How Much Does It Cost To Wrap A Car?

Car wraps are a popular way to transform the appearance of your vehicle while maintaining the original factory paint. Vinyl wraps come in a range of colors and styles, as they have more flexibility in customization than paint and can evoke the appearance of carbon fiber, leather, chrome, and stainless steel.

Beyond the change in appearance, wraps can provide long-term protection to the vehicle’s paint by shielding chips and blemishes from reaching the vehicle’s surface.

Preparing a Vehicle for Vinyl Wrap

The wrap installation procedure entails applying vinyl decals to the car's exterior. Before application, it is essential to conduct a detailed inspection of the car by checking for damage to the original paint. The wrap features an adhesive side and a laminate-coated side. If a wrap does not properly adhere to the damaged surface, it can be difficult or impossible to undertake a clean and proper installation. The surface needs to be near perfect for the vinyl wrap to grip and form-fit the car effectively. A vehicle must also undergo a thorough cleaning process to remove any dust, dirt, or grime before applying a vinyl wrap. 

Car Wrapping Cost

Considering that repainting a car could cost over $10,000, wrapping a vehicle might not inspire as much sticker shock. However, there are numerous cost variables to consider when wrapping a vehicle. There are two approaches: having a professional apply the wrap or taking a DIY approach. While the latter will save you money, it is not advised.

Here are the impacts on cost regardless of the approach taken:

• What is the make and model of the car? The complexity of the design directly affects the time needed to wrap a vehicle, which will vary the cost accordingly.
• Does the car have any kind of body kit? Cars with custom body kits usually add to the intricacies of the wrap, due in large part to the unique angles and creases of the aftermarket alterations.
• What vinyl hue do you want? Standard vinyl hues are offered in three different finishes - gloss, matte, or satin. The finish selected will also impact the cost.
• What parts of the car do you want to be wrapped? Maybe you want to get the car wrapped from top to bottom for commercial purposes (e.g. to promote a business). Or perhaps you aren’t looking to have your entire vehicle wrapped, but rather just apply a carbon-fiber hood or red brake calipers. Each option and approach will be priced differently depending on these factors.

Car Wrap Cost Breakdown

The key high-level costs to consider are DIY wrap options, professional wrap installation, and wrap removal:

Cost of DIY

• It is highly advisable to have your car wrapped by professionals with the experience and expertise to execute the application correctly. Applying a wrap can be both tedious and complicated. Therefore, it’s best to have the job completed by professionals to avoid any mishaps or potentially catastrophic application errors.
• If you’re certain you have the experience and technical know-how to take on the task yourself, DIY is more affordable than a professional installation.
• Vinyl wrap prices vary depending on the vinyl brand, the vinyl retailer, and the color and design of the wrap. When selecting a quantity of vinyl wrap, keep in mind that the average car requires roughly 250 square feet of vinyl to cover its entire surface.
  • A 15-square-foot roll of 3M’s 2080 G12 Gloss Black vinyl wrap is about $53. Thus, to cover an entire car, the cost would be about $900 for 255 square feet (as of this writing).
  • This same wrap is available in larger quantities for cheaper. For instance, it can also be purchased as a 5ft x 50ft roll on Amazon for approximately $660.
  • Other popular options include a VViViD XPO Black Carbon Fiber wrap which is about $10 for 5 square feet .
• In addition to acquiring the desired vinyl for your car, applying the wrap to your vehicle requires several different tools:
  • Squeegee; Flextreme (a micro-squeegee specifically designed for vinyl applications); heat gun; surface cleaner; microfiber cloth; cutting tape; blade; tweezers; Snitty blade (a safety cutter for vinyl); tape measure; masking tape; gloves; spray bottle; and a clay car.

Cost of Professional Installation

• While full car wraps cost around $2,000 to $4,000, the cost can fluctuate drastically depending on the size, style, and design of the vehicle. Further influencing cost is the use of high-end wrap finishes such as stainless steel, chrome, and carbon fiber, which can send material costs from $6,000 to $8,000.

Cost of Wrap Removal

• Removing the car wrap entails bringing the vehicle to the original wrap installer. The removal process should take about 3-4 hours when the structural integrity of the wrap is intact and costs about $500 to $600. When the wrap has become too “baked-in”, the process is complicated and can cost north of $2,500.

Car Wrap Price by Body Style

Here are price approximations for the easiest and most basic wrap installations when conducted by a professional. These body style numbers should be viewed as baseline estimates and will vary based on many factors.

• Compact car or coupe: $2,000
• Family sedan: $3,000
• Minivan: $3,600
• Compact crossover: $3,500
• Full-size SUV: $4,000
• Pickup truck: $3,600
• Luxury sports car: $5,000

For luxury vehicles, vehicle wraps can cost over $10,000. For instance, the intricacies required to wrap a Rolls-Royce or Bentley can send the price beyond $12,000 for a vehicle wrap.

Vehicle wraps are historically an aftermarket item not offered by the manufacturer. Recently, Tesla has introduced wraps for its Model 3, Model Y, and CyberTruck. All wraps use urethane-based film that is said to be more environmentally friendly than most vinyl wraps and two times thicker than the average vinyl film. These wraps also possess self-healing capabilities and protect against scratches. Installed at qualified Tesla Service Centers, the wrap price includes materials, installation, and a loaner vehicle. The Model 3 and Model Y offer eight color selections priced from $5,700 to $6,000. Meanwhile, the CyberTruck wrap ranges from $6,000 to $6,500 and includes 11 color options.

Car Wrap Maintenance

Wrapping a vehicle is a significant time and financial investment. Thus, there are a few basic recommendations to get the most out of your vehicle’s wrap.

Vehicle owners should follow these protocols to preserve and maintain the vinyl wrap:

• Do not use drive-thru and automatic car washes as the brushes can damage the wrap. Thus, hand-washing the vehicle is required. A jet washer may be used if the spray nozzles are an appropriate distance from the vehicle’s surface.
• Remove dead insects and bird droppings from the surface of the vinyl as soon as possible to avoid long-term impact from these compounds.
• Keep the vehicle in the garage or under a car cover to protect the wrap from heat and sunlight.

Summary

Car wraps are stylish and protect your vehicle from the elements. To get the most out of your wrap, follow the maintenance protocols and have a professional complete the installation and if necessary, removal.

Most costs incurred from having your car professionally wrapped result from the labor-intensive nature of the process. Upgrades such as specialty vinyl and custom designs further increase the cost. For instance, chrome is the priciest wrap material and also the most challenging to install. The starting price for a chrome vinyl wrap is around $6,000 for a midsize car.

Matt Yantakosol is a lifelong automotive enthusiast and former consultant focused on the consumer aspect of the industry. He has traveled to New York, Detroit, Chicago, L.A., Paris, Geneva, Frankfurt, and Tokyo Auto Shows to track and observe the newest industry innovations. In addition to JDPower.com, Matt's writing has appeared on Pcarmarket.com.

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