Everything You Need To Know About Car Wraps | how much does it cost to wrap a car

Like most car owners, i have always wondered about car wraps, how much does it cost to wrap a car, what kinds of car wraps are good for coupes and trucks, how car wraps affect the paint on a car and etc.

If you have these same questions, do not worry,  i have done the heavy lifting for you and answered most questions in this guide.

How Much Does It Cost To Wrap A Car

There are several things to put into consideration before the cost of a car wrap can be ascertained.

• The complexity of the wrap
• The size of your car
• The required labor are things that you will consider. 

Also, a coupe will be a bit cheaper than a similar-sized sedan, even though they are of the same size. 

With all these considerations, it’s still hard to pinpoint a price because of territorial differences. However, we can try to narrow things down. These are average baseline costs —

Compact car or coupe: depending on the design, this will start at about $2,000.

Family sedan: wrapping the average family sedan would cost about $3,000.

Advertisement

Compact crossover: most compact crossover vehicles start at around $3,500.

Full-size SUV: A full-size SUV will start at about $4,000.

Luxury sports car: this will start at a minimum of $5,000. More expensive luxury vehicles, especially newer models, will be as high as $10,000 and above.

Note: treatments such as chrome or a carbon-fiber look will cost more. The minimum price will be around $6000 upwards. The more exotic ones will be as high as $10,000 upwards, depending on how complex it will be, the vehicle size, and the materials used. Also, the inside of doorjambs is one of the hardest places to wrap, increasing the wrapping time and the cost. 

As you can see, it’s the labor it takes to wrap a car that makes professionals charge these prices. Cars like Teslas are easiest to wrap because they have a flat, smooth, and simplistic design. However, it can start getting expensive if the car owner wants upgrades, such as custom designs, specialty vinyl, wheel wrapping, and so on. 

FIND A CAR WRAPPING SERVICE NEAR YOU

How Long Does a Car Wrap Last

This is a question many people have or are planning to have a wrap always ask, and it’s okay to know what kind of return to expect from your investment. For me to answer, there are various factors to be considered, such as climate condition, poor installation, excessive washing, and so on. 

You are on this page because you want to know about car wraps, Cost and how long a car wrap can last.

an average car wrap  lasts for about 2-5 years. If the car is well maintained, you might enjoy your car wrap for up to 5 years. 

Also, if you seldom drive your car, it will last longer and might exceed five years. Also, driving your car in good conditions and climate can make it last a bit longer. 

Something you need to take very seriously is the installation of the wrap. Never let a novice do it for you, no matter how cheap it is. In the long run, you’ll regret it because it will quickly start showing signs of wear. You should be able to find professionals in your neighborhood, or you can check the internet. 

Reasons Why Car Wraps Don’t Last 

There are several reasons why car wraps don’t last. However, you can avoid having a short-lived car wrap if you take the necessary steps to maintain it. We will show you reasons why car wraps don’t last and the preventive measure to take. 

• Climate 

Overexposure to the sun will ruin your car wrap.

• Frequent washing 

Reduce the washing of the wrap. If your wrap gets dirty a lot, then that is your fault. You need to take the maintenance of the wrap seriously so you can use it for days or weeks without washing. If you’re going to wash it, use a soft rag and a non-abrasive cleaner because it reduces the chances of early damage. 

• Professional installation 

Your car wrap should be installed by an experienced professional if you want it to last long. 

• Low-pressure wash 

If you have a fleet of cars, pressure washing seems like the best option. However, when pressure washing your cars, do not let the pressure be above 800 – 2000 psi. If possible, give your car a minimum distance of 12-14 inches. 

• Professional removal 

If the wrap is starting to wear or you want to update it with a new design, only make use of the services of a professional for the replacement, so your car paint doesn’t get damaged. 

Type of Car Wraps

Most wraps on vehicles are made of vinyl. Some of the common types of car wraps are — 

 • Matte wrap 

If you’re familiar with matte, then you can picture how this finish will look like on your car. One advantage of matte wrap is that light can’t reflect on its surface. Besides, it has a classic look which will improve the appearance and worth of your car. It’s an uncommon car wrap, so your car will be stand. 

• Brushed car wrap

I will classify these types of car wraps into two types — brushed material car wrap and brushed texture car wrap. They are two unique types, but if you’re looking for a more authentic look, then you’ll have to go for the brushed texture car wrap. This is because brushed texture car wrap has a sharp reflection, while the other one doesn’t. 

• Glossy wrap

If you’re looking for a wrap that will have a close resemblance to your original car paintwork, then this is the type of wrap to opt for. This type of car wrap is extremely smooth, and you can find the ones that come with metallic flakes. Having a glossy car wrap will change the entire appearance of your car and make it more stylish.  

