renewed so can't be exact) if I removed the tints.
Tesco will do it for £470 provided the tints let in 70% light (how can you tell).

The tints are on the 3 back windows so whats the problem?
A £100 is alot to pay to keep the tints.

Down this way there are hundreds of surf/pajero with window tints and you can bet they aint told the insurance company, so what happens when one of these hit you. I only found out after reading these pages, so thanks, I could have been driving about without insurance.

[colincd]

I am awaiting delivery of my surf (3.0 TD SSRX manual '93). I have to say I just stumbled across it, liked it loads and bought it.

The boot side and rear windows have a tinted film on them, not a problem I thought.
My insurance (Direct line) would insure me for £370 (I've not long renewed so can't be exact) if I removed the tints.
Tesco will do it for £470 provided the tints let in 70% light (how can you tell).

The tints are on the 3 back windows so whats the problem?
A £100 is alot to pay to keep the tints.

Down this way there are hundreds of surf/pajero with window tints and you can bet they aint told the insurance company, so what happens when one of these hit you. I only found out after reading these pages, so thanks, I could have been driving about without insurance.

Best way to test for light...........
Find someone that has a Camera Light Meter, Set it to its lowest point and then climb in the back of your surf.
Switch on the Light meter and it will give you a reading, Go outside do exactly the same, NOW deduct the inside reading from the outside reading......Hay Presto you have a reading of how much light the windows let in.

BUT You might as well just tell your ins co that YES they do allow in 70% of light as NO ONE has set ANY type of guidlines as of yet so there is no way of knowing what the correct level should be?

I know the Police say that you MUST be able to have clear vision day & night through the windows without any distortion or shading, they decide on what is to dark by looking through it (technical isn't it?).

Unless someone else has any other suggestions or some info on this I would go for the cheaper Insurance and tell them it DOES let in 70% of light..................

[TonyN]

I've never told the insurance about tints on other cars, but I couldn't tell someone else to do it, its up to you.

I got the tints off my truck with nail varnish remover and a stanley knife blade, then wiped the windows with window cleaner. But you'll probably damage the rear window demister (if it works in the first place ) if you try it on the rear window.

Did you tell them the tint was only to hide the load area (which should be a plus if you ask me) and not all the door windows?

[colincd]

I've never told the insurance about tints on other cars, but I couldn't tell someone else to do it, its up to you.

I should add that I do agree with Tony........

My comments are my own views and you should do what you feel is the right thing to do.........

[ssrx]

Most of my cars have had tints of one type or another. As an ex insurance broker, we never even asked about them, only body or performance mods.

I did tell my ins co about the tints this time and the towbar but they just made a note of it and said it doesnt affect the premium.

As previous posts have said this is entirley my own opinion.

steve

[Koi]

Most of my cars have had tints of one type or another. As an ex insurance broker, we never even asked about them, only body or performance mods.

I did tell my ins co about the tints this time and the towbar but they just made a note of it and said it doesnt affect the premium.

As previous posts have said this is entirley my own opinion.

steve

Tescos just said has it been modified in any way, i said no. Bought it from a dealer he didn't say it had and its an import so what is standard are they going to contact Toyota Japan to ask how it left the dealers forecourt. I really don't know what trim any model Surf is supposed to be, we have done this on here and it seem every one is different in some way or another even ones of the same model.
So what is standard, modified, who is really going to tell its not standard, what are they going to compare it against??????

Just my observation!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TonyN]

.
So what is standard, modified, who is really going to tell its not standard, what are they going to compare it against??????

Just my observation!!!!!!!!!!!!

exactly! just look at my pick-up, it's totally standard, honest!

[crusty]

In Oz, window tinters have to put a 35%VLT sticker under the film on every window to comply with DOT. Some cars have a factory tinted glass and the sticker may have to read something like "35%VLT on Antisun", ie. they have to use a lighter film.
You don't usually run into problems unless the Accident Investigation suspects that lack of visibility may have contributed to the accident, ie, if you merged into someone, or pulled out in front of another car. The tint may have nothing to do with it, but insurance companies like to screw you with the premiums & by non payment of claims. They're always looking for a reason.

The whole idea of paying a higher premium because you have tinted windows is quite obsurd.

[ssrx]

Dont really know what standard is for a surf, but from observation it appears the tint is on every imported surf I've seen. So it could be a standard Jap thing.


Steve

[Healewis]

My truck came in to this country without tinted windows, then I spent flippin' hous and hours getting the ruddy air bubbles out of the tinting film I had installed. I haven't informed my insurance company, but I am going to......

[SparX]

Just a quick " Did you know " That most of the film tints are made of the same material that the MOD use to put on the windows in military bases , so when there is a bomb blast , you don't get showered in glass.

Therefore I see it as a safety device.


I was told that the rear side windows on my 2nd Gen were tinted glass and not covered in film like the rear boot window is. Therefore I would assume its standard fit.

But as usuall I am probably wrong !

[Linda]

I was told that the rear side windows on my 2nd Gen were tinted glass and not covered in film like the rear boot window is. Therefore I would assume its standard fit.

But as usuall I am probably wrong !

Mines the same - film on the rear window, tint on the sides.

[da SLUG man]

my rear side (boot) windows are tinted glass as standard.
(3rd gen)
when you get them tinted ask for a certificat to show they're legal. (autotint do this)

[RobD]

my rear side (boot) windows are tinted glass as standard.
(3rd gen)
when you get them tinted ask for a certificat to show they're legal. (autotint do this)

Direct line didn't ask about tinted windows,so I didn't tell them about the rear side load bay windows on mine being tinted,surely this wouldn't effect the premium?

[laser_jock99]

DIRECT LINE:

DL- Modified suspension Sir- no problem add £100.
DL- Bull Bar Sir- No problem.
DL- Tint Film- Sorry can't insure you.
ME- I've measured with a professional proffesional photographic light meter it's more than 70% transmitting.
DL- Sorry sir can't insure you.
ME- bye.


Adrian Flux....

...tinted film- it's not a consideration in our schemes only engine and suspension mods.

Guess who got the business.....