What is a Solar-Control / Tinted Windscreen?
Glass with a special coating that filters out heat and UV without making the screen dark.
Simplified animation — not to scale.
In plain English
A solar-control windscreen has a thin metallic coating or tinted interlayer that reflects infrared heat and blocks most UV. The cabin stays cooler in hot weather and your dashboard fades less, but visibility from the driver's seat is unaffected.
"Like sunglasses for your car — they cut the heat and UV but you can still see everything clearly."
How it works
UK law requires the front windscreen to let at least 75% of light through, so aftermarket dark tints on the front are not legal. Factory solar-control glass meets this rule because it works by reflecting heat rather than blocking visible light.
Signs of trouble
- ⚠Cabin gets unusually hot in summer after replacement
- ⚠Dashboard or upholstery fading quickly
- ⚠Sat-nav, toll tag or DAB radio losing signal (metallic coatings can block them)
- ⚠Distorted view through certain areas of the glass
£500–£1,000
Always get a written quote. Prices vary by car, region, and parts brand.