Wrapping a vehicle in vinyl to alter its look was once the domain of show cars, luxury and exotics but has now gone mainstream as part of a growing multibillion-dollar industry.
A car wrap is a series of vinyl decals that allows an owner to change the look of a vehicle without the long-term commitment of a traditional paint job. Think of it as a temporary tattoo for your car. Wrapping differs from a paint job in that the decals can be removed later with no impact on the existing paint, assuming the wrap was maintained correctly.
The designs include standard glossy colours, gradient colours, matte finishes, chrome metallic colours, company logos and full-on illustrations.
Scott Jacobs/AP
A wrap being applied to a Tesla Model 3, which also includes an optional ceramic coating for added durability.
The only limits are your imagination – and your budget. The Edmunds experts have gone through this process with a vehicle and discuss the pros and cons of getting your car wrapped.
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A PRISTINE SURFACE IS NEEDED
Some people might think that a wrap can be used to breathe life into an older car or one with a bad paint job, but that isn’t the case. Sure, it’ll cover up the unsightly paint, but if the vehicle has any scratches, paint imperfections or door dings, they will be quite noticeable on the newly wrapped surface. Additionally, if the paint has started to flake or oxidise, the decals will have a hard time adhering to it. Many shops will advise customers to repair any scratches or dents before wrapping the vehicle.
Damien O’Carroll/Stuff
Previously the domain of high-end expensive cars, wraps are now a far more viable and affordable option for mainstream cars.
INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
First, the shop will wash and detail the vehicle with a clay bar to remove any contaminants from the surface of the paint. Some installers use a solution of isopropyl alcohol to clean the paint and then use compressed air to blow off any remaining dirt particles.
Next, the shop will remove the bumper covers, headlights and taillights so that the installer can place the wrap as close to the edges of the body panels as possible. If a customer doesn’t feel comfortable with the shop taking the car apart, the installer will skip that step and use a scalpel-like tool to cut the vinyl around lights and grilles.
The installer will then apply the vinyl to the vehicle body. A heat gun is often used to make the decal more pliable, so it can properly adhere to the shape of the vehicle. Complex wrap designs will require additional vinyl layers. Finally, the installer will use a soft felt squeegee to remove any lingering air pockets.
The entire process can take a few days to complete. If you want the doorjambs – the inner body-coloured part of your doors – to match, it can easily take an extra day or so since the area has numerous crevices. Often the doors need to be taken apart before being wrapped, which can add to the labour required and cost.
Supplied
This is not the sort of wrapping being talked about here.
HOW LONG DO THEY LAST?
A properly maintained car wrap can last up to five years. However, the more a car wrap is exposed to the elements, the shorter it will survive. Excessive sun exposure can dry out the vinyl wrap, making it difficult to remove and significantly shortening its lifespan. Some shops will offer to apply a nano-ceramic coating on the finished wrap, for an added fee, to give it greater UV resistance and prevent minor scratches.
Avoid parking your wrapped vehicle in the street and exposing it to road salts and extreme temperatures. Similarly, you’ll want to steer clear of automatic car washes, and instead use a microfibre towel to keep the wrap clean.
EDMUNDS SAYS: When the time comes to sell your car, or if you want to go back to the car’s original colour, you can take it back to the shop to get the wrap removed. If the wrap has retained its structural integrity, removal can be as easy as pulling off a band-aid. But if it’s been baked in and comes apart, expect to pay more for the added labour.
Ronald Montoya is a senior consumer advice editor at Edmunds. Follow Ronald on Twitter
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