5% tint gives a 2007–2013 GMC Sierra 3500 HD an extremely dark, privacy-focused appearance. This black 2013 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Duramax Crew Cab had an approximately 5% finished appearance across all four doors and the back window.

The rear doors and back window had previously received 20% film over the factory privacy glass, bringing them down to approximately 4%–5%. We installed 5% ceramic film on the two clear front doors to complete the look and create a close match throughout the cab.

During the rainy and overcast conditions shown in these real customer photographs, the black interior was almost completely hidden from outside. This darkness is best suited to drivers already accustomed to 5% because nighttime visibility can be challenging.

This real returning customer’s truck included:

• 5% ceramic film on the driver-side front door
• 5% ceramic film on the passenger-side front door
• Existing 20% film over the factory-tinted rear doors
• Existing 20% film over the factory-tinted back window
• Approximately 4%–5% finished darkness on the rear glass
• Approximately 5% appearance throughout the cab

Although our installation covered only the two front doors, the finished truck had an approximately 5% appearance across all four doors and the back window.

The truck also received a 20% ceramic windshield and a 5% windshield sun strip. That installation will be covered in a separate article with a different URL slug so the two pages do not compete for the same search terms.

This article covers the following model years:

• 2007 GMC Sierra 3500 HD
• 2008 GMC Sierra 3500 HD
• 2009 GMC Sierra 3500 HD
• 2010 GMC Sierra 3500 HD
• 2011 GMC Sierra 3500 HD
• 2012 GMC Sierra 3500 HD
• 2013 GMC Sierra 3500 HD

The featured vehicle is a 2013 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Crew Cab.

This returning customer normally chooses 5% tint for his vehicles and was already comfortable with extremely dark window film.

He purchased the Sierra with the rear doors and back window already tinted. The previous owner removed the aftermarket film from the two front doors before selling the truck, leaving a noticeable difference between the clear front windows and dark rear portion of the cab.

The customer wanted to:

• Restore a consistent appearance across the cab
• Regain strong daytime privacy
• Match the existing rear-window darkness
• Add ceramic heat rejection for the front seats
• Return the truck to the 5% appearance he normally prefers

Because he was already accustomed to 5%, he understood the nighttime visibility limitations before selecting the percentage.

The two clear front doors received 5% ceramic film. The rear doors and back window already had 20% film installed over the factory privacy glass.

When aftermarket film is layered over tinted glass, the percentages are multiplied rather than added. If the original factory glass measured approximately 20%–25%, adding 20% film would produce an estimated finished result of around 4%–5%:

20% factory glass × 20% film = approximately 4% VLT

25% factory glass × 20% film = approximately 5% VLT

That information allowed us to select 5% for the two clear front doors without guessing. After the installation, the front and rear windows matched almost perfectly.

Five-percent tint provides extremely strong daytime privacy. With approximately 5% across all four doors and the back window, the Sierra’s black cabin was very difficult to see from outside.

The 20% windshield also reduced the amount of light entering through the front of the cab. Combined with the black interior and cloudy weather, occupants and interior details were almost completely hidden.

Direct sunlight can occasionally reveal faint shapes inside any tinted vehicle. However, 5% provides considerably more concealment than 15%, 20%, or 35%.

Customers should remember that stronger outside privacy also means less light is available when looking outward at night.

No. Automotive window film is installed on the inside surface of the glass, so rain outside does not prevent a professional installation.

The Sierra was tinted inside the shop, where the front windows could be properly cleaned, prepared, installed, and inspected. The rainy weather did not affect the film or installation quality.

Clouds and rain can make tint appear darker in photographs because less sunlight enters the cabin. That explains why this truck looks especially dark in the featured images, but the weather did not change the film’s actual percentage.

Read our rain and snow window-tint installation guide for more information.

We recommend 5% only for drivers already accustomed to extremely dark window film.

During daylight, outward visibility is generally manageable because surrounding light helps the driver see through the windows. The customer featured in this article regularly uses 5% and already understood how it would affect his view.

Someone choosing tint for the first time should consider a lighter percentage such as 15% or 20%. Those percentages still improve privacy and appearance while providing a more comfortable adjustment period.

Five-percent tint can be challenging at night, particularly through the front doors and back window. Drivers should expect a substantial reduction in outward visibility compared with untinted glass or a lighter percentage.

Well-lit roads, intersections, and commercial parking lots provide the easiest conditions. Dark neighborhoods, rural roads, driveways, and poorly illuminated parking areas present the greatest difficulty.

Curbs, parking-space lines, pedestrians, and nearby vehicles may be harder to see. A driver may need to lower a window while parking, backing up, or turning in a dimly lit area.

Experience helps a driver prepare for these limitations, but it does not make 5% physically lighter or easier to see through.

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 choosing 5% for the front doors.

Rules for rear side windows and back glass differ from the restrictions covering the front window area. Medical exemptions also require state approval and supporting documentation.

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

For another real customer vehicle with a complete 5% appearance, see our 5% Kia Telluride window tint example.

The featured two-front-door installation used ceramic film for $174.99.

The full-truck price is the same whether the Sierra has a single-piece back window or a three-piece sliding back window.

This GMC Sierra 3500 HD is not eligible for the $99.99 or $149.99 promotional packages because it is a heavy-duty pickup truck. Those specials apply only to certain qualifying 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 5% percentage determined the darkness and privacy, while the ceramic construction provided the performance benefits.

Ceramic film offers the highest heat rejection of the available options. This can be especially useful on a large black truck, where the exterior color and glass area can contribute to interior heat buildup.

Customers focused mainly on appearance and privacy may choose standard film. Carbon provides a middle-level heat-rejection option, while ceramic is intended for customers prioritizing maximum interior comfort.

Read our carbon versus ceramic window tint comparison to compare the two options.

Visit our GMC window tint photo gallery to see additional GMC trucks and SUVs tinted by Dope Tintings.

Real customer photographs provide a better comparison than a small tint display board. Exterior color, interior color, window size, weather, reflections, and the amount of light entering through the windshield can all affect how dark a percentage appears.

Dope Tintings has more than 20 years of professional window-tinting experience and has tinted more than 30,000 vehicles.

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