With their introduction in the 1920s, vinyl car wraps have gained immense popularity and are now one of the highly coveted customizations in the automotive industry. Since their inception, they have undergone continuous innovation and advancement, and are available in numerous colors, finishes and patterns. They have taken over the world of personalization and are a hot favorite among car enthusiasts who want the very best for their precious ride.
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Vinyl wraps not only give your car a chic new look, completely renovating its exterior, but also have other benefits. However, like every other product, they have downsides too. Let’s dig deeper into the pros and cons of wrapping a car so you may have a much clearer view of its usage.
Pros Of Vinyl Wrapping Your Car
Let us first see how advantageous a vinyl wrap is for your car:
Vinyl Wraps Protect The Exterior
Damage to the original paint of the body deteriorates its value to a considerable extent. You may not get the price you estimated at the time of selling your car if its original paintwork is damaged. A vinyl wrap acts as a protective shield against detriments on the road. Here’s how it works:
Vinyl Wraps Are Easy To Maintain
Regular visits to car washes may often feel like a chore - the one you keep ignoring until it becomes a dire need. If your ride is wrapped in vinyl, it can easily be washed at home. You can do it with two buckets of water: one containing mild detergent and the other, clean water. You will need a microfiber cloth to wipe and clean the wrap, and then dry it afterwards.
You don’t need to wax or polish the car, or spend on any other expensive products to keep your car shiny and impeccable. The vinyl wrap will do the job since it has a glossy surface. You will also save the time and money that you would have spent at the car wash.
Wide Range Of Vinyl To Choose From
Vinyl wraps are available in so many colors, finishes and textures that you will be spoilt for choice. Every category of vinyl has different variants and colors in it. For example, there are following categories and variants at Vinyl Frog:
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All these categories have numerous colors and their different shades so you can choose the one that you like best for your car. The cherry on top is that you do not only have limitless hues to choose from but many different textures too such as carbon fiber, glossy, matte, brushed, rainbow, glitter, holographic, reflective, satin and so on.
There are patterned vinyl wraps and decals available as well such as camouflage, stripes, geometric and so on. You can also get plain printable vinyl so you can create a design of your choice and transfer it onto the film to wrap your car with. With such a wide variety at hand, you can make your ride distinctively noticeable.
Vinyl Wraps Are Cost Effective
When compared to a paint job, a vinyl wrap costs far less. When you go for repaint, it makes a permanent change to your vehicle. The car loses its resale value because it is no longer in its original condition and it takes a lot of time to get that perfect finish. No matter how much you try, an expert eye always gauges that the car has been repainted.
When you wrap your car in vinyl, the original paint underneath is protected. Vinyl films do not burn a hole in your pocket. The whole cost of buying and installing becomes far less if you wrap the car yourself. However, do not do so until you are sure what you are getting into. It is always advised to hire automotive professionals.
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Vinyl Wrapping Takes Less Time
Repainting a car is time consuming. Preparing for paint, priming and drying between coats can take quite a few days and at times, weeks to complete. You will have to leave the car until the whole process is done. Vinyl wraps do not take that much time to install and cure. Depending on the size, it will take a maximum of three to four days to get your vehicle wrapped. Hence you save a lot of time while giving your car a whole new look.
Vinyl Wraps Can Be Easily Removed
If you get bored with the color of your vinyl, you can replace it with a new one without much effort because it can be easily taken off. When a good quality vinyl film is removed, it does not leave any residue behind and the impeccable original color of the car is unveiled. The process of removing the film is easy and you can do it yourself as well.
Diverse Uses Of Vinyl
Vinyl wraps give your vehicle a new look. They are an excellent and inexpensive option. You cannot only opt for a full or partial wrap but also create amazing designs with multiple vinyl films. You can also get the vinyl printed in the design of your choice to completely personalize your vehicle. But vinyl wraps are not only for aesthetic appeal. You can use it for promoting your business venture as well.
If you have started a new enterprise, mobile advertising is a perfect way to market your brand and get your name out there. You can advertise through vinyl films and wrap your vehicle or your fleet with it. Your brand will reach far and wide this way and if it is advertised in a clever manner, it will leave a lasting imprint on the minds of the people. The car will go places resulting in the advertisement being seen by the masses.
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If you do not want to waste lots of fuel, simply park your vehicle at a public place where you know your target market is. The onlookers will see your advertisement and may get interested. Word of mouth also does the job if the right marketing is done.
While we have discussed a convincing number of advantages, there are also some drawbacks of vinyl wrapping that cannot be overlooked, let’s shed some light on those.
