Are you looking for a way to make your car look different or to put your stamp on it? Vinyl wraps can transform the appearance of any make or model without the high price of a new paint job.
If you use a vinyl wrap on your automobile, you can express yourself, protect your automobile’s body from scratches, and show off who you work for by displaying a business name through mobile advertising.
Wrapping your vehicle will have the same visual impact as removing and replacing the factory paint, but at a lower price point than having a vehicle painted. When wrapping, we typically use multiple large-format decals that are applied to portions of the surface area of the vehicle; these would include the hood, trunk lid, doors, fender, etc.
So what are the costs of wrapping an automobile, and how does the process work? We’ll discuss average price points to wrap a vehicle, as well as information about some of today’s various options.
Wrapping A Car: An Overview
While wrapping cars looks simple, it can actually be somewhat difficult and requires expertise and patience to wrap properly. This article reviews the steps involved in wrapping vehicles.
In order to properly wrap a vehicle, both the individual wrapping the vehicle and the owner need to ask several important questions:
- What type of vehicle is being wrapped, and what model? The complexity of the wrap design can drastically change the amount of time it will take to wrap the vehicle and, therefore, the pricing.
- Does the vehicle have any additional body parts that may impact the wrapping process? If there are aftermarket body kits or custom parts on the vehicle, wrapping the vehicle will likely be much more complicated because of the additional angles and creases that must be taken into consideration during the installation of the wrap.
- What colour do you want the wrap to be? Standard vinyl colours come in three different finishes: gloss, matte, and satin.
- Which parts of the vehicle would you like to be wrapped? Many individuals will wrap their entire vehicle (such as for use as a vehicle wrap to promote their business) while others will only wrap specific parts (i.e., carbon fibre hoods, brake calipers, etc.). Depending on which areas of the vehicle are wrapped, the price will vary significantly.
Before applying the wrap, the vehicle should undergo an extensive inspection and prep done by a professional or technician to identify areas of concern and check for any damage done to the original paint.
Damage to the original surface hinders the vinyl from adhering properly and thus complicates, and at times makes, a clean and proper execution of the wrap impossible.
In order for the vinyl wrap to adhere positively to the vehicle, the entire surface should be almost flawless. In addition, the vehicle must be fully cleaned (via the cleaning process) of dust, dirt, and debris prior to the application of the vinyl wrap.
Average Cost of Car Wrapping
Wrapping your car is expensive, but you will be happy with the end result of your transformed vehicle with an interesting design.
When it comes to the cost of wrapping your vehicle, there are a variety of factors that can affect the price, such as the size of your vehicle, which type of wrapping material you choose, and whether you do it yourself or hire someone else.
In most cases, you can expect to pay between $2,000 and $5,000 for a complete wrap of your vehicle, depending on the factors listed above.
You can also save money by getting a partial wrap, which can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,500, depending on how much of your vehicle you want to cover.
Another way to improve the look of your vehicle and protect your paint job is by installing paint protection film, which generally costs between $1,000 and $2,000.
Factors Affecting Car Wrapping Costs
Factors like vinyl finish and quality, along with vehicle size, shape and condition will all play a hand in determining your car wrap costs. Factors include:
Colour & Finish
There are many different types of finishes for 3M car vinyl wraps. Monotone wraps are less expensive, while glittery, multi-colour, and high-gloss finishes cost more.
Chrome vinyl is the highest priced and the most intricate installation. Pricing for Chrome starts around $6k for the average vehicle, with installation costs varying based upon car size and the quality of finish installation.
Vinyl Quality
The quality of the vinyl wrap directly impacts cost. Vehicle owners should be aware that although a cheap price sticker may entice them to purchase a low-grade wrap, the initial appeal of a cheap wrap does not outweigh the benefits of investing in a quality vinyl wrap.
Cheap wraps will not hold up as well and tend to crack, warp around the edges, and get bubbles that damage paint underneath the vinyl wrap after some time of wear.
To ensure that someone is getting a durable, long-lasting, and UV-protected vinyl wrap, investing in a high-quality cast vinyl wrap is always the best option.
Cast vinyl is typically towards the higher end of the price spectrum (ie., $12-$16 per foot), but it has superior ability to conform, allows for a great deal of repositionability, and offers excellent UV protection.
Vinyl Wraps
When a customer has selected a vinyl wrap for their vehicle, they may be considering other items to protect the same in order to help it last longer. Any vinyl treatment will increase the total wrapping cost.
One popular vinyl treatment is a nano-ceramic coating. This type of coating adds a layer of protectiveness by providing additional durability against UV rays, minor scratches, and moisture. The cost range for nano-ceramic coatings averages between $1,500 to $1,800.
