Colors Options Are Unlimited
Considering modern technology in chemistry, you can choose almost any color you can think of these days. You’ve got all the power now. Make sure you stand out by choosing something unique! If you get overwhelmed, that’s ok too. You can just stick with some of the basics. 3M has a huge color selection and different finishes to give you the perfect combo.
Is It Cheaper To Paint Or Wrap A Car
If you’ve recently spotted a car with a chrome-like finish or emblazoned in camouflage print, chances are it’s been wrapped in vinyl rather than painted. Car wraps are a fast-growing trend in vehicle customization, with a North American market that is expected to reach $10.8 billion by 2025, up from $1.62 billion in 2015. Wrapping allows you to change the look of your ride without a long-term commitment. Think of it as a temporary tattoo for your car.
Here at Edmunds, we were starting to get bored with the Midnight Silver Metallic paint on our Tesla Model 3 and decided to wrap it. Edmunds employees came up with designs, which the whole company then voted on. Along the way, we learned a lot about the wrapping process and are sharing it here as a Q& A, along with a few pros and cons to consider.
Exotics and high-end luxury cars can cost upward of $10,000 to wrap.
Applying The Car Wrap Correctly
A vinyl wrap wont adhere well to a tarnished surface, and its not going to cover up paint flaws. The material should be installed over paint thats in good condition. When its stretched over imperfections or damaged surfaces, it can often make those blemishes more noticeable.
Without proper care, your wrap could be due for removal or replacement in less than a year.
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Size Can Chage How Much Costs To Wrap Your Car
Now, estimating the cost of these isnt an exact science. After all, I did just use the word exact. Even auto shops that do this kind of thing arent specific on their pricing. Frankly, its all about material use. The colorful protective shield that will eventually go over your car or truck costs money. Generally, the more of that material needed to cover your vehicle, the more things will cost. In essence, a Fiat 500 is going to be cheaper to wrap than a Cadillac Escalade.
Of course, theres also the quality of materials to consider when wrapping your ride. You can go out and buy cheap carbon fiber-look vinyl decals and try yourself, but odds are that vinyl wont hold up in the sun. That kind of defeats the purpose of protecting your paint, doesnt it? Overall, expect a clear wrap, or paint protection film as theyre often called, to cost less than the highest quality colored wrap designed to look just like paint.
You Get What You Pay For With A Car Wrap
The old adage you get what you pay for is absolutely true here. Both the quality of the wrap and the skill of the technician can affect the longevity of your wrap. In ideal circumstances, expect a wrap to last for three to five years. Thats assuming a clean car, no harsh winters, and a covered parking spot. As for pricing, it truly can vary. On average, you can expect to pay right around $3,000 for a solid wrap in your choice of color. A good wrap will help protect your paint, and wont void any warranties. Just make sure youre sure about the color first.
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Purchasing Your Own Vinyl Is An Option But
You can purchase your own vinyl and install the vinyl yourself, but this could end up costing you more in the long run if you dont install the vinyl correctly.
When you go to a professional for a vinyl vehicle wrap, the end price ultimately depends on the amount of time it takes for the technician to install the wrap, how difficult it is to install the wrap, and the price of the vinyl used for the wrap.
Lets explore a few different wrap options:
The Drives Pro Tips For Wrapping A Car
Wrapping a vehicle is a difficult, time-consuming task. Use these tips to ensure your first time is a good time.
- Vinyl can only sustain a certain level of heat specified by the manufacturer before its damaged or destroyed. We recommend testing and practicing with extra vinyl before applying the real deal. Your look and finish could depend on it.
- Different types of vinyl act differently due to various technologies and adhesives. Just because youve used one type does not mean a different type can be applied the same way. Read the instructions and follow temperature and pressure guidelines.
- For precision cutting, place your blade right against squeegee. This allows for controlled blade length, controlled cut points, and extra stability.
- Reflective wraps are extremely difficult to work with due to creasing and the sensitive nature of the chrome. Alex Belov, General Manager of Tinting Chicago, recommends leaving this to the pros.
A Audi wrapped in Bronze.
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Is It Good To Wrap Your Car
Does the Vinyl Damage the Paint? This is something people often worry about, but no, as mentioned above the vehicle wrap will not damage your original paint. Further, as we just described, it will likely even protect your paint in a variety of situations to leave you with a high quality, still-new coat of paint just under the vinyl.
