How Much Does it Cost to Wrap a Car?

Are you bored with your car’s old color? Or do you simply want to upgrade its overall look? Well, you have two options for a feasible facelift: either repaint your car anew or get a car wrap.

So How Much Does a Car Wrap Cost?

Rough estimate for a full wrap is between $2,500 and $5,000. The price varies depending on certain factors, such as the size of the vehicle, the coverage of the wrap, and the quality of the vinyl.

Note that the type of vinyl affects the total cost as well. Choices range from metallic, matte, to textured and fully customized design vinyls.

How Long Does a Car Wrap Last?

Wraps can last between four and ten years, with the additional benefit of protecting the underlying paint. However, this would of course depend on several factors as well. Prolonged and continuous sun exposure, weather and climate, frequency of washing, and general exterior maintenance are just some of the factors that can affect the life expectancy of your car wrap.

Things to Remember About Car Wrapping

Car wrap companies consider three things when wrapping cars:

1. Total surface area to be wrapped – How much of the vehicle is going to be wrapped? Is it a full wrap or partial wrap?
2. Materials to be used – What to use—a high-performance vinyl or a budget-friendly one?
3. Car’s make and model -Is the car a sedan, an SUV, a truck, etc.?

Other variables usually taken into account include duration of the wrap (long-term or short-term), consideration for possible bodywork, and how curvy the vehicle is.

Why Wrap a Car? Car Wrap Benefits

When you wrap your car, you sign up for a ton of benefits. It can protect its paint and give your ride a stylish new look. It’s also easy to maintain, quick to set up, durable and long-lasting, more affordable than paint jobs, and easy to remove if needed.

Protects the Paint

Car paint is susceptible to damage and wear due to long-term exposure to UV rays, rust, scratches from debris and gravel, dirt buildup, and dents from collision accidents. Setting up a car wrap will protect your vehicle’s paint from such damage.

Easy to Maintain

Provided you have cleaning solutions designed to work with the correct materials, car wraps are easy to clean and maintain. It’s best to hand wash your vehicle at least once a week to keep the car wrap in good condition.

Quick to Set Up

Wrapping a car takes roughly three days to complete. It’s much faster than painting a car and letting it dry. The total time it takes to set up the car wrap depends on the wrap used.

Durable and Long-Lasting

With proper care and maintenance, car wraps can last up to seven years. This means they last longer than some paint jobs and are much easier to set up and remove.

Cheaper Than Paint Jobs

Overall, you can save a lot of money investing in car wraps over getting a shiny new coat of paint for your vehicle. They’re also easier to take care of, which means you won’t have to spend as much maintaining them.

Easy to Remove

It’s easy to remove car wraps using heat, which allows them to come off without damaging the vehicle. There’s no risk of scratches like in paint removal. The process takes around three hours to complete.

Stylish Looks

One of the biggest advantages car wraps have over paint jobs is that the patterns on the wraps can be more complex. Some wraps can even simulate the look of regular car paint.

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Car Wrap vs. Repaint

What is the difference between a car repaint and a car wrap? Car repainting takes longer to accomplish than automotive wrapping. It involves the removal of your car’s old paint and application of new paint in multiple coatings.

The paint is left to dry in between the application of each coat, then polishing happens afterwards.

Car wrapping, in contrast, takes less time to complete and is temporary, making it the better option for some car owners. Unlike repainting, your car’s original paint won’t be removed when you have your car wrapped. Instead, a vinyl film is placed over your car’s original skin. This film only needs heat to activate its adhesive properties and tools such as a squeegee to properly flatten it on your car’s surface.

Make sure your car’s body parts are in good condition before having your car wrapped. Visit CarParts.com if you need high-quality replacement parts that will save you money. Check out our wide selection of car parts and accessories here.