20% front window tint gives a 2018–2023 Chevy Traverse a close visual match to its factory-tinted rear glass. On this blue 2022 Chevrolet Traverse LT, we installed 20% carbon film on the two front doors while leaving the factory rear windows unchanged.

The match was nearly perfect. During daylight, the front windows created a silhouette appearance from a normal viewing distance. Someone standing close to the glass could still see inside. Twenty percent is also manageable for most drivers at night, although lowering a window may help while parking in a dimly lit area.

This real customer installation included:

• 20% carbon film
• Driver-side front door
• Passenger-side front door
• Factory-tinted rear doors left unchanged
• Factory-tinted rear quarter windows left unchanged
• Factory-tinted back window left unchanged
• Factory windshield left unchanged

Only the two front doors received aftermarket film. The customer selected carbon for additional heat rejection, but the 20% shade—not the carbon construction—is what created the close match to the rear glass.

This article covers the second-generation Chevrolet Traverse body style through the 2023 model year:

• 2018 Chevrolet Traverse
• 2019 Chevrolet Traverse
• 2020 Chevrolet Traverse
• 2021 Chevrolet Traverse
• 2022 Chevrolet Traverse
• 2023 Chevrolet Traverse

The featured vehicle is a 2022 Chevrolet Traverse LT. Owners of the other listed model years can use these photographs as a real-world reference for how 20% front tint may look beside the factory-tinted rear glass.

The customer wanted the two clear front doors to match the shaded rear windows. Her children described the untinted front portion of the SUV as feeling like a “fishbowl,” so completing the window appearance was an important part of the decision.

She also wanted:

• More privacy for the driver and front passenger
• A consistent front-to-rear appearance
• Reduced glare through the front doors
• Better heat rejection for herself and her husband

The customer chose carbon because it rejects more heat than standard film. A customer interested mainly in matching the rear glass could still choose 20% in another film type when that shade is available.

On this Traverse, 20% film matched the factory rear glass almost perfectly. From the side, the front and rear windows created a clean, continuous appearance instead of leaving the front cabin noticeably exposed.

No aftermarket film is guaranteed to look identical to factory privacy glass under every condition. Factory-tinted glass receives its color during manufacturing, while aftermarket film is applied to the inside surface of the window.

Sunlight, clouds, reflections, interior color, and light entering through the windshield can make the front windows appear slightly lighter or darker from different angles. Despite those variables, 20% is the percentage we recommend when a Traverse owner wants a close factory match.

From a normal distance, the front windows created a silhouette effect. Someone outside could usually tell that an occupant was inside, but facial features and cabin details were not clearly visible.

Standing close to the glass made it easier to see into the vehicle. Direct sunlight entering through the windshield or opposite door could also reveal additional interior detail.

The black interior helped the windows maintain a darker appearance because it reflected less light than a beige, tan, or light-gray interior. Customers should expect moderate daytime privacy rather than the near-total concealment associated with 5% tint.

Yes. We recommend 20% on the front doors of a 2018–2023 Chevrolet Traverse when the customer wants to match the factory rear glass and complete the SUV’s appearance.

The customer was already accustomed to the approximate darkness of the factory rear windows. Adding a similar shade to the front doors created a consistent look without dramatically changing her overall driving experience.

Twenty percent is darker than 35% but more manageable than 5% for most drivers. Individual eyesight, driving habits, and local lighting conditions should still be considered before selecting any percentage.

Twenty-percent tint generally remains manageable at night in areas with streetlights, storefront lighting, and normal traffic illumination. Drivers should still expect the view through the front doors to be darker than it was through the original clear glass.

The greatest difference appears in poorly lit parking lots, driveways, and residential streets. A driver may need to lower a front window to see curbs, parking-space lines, pedestrians, or nearby vehicles more clearly.

This limitation is one reason 20% provides a practical balance: it offers a darker appearance and useful privacy without creating the severe nighttime visibility challenges commonly associated with 5%.

New Jersey restricts aftermarket tint on the front side windows and windshield of standard passenger vehicles. Drivers should understand the possibility of a traffic stop or citation before tinting the front doors.

The rules covering rear side windows and back glass differ from those applied to the front window area. Medical exemptions also require state approval and supporting documentation.

Read our New Jersey window tint law guide for additional information before choosing a percentage.

Customers deciding between moderate shades can also review our 20% versus 35% window tint comparison.

The installation featured in this article used 20% carbon film on the two front doors for $144.99.

The $99.99 standard-film price for the Traverse’s two front doors is regular two-window pricing. It is not the same as the separate $99.99 full-vehicle promotional package.

The Chevy Traverse is not eligible for the $99.99 or $149.99 full-vehicle specials because it is an SUV. Those specials cover all qualifying side windows and the rear glass on certain eligible two-door coupes and four-door sedans.

Financing is available for qualifying customers through American First Finance. Approval and payment terms are determined by the financing provider.

The appropriate film depends on what the customer wants the tint to accomplish:

• Standard film: A practical choice when matching the rear glass, privacy, and appearance are the primary goals.
• Carbon film: Adds better heat rejection than standard film. This was the customer’s selection for the featured Traverse.
• Ceramic film: Provides the highest heat rejection for customers prioritizing interior comfort.

Film type and tint percentage serve different purposes. Selecting carbon does not automatically make the window darker than standard film. The chosen VLT determines visible darkness, while the film construction affects performance characteristics such as heat rejection.

Read our carbon versus ceramic window tint comparison for more information.

Visit our Chevy window tint photo gallery to see additional Chevrolet cars, pickup trucks, and SUVs tinted by Dope Tintings.

Real customer photographs provide a more useful comparison than a small tint display board. Interior color, exterior color, reflections, sunlight, windshield light, and window shape can all affect how a percentage appears.

Dope Tintings Automotive Window Tint has more than 20 years of professional installation experience and has tinted more than 30,000 vehicles.

We can help Traverse owners compare percentages and film types based on factory-glass matching, privacy, nighttime visibility, heat rejection, appearance, and price.

Dope Tintings serves customers from Pennsauken, Camden, Cherry Hill, Maple Shade, Cinnaminson, Delran, Collingswood, Haddonfield, Marlton, Mount Laurel, Moorestown, and throughout South Jersey.

Dope Tintings
6830 N Crescent Blvd
Pennsauken, NJ 08110
Phone: 856-577-4119