• Satin wrap

The difference between the matte wrap and this wrap is in the amount of light they can reflect. There will be no reflection of light; however, on a satin car wrap, there will be a small amount of light reflecting on it. If you want to give your vehicle a very professional look, then this is one of the best wraps to opt for. If you want to use the vehicle for advertising, the satin wrap is what you should opt for. This wrap is a combination of matte wrap and glossy wrap.  

 Categories 

• Full wraps

As the name suggests, it means all paints that are visible on your car will be covered with a car wrap. There are two types of full wraps — color change wraps and print wraps. 

— Color change wraps – to get this wrap on your car, you’ll make use of colored wraps. You can do this as a single-colored wrap.  

— Print wraps – this is done with a white film that has a printed design on it. If you want a wrap with multiple colors, then this is the type of wrap to consider.

• Partial wraps

This kind of wrap will change only a part of your vehicle. For example, you can choose to change the color of your trunk, roof, and so on, or you can prefer to print a design that will cover only a part of your vehicle. Therefore, this wrap can also be a print wrap or color change wrap. 

• Commercial Wraps

As the name suggests, this kind of wrap is mostly done for commercial vehicles, and depending on your location, this is usually the most affordable of all wraps. 

This is because you don’t have to wrap door handles and some other parts covered in other types of wraps. 

This kind of car wrap includes company logos, name, tag line, and another important business-related branding. This means most of the wraps are print wraps. You can do commercial wraps as either partial or full wraps. 

How to Wash a Car Wrap? 

You can compare the vinyl of a car wrap to that of the frying pan in your kitchen. If you wash your frying pan with strong detergents and scrub it with a hard brush, you’ll notice the vinyl will start peeling off. 

This is the same thing that will happen to your car wrap if you use strong detergents and brushes. 

If you want to wash your car and make it last longer, you should use your hand and organic cleaning material. 

Pre Wash

• Be gentle

Between paint and vinyl, vinyl is the softer one, so you’ll have to be careful when cleaning it. Do not use abrasive detergents because they can scratch off the vinyl. You should only use products manufactured for car wrap cleaning. 

• Stay under a shade 

Stay away from the sun. 

• Hand washing or pressure washing 

For very dirty cars, it’s preferable to use a pressure washer. Ensure the water pressure isn’t above 2000 psi, and the water temperature should be below 80°C. 

For cleaner cars, you can use your hand to clean them.  

• Don’t soak vinyl

You don’t want your cleaning solutions to stay too long on the vinyl and start soaking. If your vinyl has prolonged exposure to such solutions, it will most likely weaken the adhesives underneath. 

Wash

• Get your tools

Washcloths or sponges

Microfiber towels or squeegee

Car wash soap

• Look for stains

If there are stubborn stains on your vinyl, you will soak those stains with hot water. Once the stain softens, you’ll use a washcloth to clean it. 

• Rinse 

Then rinse the doors with clean water to flush down the grime, grit, or dirt. 

• Wash tires 

Lots of people consider this the first place the washing should start. Tires are usually dirtier, so if you wash them last, the dirt might leave the tires and stuck on the car’s body. 

• Wash roof 

Wash this place quickly. Use clean water to wash off any dirt that might be here. 

• Air dry

After washing off the soap, you can place the car outside the garage so it can get air to dry off fully. Make sure you wipe it first with a microfiber towel. 

Removing Vinyl Wrap Bubbles

There are varieties of reasons that could cause a vinyl bubble wrap. Something to know is that the quality also has a part to okay. If the vinyl is of low quality, it will be more prone to bubbling than high-quality ones. 

So make sure you let your wrap design company use a high-quality one for you, and you must be willing to pay the price. If you notice the design company isn’t sure about certain materials, you should find a new design company. 

To prevent bubbling, the wrap provider you enlist to do the wrapping for you must do some preparation because their installation will cause the bubbles. 

You must do the wrapping in an optimal environment in terms of temperature and humidity. You will properly clean your car, and all surfaces must be dry before the vinyl is applied. The smallest amount of dirt or debris on your car’s surface will cause bubbling. 

Removal 

Now, we know the reasons why your car wrap has bubbles. You should also know that its removal is easy during the wrap installation process. Now it will be hard to remove it. Also, the longer the bubble is underneath the wrap, the more issues it will lead to. Here are some things to do —

• Use a small pin to create a small hole in the center of the bubble so it can pop. Use your hand to press it so the swollen wrap will flatten. 

• Place a squeegee near the bubble, then use it to press the air out. 

Conclusion 

Car wraps are not cheap, so it’s understandable if you’re asking how long a car wrap lasts. We all want to know if what we spent our money on was worth it; that is why we covered every single aspect that can help you decide if you’re okay with getting a car wrap. Just know that if you opt for a car wrap, it will upgrade your car’s look.