Vinyl car wrapping certainly has its benefits, but you should know what you’re getting into before getting it done.

Everyone knows the amazing feeling of rolling onto the scene in a shiny, freshly washed or painted car. Likewise, giving that old and faithful car a new coat of paint can feel like you’re taking it off the lot for the very first time.

But are there better options out there than paint?

Enter: vehicle wraps.

More than a few people are taking to the popular trick of vinyl car wrapping, and they’d recommend the same without hesitation. Less expensive than buying a new car and more versatile than paint, car wrapping may just be the way to go.

So what should a buyer know about it? Let’s find out.

Advertising Opportunities

Car wrapping provides an amazing opportunity for any kind of business that really wants to put their product in the public eye.

From pizza delivery cars to landscaping trucks, having a vehicle wrapped in the company logo, colors, or slogan is a sure fire way to get it into the sight of and on the minds of passersby.

Think back to how much time you spend on the road, and how much of that time you’re looking around at cool or eye catching vehicles. Probably a lot. 98% of in-car audiences indicated they noticed truck-side ads while on their daily commute.

Every traffic jam, slow down or stoplight becomes an amazing marketing opportunity for your business vehicle. 

The options are virtually limitless with vinyl wrapping. Rich colours and interesting designs, or simply your company logo brought to life on the road or worksite. Take a look at all the wrap options Outpacer has to provide!

Cost

For many, the most crucial piece of information! Cost-wise, vinyl wrapping is within the same price range as a fresh paint job, depending on the desired modifications and whether or not it’s a detailed job or standard wrap.

So it all depends on what the customer is looking to get done. A full vinyl wrap installed by an experienced technician is usually around $2000, about as much as a high quality paint job.

If you’re looking to get a deal on your vinyl wrap or paint job, there are of course cheaper options for both methods. But remember; whatever is paid for is what you have to live with!

This is where experience and know-how makes the difference between something you’re proud of – or a potentially expensive fix.

Maintenance

Just like a paint job, vinyl car wraps need proper maintenance if they’re going to remain at the same dazzling quality. It’s recommended that car wraps be hand washed only, at least once a week, with a cleaning agent specifically tailored to the vinyl wrap.

Important! Trying to get your wrapped car through an automatic wash could result in damaging the wrap job irrevocably.

Having a truck or vehicle wrap is an investment in your businesses marketing, so to make sure you get the real worth out of it, make sure you follow the after-care guidance. It’s worth it!

Post-wrap care is really important to maintain a fresh look and extend the life for years and years.

Durability

A vehicle wrap can last a very long time if it’s properly taken care of.

If done right and diligently maintained, a car wrap job can last for about 7 years. Typically, customers start to notice a difference in quality near the 4 to 5-year mark; the color, shine and feel starts to show its age.

However, these are minor and natural, as opposed to the marks of shoddy workmanship, like bubbles, creases, and premature lifting of the wrap because of dirt.

If you want to make sure your wrap is durable, here’s what to do:

  1. Make sure you use a AN EXPERIENCED installer, they have all the knowledge to do the job right the first time. 
  2. Ask what quality of wraps they will use – the best in the industry are 3M and Avery & Arlin, so if it’s anything other than those, it may be wise to continue your search.

Vinyl Wrap Design Options

Now, this is the fun part! Car wrapping has so many options it’ll make anyone’s head spin off their shoulders.

Colors, patterns, aesthetics, even placement: it’s all customizable.

There are also types of vinyl that mimic other materials like stainless steel, carbon fiber, and leather, not to mention the vast array of finishes like satin, gloss, semi-gloss or matte.

With all of these options to choose from, its easy to imagine how your company or logo designs can really come to life on a vinyl wrap.

When it comes to car wrapping, the creative possibilities are virtually endless.

At Outpacer, we’re experts in all things vinyl. If you have an idea, we can make it a reality. If you need help, we have expert designers who can help you to understand what’s possible with a custom vehicle wrap.

Application

Some people think that getting their car wrapped will cover dents, rust or paint splatters, making the car look shiny and new.

They couldn’t be more wrong.

In order to apply vinyl wrapping to a car, the surface has to be as smooth and as clean as possible! Otherwise, the vinyl won’t adhere correctly; there will be bubbles and creases, and every imperfection will show beneath it.

It’s recommended that the car owner gets their vehicle thoroughly washed and detailed before getting it wrapped. It’s a process, true, but it’s the only surefire way to prevent premature lifting of the wrap and ensure you get your moneys worth.

Removal

If you decide to sell your car, or just want to try a different look, car wrapping can be removed.

Removing vinyl wrap can go one or two ways depending on the previous maintenance.

First of all, it’s always best to take the car back to the original shop that applied the wrap. If the wrap is still intact structurally, removal is easy-peasy, only taking about 3 to 4 hours and costing around $600. If removal gets nasty, with the wrap coming apart because of being baked in, the labor time and price will definitely climb.

Either way you slice it, removing your wrap or updating your companies graphics is alway an option. Nice!

Paint Protection

If a car has high quality or factory paint job, car wrapping will do two things really well for it: cover it and protect it.

There’s no need to fear you might damage the paint. In fact, the vinyl will act as a barrier between the paint and weather exposure, rocks and other debris, and the normal wear of time. If done the right way, the vinyl won’t even leave a sticky residue when removed.

Of course, you should be picky about what sort of vinyl is used to guarantee the best results. 3M and Avery & Arlon are the best in the business – if you’re using them your wrap will see best results.

Warranties

Uh oh, a scratch, ding, or tear is made in the brand new car wrap. What can be done?

As with most services done to a vehicle, vinyl wrapping comes with a warranty. Depending on who did the wrapping, there could be a few or many options.

Every detail comes with its own warranty length, but the average seems to be between 1 and 5 years, given that a full car wrap life is estimated at 3 to 5 years (7 if you’re a little diligent about maintenance).

Generally speaking, what’s covered and what isn’t is subject to who does the wrapping.

It’s Not For Everyone

Just like anything else one does to modify a vehicle, car wrapping is an investment; and not just an investment of money, but of time.

An important factor that is often overlooked is where a person lives and the weather conditions they’ll be driving or working in.

For example – salt used for the road in cold, snowy climates takes its toll on the vinyl. Likewise, if left out too long in the extreme heat, the wrapping will definitely begin to wear out.

No matter where you live, its important to know that after-care is crucial to the life of a vinyl wrap.

If the maintenance and extra care is a deal-breaker, then maybe a vinyl wrap isn’t for you. But, if you spend the extra effort we can almost guarantee the wrap will make it worth your while.

Final Thoughts

If you want to learn more, give us a call or send us a text message! Outpacer is here to help with all your business marketing needs, think of us as a one stop shop.

Interested in getting a quote of your own? Use the contact form below to send us a message.