Quick Answer
We install four Autobahn window films. All four block 99% of UV and carry a lifetime warranty. What separates them is how much heat they keep out of the car:
- Autobahn Black: a dyed film. Gives you the tinted look, privacy and less glare. It rejects the least heat of the four. Front two windows from $150.
- Autobahn Black Ceramic: a single-layer ceramic film. Autobahn rates it at up to 63% total solar energy rejected. This is the best value of the four. Front two from $200.
- Autobahn Ceramic i3: a multi-layer ceramic film with a deep dye. It rejects more heat than Black Ceramic. Front two from $250.
- Autobahn Ceramic i3+: Autobahn's top film. Autobahn rates it at 99% infrared rejection and up to 74% total solar energy rejected. Front two from $300.
In short: for most drivers we recommend a ceramic film. Pick i3+ if keeping the cabin cool is the priority.
How to Read a Tint Spec Sheet
Tint brands lead with whichever number looks biggest. Here is what each one means:
- VLT (visible light transmission) is how much light passes through, so it tells you how dark the tint is. A 5% film is limo-dark and a 70% film is barely visible. It says nothing about heat.
- TSER (total solar energy rejected) is the share of the sun's total energy the film keeps out: visible light, infrared and UV together. This is the closest single number to "how much cooler will my car be".
- IRR (infrared rejection) is how much infrared the film blocks. Infrared is the part of sunlight you feel as heat on your arm. IRR is often measured at a single wavelength; Autobahn quotes Black Ceramic's at 1025 nm, for example. That's why IRR figures run so much higher than TSER figures.
- UV rejection protects your skin and your interior. Every film we install blocks 99%, so it isn't what separates them.
"Up to" figures come from the best-performing shade in the range. Lighter shades reject less.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Autobahn Black | Black Ceramic | Ceramic i3 | Ceramic i3+ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | Dyed | Single-layer ceramic | Multi-layer ceramic | Nano-ceramic, Autobahn's top film |
| Total solar energy rejected | Lowest of the four | Up to 63% | Above Black Ceramic (see note) | Up to 74% |
| Infrared rejection | Lowest of the four | Up to 89% (at 1025 nm) | Above Black Ceramic (see note) | 99% |
| UV blocked | 99% | 99% | 99% | 99% |
| Shades | Ask in studio | 5% to 80%, nine shades | Ask in studio | 5%, 15% and 30% at launch |
| Warranty | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime | Lifetime |
| Front two windows | from $150 | from $200 | from $250 | from $300 |
| Full sedan | from $325 | from $425 | from $575 | from $675 |
Note on Ceramic i3: Autobahn doesn't list numbers for Ceramic i3 on its product page. It ranks i3 above Black Ceramic and below i3+ for heat rejection, and so do we.
Specs are from Autobahn's published product information. We confirm the exact shade and film with you before we start.
Autobahn Black: The Classic Tint Look
Strengths:
- The lowest price of the four
- Privacy and a darker look
- Cuts glare, and blocks 99% of UV like the ceramic films
- Lifetime warranty against fading, peeling and bubbling
Weaknesses:
- A dyed film rejects far less heat than a ceramic one. It makes the car darker, not much cooler.
Best for: Drivers who mainly want the look and privacy, or who are matching front windows to the rest of the car on a budget.
Autobahn Black Ceramic: The Value Pick
Strengths:
- Real ceramic heat rejection: up to 63% TSER and up to 89% IRR, according to Autobahn
- The widest shade range of the four, from 5% up to 80%
- Clear to look through, with no metal in the film to interfere with phone or GPS signal
- Only $100 more than Autobahn Black on a full sedan
Weaknesses:
- A single ceramic layer, so the two i-series films reject more heat.
Best for: Most drivers. It's the step where the car starts to feel noticeably cooler, without paying for the top film.
