Home » About The Dark Side Tint Co.

About The Dark Side Tint Co.

Our story starts about 20 years ago in a small town in Southwest Texas. Elbert Martinez’s idea was simple: get his truck windows tinted to keep it cool in the hot Texas sun. But the solution turned out a little more complicated than it first seemed.

The closest tint shop was an hour away. The price to pay the shop was out of teenage Elbert’s reach. So he decided to take matters into his own hands and learn how to do it himself. After some trial-and-error (there were little to no YouTube videos on how to apply tint at the time), he got it right.

As soon as his friends and family saw his truck and experienced the benefits of his tinted windows first-hand, requests for him to tint their windows started lining up. He agreed and accumulated more and more experience with each completed job.

After graduating high school, Elbert went on to receive his Associates in Diesel Technology from Southwest Texas Junior College and began his automotive career working on 18-wheelers out on the oil fields.

Wanting to diversify his experience and realize his dream of owning his own business, Elbert moved to San Antonio and received his Associates in Automotive Technology from St. Philip’s College and his Associates in Business Administration from Northwest Vista College.

He worked at a few automotive shops before finding a spot at a local dealership where he could expand on his knowledge and abilities as a full-time mechanic. There he achieved specialties in Electrical systems, High-Voltage Vehicles (EV), Transmissions, and Chassis to complement his other areas of expertise.

After years of working as an automotive technician, Elbert realized the auto industry could use a shift both in how business was handled but also in customer perception. He saw the need for friendly, personalized service from technicians who prioritized meticulous attention to detail, cleanliness, and quality workmanship.

So in 2022 Elbert decided to combine his part-time window tinting passion with his automotive skills and experience to make a full-time business! And The Dark Side Tint Co. was born.

Vehicle Wrap Certification Image

Since then, Elbert has worked to expand his knowledge and product offering beyond window tint. He has completed training through Wrap Leaders for vinyl vehicle wrap installation and is a trained Avery Dennison® Paint Protection Film installer, making The Dark Side Tint Co. a one-stop-shop for your vehicle interior and exterior protection needs!

Check out all our services and book an appointment today!

Still not sure? See what makes us different here: Why Choose The Dark Side Tint Co.?