Cons Of Vinyl Wrapping Your Car
Following is the downside of wrapping your car with vinyl but the fact remains that its advantages are much more and it is a wise choice.
The Quality Of The Vinyl Film
We have discussed that vinyl is a cost-effective option, however, one must not compromise on quality in order to save some money. Always check the credibility of the place from where you are buying the wrap. Read the customers’ reviews. Research and then buy the vinyl film.
Vinyl Wrapping Is A Temporary Solution
Even though this is a plus point, if you are looking to transform your car’s outlook permanently then vinyl wrapping is not for you. The life of a vinyl wrap is 3-4 years that too if they are properly taken care of. On the flip side, who would want to see the same color for such a long time. Vinyl wraps give you a chance to be creative and change the look of your car every now and then.
Does Not Hide Imperfections
If your car has been in an accident and has dents and scratches, a vinyl wrap will not hide them. Vinyl film fits the body of a car like a second skin. If the car has a dent underneath, it will be clearly visible with a vinyl on top. So don’t think you can use it to hide your car’s imperfections.
Fixing The Damaged Wrap
It is imperative to fix damaged wrap as it does not look good. The original color of the car showing through the vinyl can be quite unsightly. Not only will this mar the overall appearance of the vehicle but will also affect the protection that a vinyl film provides.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A vinyl wrap is just a film that covers the surface of the car. When anything hits the vehicle, such as road debris, the vinyl bears the brunt first. Hence it is susceptible to getting little scratches. It might not tear but it can get little nicks.
Car wraps do not cause rust. When a car is wrapped, it does not come in direct contact with water or the sun, the two elements that cause rust. In the absence of these, rust does not develop.
UV rays wreak havoc on whatever is exposed to them excessively. Vinyl wraps are no different. If they get extended exposure to UV rays, they can fade over time. However there are vinyl films available that feature additional UV protection.
If your car wrap is peeling, it is primarily because of improper preparation of the car’s surface prior to installation. If it is greasy or dirty, a vinyl wrap will not adhere properly and start to peel sooner than expected. Vinyl wraps should only be applied to thoroughly cleaned and degreased surfaces to ensure strong adhesion. If there are any scratches, dents, or rust at the time of installation, it should be thoroughly taken care of before installing the wrap.
It is advised not to leave your vinyl wrapped car outside especially if it is hot and sunny. Sun fades your wrap and can lead to browning, shrinking, and cracking. You cannot avoid the heat when you are driving the car, but when it is parked, it is advised to do it in shade or in a garage.
Final Verdict
The pros of vinyl wrapping your car evidently outweigh the cons. However it is advised to research thoroughly before getting the wrap. You can always invest in the best quality vinyl film and maintain it by saving it from everything that is harmful. Once the wrap has passed its prime, you can replace it with another one.
You can get the best quality wraps from Vinyl Frog. Visit our website, do your research, choose the color that you like and give your car that much needed change that it deserves!
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Until recent years, you had exactly one option if you wanted to upgrade the look of your vehicle: repaint it. But that was before the vinyl wrap became an affordable, mainstream product. Wraps were actually invented in the 1950s, but they were costly, so their use was limited to high-end vehicles. In recent years, wraps have become so popular that prices have dropped dramatically, making them a cheaper option than paint in many cases. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of wrapping vs. painting your car.
If you’ve seen vehicles with wild, eye-catching graphics or strangely luminous colors, you’ve probably seen vehicle wraps. They stand out in traffic. A vinyl wrap is the medium of choice for vehicle advertising because it costs much less than a custom paint job, and it offers significantly more design and finish options than paint.
But with prices so reasonable, wraps are now becoming the preferred method of “repainting” for private vehicle owners, as well. A wrap can be a solid color or a simple color scheme that looks exactly like paint to the casual eye, so even if you’re not trying to make a big statement with your vehicle, vinyl can be an affordable alternative to paint.
When you’re trying to decide between vinyl and paint, the first question to ask is: How long can you be without your vehicle? This is no small thing if it’s your only transportation. Will you have to rent a car if the vehicle is in the shop for too long? Wraps and paint are applied to vehicles in very different ways, which affect the amount of time you’ll be without your ride.
Paint jobs come in a wide variety of quality and price ranges, but three things are constant:
Some paint jobs cost less because they use fewer coats, but prep and drying processes still add to the amount of time you’ll be without your vehicle. If the paint shop isn’t busy, you may have your car back in 3-5 days for a low-cost paint job, but 1 to 3 three weeks is more common for the average paint job.
