Nothing beats the buzz of standing back to admire your ride after a deep clean and polish, or getting it back after its been freshly painted, gleaming in its new-ness; these moments evoke the feeling of driving off the car dealership forecourt for the first time, as well as planning those finishing touches we always want to do to modify our ride to boost the ownership factor.
Apart from a new air freshener and car mats, you may be thinking you want to add a personal flair or branded beacon to the bodywork of your vehicle, so what can you do?
Enter: vehicle wraps.
Many people are embracing the trend of vinyl car wrapping, and any who have had it enthusiastically recommend it. It's a more affordable option than purchasing a new car and offers greater versatility than a whole new traditional paint job or ceramic coating. Car wrapping could be the perfect solution for those looking to refresh their vehicle's appearance whilst adding paint and re-sale protection.
So what should you know about it before getting it done? Let's explore.
Vehicle wrapping offers excellent advertising opportunities, turning your vehicle into a mobile billboard. Eye-catching designs and logos can attract significant attention.
From uber eats and local takeaway delivery cars, man with a van, to HGV's and courier trucks, having your company logo, branding colours and service information emblazoned on your vehicle is a sure fire way to get your business on the minds of fellow travellers on the road, or just about anywhere your vehicle is in the public eye.
With over 34 million road users in the UK (National Travel Survey 2022), all of which are do their daily commutes, running errands or travelling, they will be concentrating on the the road and fellow vehicles around them. The chances of getting noticed are second to none, giving you a major opportunity to become an amazing marketing opportunity for your business.
Any vehicle you are looking to brand, the possibilities are virtually limitless. Vibrant colours and unique designs, or showcase your company logo, vehicle wrapping is completely customisable.
In the current UK economic climate, cost more than anything is the most crucial piece of information! The cost of car wrapping is comparable to a new paint job, generally around £2,000 for a professional and complete colour-change wrap. It varies based on complexity, quality, and vehicle size.
Vehicle wraps are definitely a matter of cost equating to quality. There are of course cheaper options, but remember, if the price seems too good to be true, its either due to cheaper materials, or less experienced labour.
Installation experience and know-how make the difference between something you're proud to drive away in, or a potential expensive fit.
Looking to get an idea of vehicle wrapping costs? Use our handy ball-park vehicle wrapping calculator below.
It's impossible to give an exact figure. Every vehicle is different, and we price everything on a job by job basis. However, the form opposite will give you a guide, or you could just get in touch.
From:
Prices exclude VAT
Proper maintenance is crucial to keep any wrap or vehicle graphics looking as good as the day they were installed, and keep them looking great for years to come. We recommend vehicle wraps be hand washed only with a cleaning agent specifically tailored to vinyl wrap (make sure to find cleaning products tailored to you matt, satin or gloss wrap also), and only sponges and cloths, nothing abrasive.
Take note! Using automatic car wash units at petrol stations and supermarkets, or pressure washers may irrevocably damage a wrap job.
When making such an investment in your personal vehicle or business marketing tool, make sure you are following any after-car guidance from your installer or from a trusted online source.
A well-maintained wrap (see #3) can last up to 7 years, with the first signs of wear potentially appearing after 5 years in the joins and edges. We know however wraps lasting much, much longer, even surpassing the 10 year mark with diligent care. Colour, shine and feel are the tell-tale signs a wrap is starting to near its life expectancy.
These effects over time are natural, whereas bubbles, creases, and prematurely lifting edges are a sign of shoddy workmanship.
This is why we always recommend a professional installation if you are looking to get the full lifespan out of your vehicle wrap - dust, dirt, surface oils and some home-bought vehicle cleaning agents can effect the quality of installation and therefore its durability over time. A professional installer will have access to all the correct tools as well as a clean and controlled installation environment.
Want a durable wrap? Here's what to know:
The fun part! Narrowing down your ideas can be the most time consuming part of the vehicle wrapping process, with hundreds of textures, thousands of colours, and an infinite number of printable design possibilities, its hard to know where to start.
Colour, textures, patterns, prints - its all customisable.
When you know all this the possibilities open up massively, allowing full creative freedom to showcase company branding or personalise your ride.
