Yahoo Autos Vinyl car wraps: What you need to know before you wrap your vehicle
America’s favorite car colors skew toward the boring, with white, gray, and black holding the top three spots. That can be a real bummer if you’re shopping for a used car and want something spicier, but the good news is that you can easily get more color in your life with a vinyl wrap.
Wrapping a car involves using sheets of vinyl material with an adhesive to bond them to the paint. Modern wraps are less expensive than a paint job from a reputable shop, last for years, and won’t give you a hernia if you decide to change things up. They also come in wild colors not typically offered by mainstream automakers and can be customized with patterns or graphics if you use your vehicle for business purposes. However, like paint jobs, wraps come in a range of quality and cost options, so you’ll need to think about your needs and budget before diving in.
What does a wrap cost?
The cost of a wrap job depends on several factors, including the color, finish (matte, gloss, metallic), and the size of the vehicle. Small cars, such as a Volkswagen Golf GTI, cost around $3,000 to wrap, while a Ford Expedition could cost $4,000 or more. Opting for a color-shifting finish or a complex patterned wrap could double those costs for some vehicles, and you’ll pay more for a complete wrap job that includes the engine bay and door jambs.
Though they take more attention and care than traditional auto paint, wraps offer protection against the elements and can extend the life of a factory paint job, even if you’re really in it for the color. Just keep in mind that leaving it on longer than recommended might make it harder to remove and more likely to damage the paint underneath. A wrap can also be a great way to cover fading paint as a cheaper option than getting a new paint job, but consider that it’s only a temporary fix, and you’ll need to disclose the wrap and paint condition if you decide to sell the car.
How long does it take to wrap a car?
In general, expect a one- to two-day job if you take your vehicle to a professional shop for a wrap, though the work times could vary depending on the size of the vehicle and type of wrap. Doing the work on your own can take much longer, especially if you’re inexperienced or want to wrap out-of-the-way areas such as the door jambs and under-hood components. If a DIY job is in your future, make sure to give yourself time to make mistakes. While some parts are forgiving, wrapping is a finicky job that takes patience many of us lack. Wrinkles, bubbles, and misaligned panel pieces are all part of the job, so you’ll want to plan a little extra time to curse and figure things out.
