Wrapping your car in vinyl car wraps is a great way of customizing your car while also making it stand out from the rest. This service has been popular in the last couple of decades, but still, it is new to many car owners who want something unique.
Though wrapping a vehicle up in vinyl wraps is not new, many people have associated car wrapping as something only the young generation interested in customization do.
The reality is vehicle vinyl wrapping is a common practice business owners have been using as a business branding technique or as an advertising ploy to get brand visibility while on the move using a new or old fleet of cars. But how much does car wrapping cost?
In general, a full wrap can cost anywhere between $1,000 and $5,000. Car wrapping companies will charge by the foot, meaning you will get a rough estimate for your project based on how much space is to be covered.
If done right, car wrapping can give you an even surface from bumper to bumper and have a high degree of resiliency.
This article looks at how much a vinyl car wrap costs and why it might be a good idea to consider having your car wrapped.
First and foremost, you need to look at the pros and cons of having your ride painted or getting it wrapped with vinyl wraps. The biggest disadvantage about painting is that while it will cost less than $5,000, it will only last for three years before wearing out.
In contrast, an ordinary vinyl car wrap can last for five years and retain its color.
The biggest advantage of having your car wrapped is it will cost less than getting it painted. This leads many who cannot afford to paint their cars so they can customize them and make them stand out from the rest to choose this option.
Car Wrap Material Cost.
Most car wrapping workshops will quote you material cost with labor charge costing separately while other car wrapping firms prefer to charge you the cost of car wraps with the material cost included.
The cost of materials varies from place to place. While going for a half or full Vinyl car wraps, there are two types of material to choose from – calendared and cast vinyls. Calendared is the cheaper of the two but it is not as durable as cast.
In addition, you have to have your car’s windows tinted to improve the insulation of your car using tinted films, especially if done during winter or summer seasons. With this added service, you will save money on heating and cooling bills due to reduced heat transfer into the passenger cabin.
Other costs included in a full vinyl wrap are protective masking for parts not being covered by vehicle wraps, paint correction and wet sanding, vehicle de-installation (sometimes), and re-installation.
Usually, this is included in the wrap price but it may vary from shop to shop depending on how they charge their clients for work done.
What To Consider When Buying Vehicle Wraps?
There are many pros and cons to consider when buying vehicle wraps. You may save a lot of money overall or you could end up spending more due to the post wrapping care and maintenance needed.
One of the benefits of going for a car wrap is not only will it stand out from the rest, but can be done in any color without having to worry about getting it mixed with other paint shades.
In addition, there is no need to worry about scratches or cracks in your car’s paint when getting vinyl wraps; this is one of the greatest benefits of having your car wrapped.
Currently, there are many shops that offer vehicle wraps for any style you want. If you were hoping to get a unique design for your car, you can go online and look at what is possible with car wraps then find a car wrapping shop near you for a localized vehicle wrap.
As the design of vehicles changes over time, you can get your car wrapped again to keep it looking fresh.
Getting a full vinyl wrap usually costs around $1,000-$5,000, depending on where you are getting it done and how big the vehicle is.
Many shops offer discounts, especially when getting multiple cars wrapped at once so if you have a fleet of cars to wrap, it is advisable you go for the biggest size and the best design to save money. You can consult with a car wrapping professional or look up online to get more information on how much does a Vinyl car wrap costs in your area.
Types Of Car Wraps.
There are three types of vehicle wraps to choose from: full vehicle wraps, half vehicle wraps, and quarter vehicle wraps. These car wraps could either be spray-on car wrap or vinyl wrap-on types.
A Full Vinyl Wrap Cover.
A full vinyl wrap covers the whole car from top to bottom, including bumpers. It is suitable for those who are looking to have a complete color change for their vehicles.
A half vehicle wrap only covers three-quarter of your car while leaving your doors unpainted – this style looks best on older cars that have dull or fading paint.
A full car wrap may not be ideal for everyone as it covers your whole car’s surface, including the headlights, side mirrors, door handle areas and wheels, while a half or partial vinyl wrap only covers the roof area.
Quarter vehicle wraps are mostly used on the doors of your car to give it a different overall look but can be done on any part of your car. The quarter vehicle wrap is popularly used for advertising and business vehicle branding while the full car wrap is popular for aesthetics.
A Not-So-Complicated Vinyl Wrap Process.
Getting your car wrapped is not much different from getting regular paint jobs; there are only slight differences in the process when getting vinyl wraps done to cars if you know what you are looking for.
A panel by panel process is done when getting a vinyl car wrap applied to your vehicle. The whole process begins with prepping the surface, then applying masking materials to protect parts of the car that are not being covered by the vinyl wraps.
After that, you apply heat transfer film onto your vehicle followed by die-cutting for custom designs or lettering and finally, you remove the masking materials and voila! Your car is ready to take on the road.
All these steps can be done by yourself if you want to save money but hiring a professional will give your vehicle wrap job a cleaner finish making it look like a pro did it.
Most shops offer several car wraps, so it may be advisable to go for the Vinyl wrap-on type because it is easier, requires less prep work, and saves you time.
Even if vehicle wraps are usually used for aesthetics, there are other uses that can come in handy. For example, if you want to promote a business or company using your car as a mobile billboard, you can get quarter vinyl wrap-ons to contain the company’s logos.
With this type of car wrapping, you can get your vehicle repeatedly wrapped so it is ideal for companies with multiple vehicles who need an ongoing promotion strategy.
Is it cheaper to spray or wrap your car?
The affordability of car wraps can be the driving force behind your choice to have your can sprayed or wrapped in Vinyl. If you are on a tight budget, it will be advisable to go for spray-on car wraps as they cost less than a vinyl wrap.
Spray-on car wraps only require the removal of parts of the vehicle that are not being painted which makes it easier and faster to apply.
However, the downside is that paint coating lasts longer compared with vinyl wrapping because you only have the top layer of your paint that has been sprayed.
The other disadvantage is that spray-on types of Vinyl require you to do constant touch ups every now and then as the top coating can easily be damaged by dirt, debris and chemicals making it look dull after some time.
How long does spray wrap last?
The lifespan of spray wrap can be concerning as debris and dirt easily leave your newly wrapped car looking dull.
Typically, spray wrap lasts about a year or two before you need to go back and get it done again. If you compare this with vinyl wrap, the lifespan of your vehicle is about 3 years since there are no paint issues like chipping and peeling.
Generally, Vinyl wraps last longer than spray-on car wraps but you will need to do constant touch. If you want to regain the look of your spray-wrap, you can buy and apply a new layer but applying new layers can become pricey in the long run.
As for vinyl wrap, the top layer is made from a thin film that protects your car’s paint from scratches, making it last longer than spray car wraps. Plus, there are no paint issues with a vinyl wrap like chipping or peeling that will make your car look dull.
If you consider how long each type of car wrap lasts, then Vinyl appears to be the better option for wear and tear since it is made from high-quality materials compared with cheaper spray-on wraps.
