How to Install Windshield Sun Shades

When hot days roll in, protecting your ride’s interior from damaging UV rays and keeping it cool and comfortable becomes an even greater priority. One of the most simple and effective ways to do this is by using a sunshade.

Covercraft Car Sun Shade - Foldable Style Installation

1. First, simply open the sun shade in your car. Trust us – it’s much easier than attempting to open it outside your vehicle and then bringing it inside.
2. Next, slide your shade’s bottom edge onto the farthest-most edge of the dash where it meets the windshield. While doing this, make sure that the sun shade is as close to the windshield as possible.
3. Third, press the shade’s upper edge against your windshield’s upper edge. Your sun shade should come with a small notch in the top that allows it to fit around your rearview mirror and fit flush against your windshield.
4. Lastly, open your sun visors to hold the shade securely to your windshield.
5. To close it, pull the shade’s upper edge toward you and around the rearview mirror. Fold the shade together so that its panels line up when closed. TIP: the highly reflective material can get hot after sitting in the sun, so avoid touching it directly.

Intro-Tech Windshield Sun Shade - Roll-Up Style Installation

1. Unroll your sunshade.
2. Place your shade flush against the windshield and move your sun visors down to hold the shade securely against the glass. Certain shades feature small suction cups that should be pressed firmly against the glass.
3. To close, simply roll your sun shade up and use the convenient built-in Velcro straps to hold it in place for easy storage.

Dash Designs Car Sun Shade - Accordion Style Installation

1. Sitting in the passenger seat, attach the two mounting brackets to the buttons on the back of the shade.
2. With the brackets in place, place the shade next to the pillar post on the passenger side, positioning it in halfway up the windshield. Position the handle so you can easily grab it from the driver’s side with your right hand.
3. Keep the mounting brackets lying flat on the windshield and mark their positions using masking tape, an erasable marker, or wax crayon (an assistant may be helpful for this step).
4. Thoroughly clean your windshield, and then remove the backing paper from the adhesive pads on the brackets. Press the shade toward the windshield so that the brackets stick securely to the glass. Try to get as close to the previously marked positions as possible.
5. Smoothly slide the shade off the brackets and firmly press on the brackets’ flat parts.
6. Place the shade onto the brackets on the passenger side.
7. Attach one bracket to the button on the shade’s handle and extend it all the way across the windshield to the driver’s side windshield post. Pull the shade around the mirror – not under it.
8. Like before, mark the latch bracket’s positions using masking tape, an erasable marker, or wax crayon, but make sure to leave some room at the top of the windshield to make it easier to lift the sun shade off the bracket and retract into its casting.
9. Attach the driver’s side latch bracket.
10. Simply pull and attach your shade across your windshield – you never have to take it down!

NOTE: These steps only need to be followed prior to using your shade for the first time. Once it’s semi-permanently installed, you just need to pull the shade across your windshield to use.

Tips from AmericanTrucks

No matter what type of vehicle you drive, we recommend choosing a custom-fit sun shade for the optimal fit. You can learn more here about the pros and cons of custom vs universal fit shades. Whichever you choose, you’re on the road to cooler seats and steering wheel.