Size of the Vehicle
The vehicle’s size can also affect the wrapping price. The more wrapping area that is needed, the higher the wrap price.
For example, a compact car wrap might start at approximately $2,000. On the other end of the spectrum, adding a wrap to an SUV will typically range between $4,000 to $5,000, and an average; family sedan likely costs around the $3,000 cost point before any additional treatments are added.
Luxury sports car wraps may start at approximately $6,000 and go up from there all the way to $12,000 and more.
Below is a list of average baseline prices to have a professional wrap applied to your vehicle.
- Compact Car/Coupe: $2,000 and up.
- Family Sedan: $3,000 average cost.
- Compact Crossover: Starter price is approximately $3,500 and up.
- Full-Size SUV: Starter price approximately $4,000 and up.
- Luxury Sports Car: Starter price approximately $5,000, but can top $10k. Experts say it may cost about $7k to wrap your Ferrari.
Vehicle type and style can affect wrap cost. Vehicles with complicated body designs usually cost more because of their difficulty to wrap and require skilled installation.
The opposite is true for a basic van that has a simpler body style compared to a more complex luxury vehicle.
Full or Partial Wrap
The price of the car wrap will also change depending if a customer orders a full wrap or a partial wrap. Here are average prices based on how much of the car is wrapped:
- Spoiler wrapping: $300.
- Door handles: $60 each
- Roof, hood, and trunk: $300 each
- Side view mirrors: $100 each
Condition of the Car
The overall condition of your car prior to wrapping will also impact how well your wraps perform and are successful. Dents, scratches, dings, etc., that were present prior to wrapping will be visible in the finished product, just as they would be in the case of painting over damaged areas without repairing them first
In addition, if your car is corroded or has chipped paint, it may not allow the vinyl decals to adhere to your car properly. Certain shops may refuse to apply wraps or offer warranties due to paint that is peeling or has visible oxidation.
If a wrap is applied to a worn or damaged vehicle, the wrap will usually not last as long, compared to wrapping a well-maintained vehicle; however, a vinyl wrap will continue to look good for approximately four-to-five years (depending on where you live, type of wrap you apply, etc.), after which time the wrap will become increasingly difficult to remove.
Is There a Downside to Wrapping a Car?
If the car has dents, dings, corrosion, or scratches, wrapping a vehicle will not hide imperfections. The vehicle’s condition is important to professionals and the repair of the vehicle before wrapping is also important for removing the wrap at a later date.
Wrapping a vehicle will not last as long as a properly painted vehicle if the paint is peeling or oxidizing. Also, vinyl on the vehicle is subject to failure from exposure to high heat and salt used for snow removal.
If wrapped in good condition and kept out of direct sunlight or washed after coming in contact with snow removal salt, wraps should last around five years before requiring a change. After five years, the wrap becomes more difficult to remove and will be difficult to remove and cost-prohibitive to do so.
How Is a Wrap Done?
When you go to a shop, they will measure the dimensions of your vehicle. They will then have the vinyl wrap that matches those specifications for your vehicle.
Now it’s time to clean your vehicle. Once it is clean, the vinyl can be applied. In order to apply the vinyl smoothly on all the curves of the vehicle and to eliminate any air bubbles from behind the film, it is advisable to remove all items that will not be wrapped (headlights, rear lights, door handles, etc).
When putting the vinyl on, a professional install is best. The use of heat and stretch technology with a special adhesive and a heat gun will allow you to apply more than 1 layer of vinyl on some projects.
FAQs.
Is It Cheaper To Paint Or Wrap A Car?
Generally, paint jobs range between $3,000 and $10,000. In contrast, you can find a high-quality car wrap between $2,500 and $5,000. Since a good paint job can cost more than double the cost of a professional vehicle wrap, many companies with fleets choose them over paint.
How long do wraps last on cars?
Most car wraps last approximately five to seven years. After five to seven years most vinyl wraps will begin to crack, fade, and peel off the vehicle. An extra two years makes a big difference in getting your money’s worth so how do you get your wrap to last closer to the seven-year range compared to five?
Do car wraps damage paint?
No is the simple answer, a proper vinyl car warp won’t damage your vehicle, at least not when it’s installed properly. The vinyl wrap itself is designed to be safe for vehicle paint.
Can I wrap my own car?
It’s possible to wrap a car on your own, but more than one pair of hands makes the task much easier –especially when it comes to laying film out across larger panels and minimizing troublesome air bubbles or wrinkles.
Does wrapping a car devalue it?
When a car is wrapped, the resale value is considerably greater than for a car that has been repainted. This is primarily because the wrapper can be removed without damaging the car. Since the wrap preserved the paint, the value of your car is higher because it still looks new.