Door Vent Glass - Rear Side

Function of vent windows on your car

You may not realize it, but your car and truck has more glass than just the windshields and retractable windows. The vent window is a definitive part of the difference in designs amongst auto makers, merging form and design of the vehicle, with venting functionality.

As vehicles are becoming more advanced in their features and modernized with new technologies, the vent window has seemingly disappeared, but they had been a staple and a complement to side windows for many car and truck generations.

What are vent windows?

Vent windows are auto glass windows that are mounted on the sides of vehicles, usually next to retractable windows. Vent windows differ from quarter glass when they can tilt open. In the last 20 or so years, almost no vent glasses open on passenger cars.

For drivers with older models, the vent windows may still be a central part of their driving experience. They appear on many models that lack central air conditioning, and the role of these vehicle window vents is to help keep the driver and passenger seats of the car at a comfortable temperature when the sun makes the cabin too hot.

Now the purpose of side vent windows is cosmetic or to make rear door glasses able to roll down farther than they would without the vent glass, due to the rear wheel taking up part of the corner of the door. Vent windows are found in rear and rear windows, or sometimes in rear of the rear doors.

How were vent windows developed?

The vent window was created by placing quarter glass on a hinge, to allow ventilation of the passenger cabin, back when cars did not have air conditioning. The quarter glass vent window has since gone out of style in automobile design.

Another reason that car vent windows have disappeared in newer modeled vehicles is due to fuel efficiency. Many drivers are not putting their windows down and cars are more fuel efficient with side windows up and the air conditioner on.

Cars now are designed with aerodynamics in mind, maximizing wind flow. With windows open, the wind resistance is increased. Manufacturers now focus on various auto glass technologies to maximize performance and aerodynamics.

What are some uses of vent windows?

To the ever-watchful driver, vent windows provide a quick glimpse of the road surrounding the vehicle so that the driver may turn, accelerate, park, or change lanes safely.

The main use is to alleviate the heat on the seats of the car and on your body when behind the wheel or in the passenger seat. If you’re driving a vehicle that has vent windows and you experience damage to the glass, our side auto glass replacement services help keep your car intact.