Car Wrap: How much does it cost and is it worth it? (2024)

Car wrap. No this isn’t a retirement announcement but instead some discussion on the art of vehicle wrapping. Inflation seems to be of little consequence to vehicle owners looking to put their stamp of individuality on their rides. Vehicle accessory and add-on business continues to grow and vehicle wrapping is no exception. According to SEMA, the Speciality Equipment Marketing Association, the wrapping and tinting business in the U.S. grew 15% between 2018 and 2021 and accounted for almost $6B of sales globally in 2022. It provides a quick way to completely change the appearance of a vehicle with colours the automaker never dreamed of.

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What is a car wrap?

A car wrap a vinyl decal that adheres to the vehicle’s surface by means of a sticky layer on the underside. It comes in rolls of all sizes. The average passenger car may need anywhere from 20-28 square metres of car wrap and mid-sized SUVs can take around 35-40 square metres.

How much does it cost to wrap a car?

Full wraps, professionally applied for small and mid-sized cars can start around $4,000 to $4,500 and SUVs and trucks start around $5,000. The price can vary depending on the work involved to remove lamps, grilles, and certain panels to provide access for the installer to wrap the wrap in nooks and crannies to provide a seamless look. Some shops can quote based on year, make, and model information, but the best way to get an accurate quote is to visit the shop and let the installers take a good look at what they’re quoting on. Basically, the more trim and bits on a vehicle drives the price up.

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What condition does the vehicle have to be in?

No matter how careful a vehicle owner might be, the body of their ride is subjected to a lot of scarring the minute it leaves the factory. The best way to see how much damage a few years of careful driving and maintenance can cause is to repaint or wrap the car without prepping the surface first. All those imperceptible marks will stand out like major dents when a new surface is applied. Any areas of peeling paint will also cause wrap problems because the wrap adheres to the paint not the metal underneath. Good wrappers will strongly recommend having repairs done before wrapping.

How long does a car wrap last?

If the vehicle is kept from direct sunlight as much as possible, a good wrap job can last up to five years. Extreme heat from the sun can bake the car wrap into the paint making it hard to remove and cause fading. Bird and insect droppings can also cause issues, but usually no more than these contaminants do to automotive paint. Car wraps are no more prone to scratches and dents than paint, but scratches and chips can be easily repaired on paint using a touch-up stick. If a car wrap is scratched through, that panel has to be replaced to maintain its appearance.

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How do you maintain a car wrap?

The best way to ensure a car wrap will last is to keep it under wraps; meaning in a garage, under a carport or a good breathable cover. Wraps don’t like automated car washes; the brushes can damage the surface and high pressure sprays can cause bubbles or the membrane to lift. It’s pretty much a hand-wash deal with normal garden-hose pressure and soft wash mitts and towels. There are companies that make ceramic coating applications for vinyl wrap to offer similar protection as these treatments provide to paint. They are a little harder to come by and they’re not interchangeable between vinyl wrap and paint treatments.

Any safety concerns?

One of the highest priced options for vehicle wraps is chrome. It will provide a mirror-like finish that can turn even the plainest clunker into an exotic ride. But on bright sunny days it will create blinding reflections that risk road safety. If you’re thinking of chrome wrapping your chariot, wrap that idea up with a bow and toss it in the trash.