Autobahn Ceramic i3: More Heat Rejection, Deep Colour
Strengths:
- A multi-layer ceramic build that rejects more heat than Black Ceramic
- A deep dye built for a rich, even black that holds its colour
- Lifetime warranty
Weaknesses:
- Autobahn doesn't publish its numbers on the product page, so you are trusting the ranking rather than a spec sheet.
- $150 more than Black Ceramic on a full sedan
Best for: Drivers who spend a lot of time in the car in summer and want a step up in comfort from Black Ceramic.
Autobahn Ceramic i3+: Autobahn's Top Film
Strengths:
- 99% infrared rejection and up to 74% total solar energy rejected, the best numbers in Autobahn's range
- Nano-ceramic construction
- Lifetime warranty
Weaknesses:
- The most expensive of the four
- Launched in three shades: 5%, 15% and 30%
Best for: Heat-sensitive drivers, black interiors that turn into an oven by July, and anyone who wants the most heat rejection Autobahn makes.
What Each Film Costs in Toronto
All prices are starting prices before HST. The final price depends on the vehicle and its glass, and we confirm it before we start.
| Job | Black | Black Ceramic | Ceramic i3 | Ceramic i3+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front two windows | $150 | $200 | $250 | $300 |
| Full tint: coupe (2-door) | $300 | $400 | $525 | $625 |
| Full tint: sedan | $325 | $425 | $575 | $675 |
| Full tint: SUV / truck | $350 | $475 | $625 | $725 |
| Windshield | $200 | $250 | $300 | $350 |
| Sun strip | $75 | $95 | $125 | $150 |
| Sunroof | $100 | $125 | $150 | $175 |
| Rear windshield only | $150 | $200 | $250 | $300 |
Taking off old tint first costs $50 for two front windows, $75 for a rear windshield, $100 for a full car and $125 where old adhesive is heavy.
On a full sedan, going from Autobahn Black to Black Ceramic adds $100. Going from Black Ceramic to i3+ adds another $250. Most people find the first step is the one they notice most. For a wider cost breakdown, see our window tinting cost guide.
Where XPEL Fits
We are also an XPEL-certified installer, and XPEL Prime films are available and quoted per vehicle. If you are comparing brands, our XPEL Prime XR Plus vs XR vs Black vs CS guide covers XPEL's range in the same format.
How Dark Can You Go?
That depends on the window, not the film. Ontario limits how dark the windshield and front side windows can be. Rear windows and rear glass are much more flexible. The legal notes on our window tinting page list what's allowed, and our shade configurator lets you preview each shade on a vehicle before you pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Autobahn Black Ceramic and Ceramic i3?
Black Ceramic is a single-layer ceramic film. Ceramic i3 is multi-layer with a deeper dye, so it rejects more heat and gives a richer black. Black Ceramic is the better value; i3 is the step up in comfort.
Is Autobahn Ceramic i3+ worth it?
If heat bothers you, yes. It's the only one of the four Autobahn rates at 99% infrared rejection, with up to 74% total solar energy rejected. If you mainly want the look and privacy, Black Ceramic covers that for less.
Is ceramic tint better than dyed tint?
For heat, yes, by a wide margin. Dyed film darkens the glass; ceramic film is built to reject heat. Both block 99% of UV. Our ceramic vs regular tint post goes deeper.
Will ceramic tint affect my phone or GPS?
No. Ceramic films contain no metal, so they don't interfere with phone, GPS or radio signal.
Will the tint fade or turn purple?
Tint that fades and turns purple within a few years is usually unbranded film with no warranty. Every Autobahn film we install carries a lifetime warranty against fading, peeling and bubbling.
How much does it cost to tint a car in Toronto?
With us, the two front windows start at $150 and a full sedan at $325 in Autobahn Black. In Ceramic i3+, a full sedan starts at $675. The full table is above.
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📍 Advanced Vehicle Guard | 222 Evans Ave., Etobicoke, ON M8Z 1J8 | (647) 874-7318