Wrapping Your Vehicle At Home
Of course, if you wrap the vehicle yourself, that will be no labor cost for you, only the time that it takes to complete the process. According to experts in the field, for a novice completing the job solo it could take 2 to 3 full days to wrap the vehicle. Be aware that when completing this project at home, the end result of the vehicle wrap may not look exactly the way you desired the first time around. If time is on your side though, perhaps purchasing one or two vehicle wraps and completing the project at home would be the perfect solution to save some cash and break out those tools collecting dust in the garage!
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How Is A Wrap Installed
First, the shop that’s doing the wrap washes the vehicle and details it with a clay bar to remove any contaminants from the surface of the paint. Some installers use a solution of isopropyl alcohol to clean the paint then blow off any remaining dirt particles with compressed air.
The shop then removes the bumpers, headlights and taillights so that the installer can apply the wrap as close to the edges of the body panels as possible. If a customer doesn’t feel comfortable with the shop taking the car apart, the installer will omit this step and instead use a scalpel-like tool to cut the vinyl around the lights and grilles.
The installers then apply the vinyl wrap to the body of the vehicle. They use a heat gun to make the material more pliable, so it can properly hug the contours of the vehicle. Some of the more advanced wrap designs, such as those using graphics or custom colors, will require additional vinyl layers. Finally, the installers use a soft felt squeegee to remove any air pockets.
The whole process can take a few days to complete. It’s longer if you want the doorjambs to match. The doorjambs alone will take a day and a half, Hülz said. The doors need to be taken apart before being wrapped, which adds more labor and cost to the installation. Hülz says black cars make the ideal candidates for wrapping: The doorjambs are less noticeable and you don’t have to spend extra for them to be wrapped.
Specifics That Affect The Price Of A Car Wrap
No two car wraps are the same as every vehicle on the road will be in a different condition, consider the following points:
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Cost For Wrapping Other Auto Vehicles
Because vans are used for commercial purposes like for care facilities and on-site services vans are one of the most commonly wrapped vehicles. For a full van wrap, you can expect to pay $3,500 to $5,000. For a partial wrap, it is between $1,500 to $2,500.
Other cars you might be considering doing a wrap for are:
- Crossover: $3,500 or more.
- Full-size SUV: $4,000 or more.
- Luxury sports car: Starting at $5,000 to over $10,000
Ial Vs Full Car Wrap Cost
As expected, the price of a full car wrap will cost more than a partial wrap or decal. For comparison purposes, a partial wrap is more likely to fall in the $1,000 to $2,000 price range. Decals cost even less. If youre on a budget, partial wraps or vehicle decals are a great way to promote your business while on the road in a more affordable way. However, youll have to be strategic about the placement of the decals or partial wrap to ensure you generate as many views as possible.
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Car Wrap Cost Vs Paint
As mentioned above, the cost of car wrapping varies between vehicles. Youll need to get a direct quote because there isnt a one size fits all approach. However, we can flesh out the basic factors you should look out for.
The first issue we need to think about when doing a car wrap cost comparison is to consider the current condition of the vehicle. A vinyl vehicle wrap should last around ten years, and they are best applied to newish cars without any current paint damage. Chipping paint or broken edges can cause damage to the wrap and cause it to peel.
If there is damage to the underlying paint job, this will have to be repaired before the vehicle wrap can be safely applied. The cost of painting a vehicle can run anywhere between $500 and $5,000, depending on the condition, what you want, and how much paint needs to be applied.
After the paint job, youll need to figure out exactly what kind of wrap you want. If its a personal vehicle, your own imagination is the only limit! You can even mix and match vinyl and a good paint job.
Completing Your Own Research
In terms of choosing a brand it may benefit you to complete your own personal research before pulling the trigger. Speaking with your local auto body shop is a great way to discuss options, prices, and they might even be able to throw a discount your way! Lastly, we suggest using a vehicle wrapping quote tool which allows you to enter in your vehicle, desired brand, design, and even your budget so you can view an estimation of the cost of the finished product before driving out to the auto body shop or even getting on the phone.
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Premium To Online Purchasing Your Car Wrap
These vehicle wrap brands run and range the gamut from premium brands like Anderson Dennison costing you a pretty penny to even finding and ordering a car wrap on Ebay, less expensive but also not as high quality for the aesthetic value. From our Ebay research we discovered you can purchase an entire vehicle wrap for less than $300 but unfortunately, as most of us know from shopping online, it can be difficult to ascertain a product’s quality just by viewing photos and reading the descriptions provided for the product. The risk involved when purchasing a vehicle wrap online is not being entirely sure of the quality, or even if the wrap will look like it does in the photos presented. If you do decide to buy online, research the product, read reviews, and inquire if there is a refund policy just in case the product is not what you had initially envisioned.