At Creative Solutions, we're vinyl experts. If you have an idea or design concept you want to explore - we can make it a reality. We also have an incredibly talented Graphic Design Team who can assist laying up ideas onto a template of your vehicle make and model, allowing you to see what the final installation would look like. If you're close to Axminster, Devon, you can also organise to come in and see us to explore all our swatch cards for different colours. for all our previous clients and their vehicle wraps, check out our extensive vehicle graphics and wraps blogs.
Disclaimer: As a professional vehicle wrapping company, we highly recommend not wrapping your vehicle at home yourself. This is not to say it cannot be done, but it is not an easy Saturday afternoon job and requires the correct materials and tools, space, time, skill, patience, and sometimes a second pair of hands.
With that said, we do recommend any vehicle getting ready for a wrap is properly detail cleaned. Do you really want the dead bugs on your bonnet living under your wrap film for 7+ years? Any form of dirt, dirt, debris, dents, rust or paint chips will effect the durability of the wrap, and these things cannot be covered. Wrapping film is much thinner than people believe. If placed over any non-smooth surface it will only amplify whatever is underneath it and wont adhere properly.
It's a process to be sure, but cleaning your vehicle thoroughly before its wrap installation is a sure fire way to prevent a bad quality wrap and get the full life expectancy out of you installation.
At Creative we will always ask you to pop to our unit with your vehicle so we can check over the integrity of your body work, you can also send us photos of your vehicle if you're concerned about any areas. Your installer will be able to spot clean areas before a wrap is applied, but if the vehicle arrives on the day of installation dirty, you may be charged a cleaning fee.
One question we get asked the most is about vehicle vinyl and wrap removal. Wraps can be removed without damaging the paint if done correctly.
Best practice is to return to the original installer, which usually costs around £500-600. Again this pending on the level of coverage and size of the vehicle.
Removals can go one of two ways - If the wrap is intact, has been maintained well throughout its life and was a good quality wrap material to begin with, this is normally a straight forward and easy process, only taking a few hours, some gentle heat application and a few bottles of film adhesive remover. Some removals however can go downhill very quickly. If the wrap is brittle and 'baked in', it breaks upon removal into small pieces, adding greatly to the labour and cleaning time required, forcing the price to go up.
Either way, the wrap can be removed and your vehicle looking as good as the day it first came in. Allowing you a fresh blank canvas to re-wrap or re-brand.
High-quality wraps protect your car’s paint from weather, debris, and wear. They act as a shield, preserving the underlying paint.
You might be worried and fear you might damage your vehicles paintwork, but this is not the case. The vinyl wrap will act as a barrier between the paint and any weather, UV exposure, stones and other road debris, as well as general wear and tear. If you don't want to change the colour of your vehicle, you can also get clear coat vinyls!
Like in #4 about durability - be picky about the make of vinyl being used to guarantee premium results. Oracal, 3M, Avery and Arlin are the industry leaders for vehicle wrapping films. A professional application and removal with quality media will ensure no residue is left behind, and your car will look as good as the day it was wrapped.
Warranties vary by installer but typically range from 1 to 5 years. They cover defects and damage, ensuring peace of mind for your investment.
Oh no, a scratch, ding, or tear in your new car wrap! What can you do?
Vinyl wrapping usually comes with a warranty, varying by installer. The warranty length typically ranges from 1 to 5 years, as a full car wrap can last 3 to 5 years (or up to 7 with proper maintenance).
Coverage details depend on the installer, so it's important to review their specific terms. Most will not cover general wear and tear, but product defects will be covered - lifting edges, bubbling, damage to the vinyl during installation etc.
Consider the climate and your willingness to maintain the wrap. Extreme weather can affect durability, and neglecting maintenance can shorten its lifespan.
Just like any vehicle modification, vinyl wrapping a vehicle is an investment of both money and time.
If any of these are a deal-breaker, then maybe a vinyl wrap isn't for you. If however you can spend the additional time and effect to guarantee the wrap - we promise it will be oh so worth it.
Want To Find Out More?
Get In Touch
Need to discuss your vehicles detailing, colour or custom printed design? Get in touch via our contact us page to discuss and talk about your project. We have worked with many clients both private and for business vehicles to produce small and large-scale vinyl installations. Our expert Quotations Team, in-house Design Team, and Installations Team are all on-hand to provide information and assistance.
Posted by Samantha on July 26th 2024
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