Wraps take far less time to apply than paint. Once your design is finalized, it’s usually a 3-day maximum for installation. All we have to do is wash the car, dry it, and start applying vinyl.
One of the best qualities of vinyl is that it can be removed without damaging the paint beneath. This also means the paint that’s exposed when the vinyl is removed will look as bright as the day it was wrapped, having been protected from the elements.
On the other hand, paint is permanent, short of sanding it off. When you paint, you’re stuck with the vehicle’s appearance until you invest a significant amount of money in removing it. If your vehicle is painted with company graphics, you’ll have a tough time selling it for what it’s worth, and furthermore, do you really want a stranger driving a vehicle that has your logo on the side?
With vinyl wraps, you can apply eye-catching graphics—or just colors and patterns that make a personal statement—them remove them when it’s time to sell the car (or update the design).
We mentioned that paint jobs come in all levels of quality, dependent on the type of paint used, application methods, and how many coats are applied. At the low end, painting a full vehicle costs around $1,000. It may fade or chip more quickly than a higher-quality paint job, but it’s affordable. A good paint job for an average vehicle will set you back between $3,000 and $10,000—not necessarily so affordable.
A full vehicle wrap typically costs between $2,500 and $5,000. For company vehicles, this kind of cost is a no-brainer because wraps also function as advertising. For personal vehicles, it’s a very economical alternative to paint, whether you go with old-school, solid colors or eye-catching graphics, which brings us to customization …
A custom paint job for a full vehicle obviously costs more than the $3K – $10K mentioned above. Custom paint jobs are applied by skilled artists who don’t work cheap. How much can you spend on one? Custom, metallic paint jobs on high-end sports cars have been known to run upwards of $60,000.
Wraps give you all the customization options of paint, plus many more. You can opt for metallic, textured, and matte finishes with vinyl. And you can achieve the metallic “$60K effect” for about the same price as any other wrap.
Graphics of any kind can be reproduced on vinyl, so your imagination is the limit. If you like tinted glass, you may even want to consider having the windows wrapped with perforated decals. From the inside, you’ll see a light, continuous tint, but from the outside, viewers will see any color or image you want to place there. It’s a whole new way of thinking about customization.
Paint is much higher-maintenance than vinyl, across the board. Paint wears out faster if you don’t wash it regularly and cover it with a protective coat of wax. Left unwashed, auto paint takes micro particles and pollutants into its “pores,” which breaks it down over time.
Vinyl is easy to maintain: Wash it normally or just wipe it with a wet cloth. Vinyl doesn’t allow microscopic dust to embed itself in the surface, so if you miss a few washings, the vinyl will be fine.
Which is more durable, vinyl or paint?
Paint jobs vary widely, in terms of durability. A cheap paint job will be more susceptible to chips and environmental wear and may look worn and faded after only a couple of years. An expensive paint job from a professional shop can last the life the vehicle, with only minor fading from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
Vinyl wraps last up to 10 years, depending on where you live and what kind of driving you do. Vinyl can be finished with a UV resistant coating that keeps its colors bright over the years.
Vinyl car wraps offer LOTS of design options
Let’s get to the fun part. Vinyl wraps open up a whole new world of creativity for the look of your vehicle. Again, your car doesn’t have to sport wild graphics or flamboyant text to take advantage of vinyl. How about iridescent colors that shift subtly in the sun? How about chrome accents on the mirrors? Or a black so flat that it seems to swallow light? Vinyl designs don’t have to be loud to be classy. Here are some of the very cool finishes you can choose from:
You don’t have to wrap the whole vehicle (it costs a lot less if you don’t). It’s easy to augment the paint you already have to transform it into a more personal statement. One popular style is to wrap the hood, like the look of an oxford shoe, but it’s a car. A classy shoe car.
The point is, if you enjoy beautifying your ride, wraps give you a very large toy box to pull from.
Go ahead: touch it
Texture is part of the fun with vinyl design. Different textures take light in unique ways that can add drama or elegance to a car’s look. While vehicle paint offers virtually no textural options, vinyl brings a whole new dimension to the tactile appeal of your ride. Instead of saying, “Hands off my car!” you’ll be saying, “Come here and run your hands over this!” Think of the friends you’ll make.
Can all vehicles be wrapped?
Nope. Your paint has to be in good condition, if you plan on wrapping a vehicle. Any rough spots or imperfections in the finish will not be hidden by the wrap, and they’ll inhibit proper vinyl adhesion. If your paint is bad, you should go with that new paint job, and save the wrap for your next vehicle.
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