Can You Save Money By Wrapping A Car At Home
There is a fine line between can and should. Theoretically speaking, sure you can save some money by trying to install vinyl on your own. But, unless youve done this before or are completely confident in your DIY abilities, youll likely spend more money on buying additional supplies to reapply the wrap.
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How Long Does A Car Wrap Last
The less a car wrap is exposed to the elements, the longer it will last. If properly maintained, a car wrap can last up to five years, said Hülz. However, excessive sun exposure can “bake in” the vinyl wrap, making it harder to remove and significantly shortening its lifespan. If you park the car on the street and don’t keep it clean, the wrap might only last a year, Hülz said.
Impressive Wraps, which wrapped our Tesla Model 3, offers ceramic coating protection for glossy vinyl wraps. The installer applies this liquid “nano ceramic” coating atop the wrap. It hardens and protects the wrap from water damage, has a greater UV resistance, and can ward off minor scratches. The ceramic coating will help the wrap last longer, but it isn’t cheap. It can cost about $1,500 on a compact car and $1,800 on an SUV. That’s in addition to what you’re already paying for the wrap.
Vehicle Wrapping Prices Sign Writing Costs General Vinyl Graphics Price Guide
The prices we have provided below are for indication purposes only.We will always provide you with a final quotation once all details and factors have been checked and an inspection the vehicle has been completed by a member of our team. Please be reminded that we do try our best to stick to our price indications that are listed below, where possible. Please understand that in the nature of this bespoke business and service it is not always be feasible depending on the condition of your vehicle and level of wrapping required and coverage that may be required.
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Make Sure To Choose The Right Color
If you have a white vehicle, you will have much more options. You can put various graphic solutions on a white car and still be certain that they will be visible. With just a few decals, an owner can achieve good results without spending too much money.
If you have a colored vehicle, you can add a cover that will complement it. Matching colors the right way will also allow you to achieve maximum results with minimal investment. Car wrap designers have design experts who can help you make the right decision.
What Affects The Price Of Car Wrapping
Although a proficient car enthusiast can apply the wrap himself, it is much better to hire professionals. A few things can ruin the cover during installation, and most people will not get it right on the first try.
Before hiring a company, there are a few things you need to consider:
- What kind of car do you have? Logically, bigger cars will always be more expensive to cover, but you should also consider their design. Intricate vehicles require more work raising the end price.
- When you go to a body shop, you can choose between three finishes: matte, satin, and gloss, each with a specific price tag.
- A car owner will have to pay extra if there is any type of body kit on the vehicle. Custom parts and colors add to the complexity of the projects. A car wrap expert will have to account for all these creases and angles.
- Do you want to wrap the whole car or just a part of it? Often, companies decide to cover just a part of the vehicle. They might put their logo and brand name, but thats about that. The more surface you want to cover, the higher the price tag.
Before you start the process, a team of professionals will check the car. It is especially important to check for damage as this will affect how the wrap adheres to the surface. Some cars have such extensive damage that its simply impossible to put a full-body wrap on them.
These professionals will clean the vehicle prior to application. Dirt, insects, stains can also interfere with the process and provide inferior results.
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Benefits Of Car Wrapping
There are obvious aesthetic benefits to car wrapping as it gives you the option to change your automobiles colour or surface design. But, beyond this, there are other advantages to getting your car wrapped:
- You can achieve a custom look for your car, so it reflects your personality or character.
- You can protect the paintwork from damage, i.e., from natural hazards like bird droppings, tree sap, small stone chips, scratches or abrasions, and weathering.
- You can keep the original/factory paint intact something that can positively impact your cars resale value.
- Car wrapping is cheaper compared to other types of vehicle modifications such as repainting.
- For vehicle fleet or commercial car owners, car wrapping is an excellent method of branding your vehicles to promote your business and increase brand awareness.
Vinyl wraps are also incredibly easy to maintain. So if you hate waxing your car, getting your vehicle wrapped means youll never have to wax your car again.
And if happens that you get tired of the look of your vehicle wrap, it can usually be easily and safely removed by experts.
So, whatever your reason for getting your vehicle wrapped, its a worthwhile investment in your pride and joy, or business fleet, especially if you take your vehicle to professionals who only use high-quality vinyl wraps like 3M.
