Commercial Vehicle Wraps

Vehicle wraps are unique to each application, and thus the cost can vary greatly from vehicle to vehicle. This can depend on any or all of the following:

• Size of the vehicle/wrap
• Vehicle model (cars with more curves, angles, and indentations are more difficult to work with)
• The shape of the wrap
• Quality/finish of the material
• Amount of time it’s intended to be in service

While a basic decal package can start as low as $425, a fully wrapped vehicle with a custom design and imagery can approach the $10,000 mark. With that said, the industry average for a full vehicle wrap is between $3,500 – $7,500. Please give us a call and tell us about your project so we can recommend the most cost-effective ways to complete your wrap without compromising your goals.

Vehicle wraps are an important part of building credibility and uniform branding for your business. It’s also one of the most cost-effective methods of brand advertising, with an unbelievably low average cost per impression (CPI) of just 15¢ over the lifespan of the wrap. Compare that to the average CPI of more traditional advertising media across the United States, such as TV ($27), radio ($11), print ($25), and billboards ($9), and you’ll see just how much of a value vehicle wraps can be to your business.

Vehicle wraps can be classified into four major categories:

• Basic Decals: Basic decals are typically 3–5 feet in length and are placed on the sides and back of the vehicle. They often include a company logo, slogan, and contact information.
• Spot Decals: Spot decals are similar to basic decals; only they’re significantly larger and can include more information and placements on the vehicle, such as the hood and windows.
• Partial Wrap: A partial wrap commonly consists of a hood logo, the entire rear, and the sides of the vehicle up to the windows. It usually covers between 25% – 75% of the vehicle’s surface.
• Full Wrap: A full wrap covers every painted surface of the vehicle, and any windows if necessary. On larger vehicles, a full wrap does not typically cover the roof, as this is generally not visible.

Almost all vehicle wraps are made from a thin vinyl film. With that said, not all vehicle wraps are created equally. At Brand Ink, we only use 3M™ Commercial Vehicle Wrap products due to their unmatched quality, reliability, and industry-best warranty. Additionally, we are a 3M MCS warranted manufacturer and certified installation company.

3M Commercial Vehicle Wrap adheres well to almost any vehicle surface. If you have questions about a particular material, we can schedule a time to test the surface in question before installation.

In short, no. Factory paint in good condition will have absolutely no issues when a vehicle wrap is professionally removed. If there is pre-existing chipped paint or rust, those will likely come off upon removal, so it’s recommended that you fix those issues before your wrap is installed.

While we here at Brand Ink are huge proponents of vehicle wraps, there are a few instances where we DO NOT recommend this service. These include:

• Your vehicle’s body is in poor condition: If your vehicle is covered in scratches, dents, chipped paint, or rust, it’s best not to get it wrapped until these issues are resolved. You may think you’re “covering up the problem,” but they will only continue to get worse, and you will jeopardize the vinyl.
• You don’t have the budget to do it right: If you can’t afford to hire a professional vehicle wrap design and installation team, you’re better off leaving your vehicle as it is. A poor-quality wrap will only serve to make your business look unprofessional in the eyes of your customers.
• You have a bad driving record: If you or your drivers are known for cutting people off or getting into fender benders, you may want to reconsider plastering the name of your business for all eyes to see (and judge).

It doesn’t matter how many car wrap guides you read or tutorial videos you watch, if you plan on wrapping your vehicle yourself, there’s a very good chance you’ll run into at least one of the following problems:

• Bubbling
• Peeling edges
• Incorrect measurements
• Overstretched vinyl
• Wrinkly corners

The only way to guarantee these mistakes don’t happen is to hire a vehicle wrap expert in your area.

The occasional wrinkle or bubble is common with any vehicle wrap, especially on severely concave or rounded surfaces. That is why professional installation is highly recommended, as experienced vinyl wrappers use special techniques designed to eliminate these minor imperfections.

As with most products, the quality of the vinyl wrap you purchase will determine how well it holds up to normal wear and tear. While most vehicle wraps are durable enough to sustain light surface damage, if you want a truly blemish-free look you can request that your installer apply additional graphic protection.

Because vinyl wraps are nothing more than a thin film on the surface of your vehicle, they are susceptible to scratches, nicks, and scrapes. While light surface scratches will disappear when exposed to the sunlight on warm days, they can also be removed by heating the film with a heat gun or hair dryer. Deeper scratches may not come out, but since the damage rarely makes it all the way through, you’re still protecting the painted surface below.

The average professionally installed vehicle wrap will last at least 7 years, depending on the quality of the material. Brand Ink only uses industry-leading 3M™ products that are designed to last seven years or longer without any fading. In fact, 3M guarantees our work will stand the test of time through their MCS™ Warranty program.

We are proud to be certified by 3M to offer the 3M MCS Warranty on finished graphics that meet their exacting requirements. This program covers finished graphics using products designed and tested for optimal compatibility and performance for jobs that demand the very best.

No, wrapping your vehicle does not void the manufacturer’s warranty. It is only voided if the manufacturer’s labels are removed or the maintenance schedule is neglected.

Even if you’re paying for your vehicle through financing, you can still have it vinyl-wrapped. Since you’re actually protecting the value of your vehicle, it rarely concerns the banks at all.

When it comes to wrapping a leased or rented vehicle, you should always obtain permission from the owner before making any alterations. However, this is a fairly common practice, as many of the minor scratches and damage incurred during normal use will come off with the wrap when it’s time to trade in the vehicle.

While it may not seem necessary, you should absolutely declare your vehicle wrap to your insurance company. Iin the event of an accident, you will be able to include the cost of the wrap in your claim. If your wrap significantly changes the color or appearance of your vehicle, you should also notify the DMV so they can update your vehicle registration. That way, the recorded color of your vehicle matches up with the actual color, which will be a big help to the police should your vehicle ever get stolen.

You can wash your wrapped vehicle the same way you would a non-wrapped one. A professionally installed vehicle wrap is designed to withstand routine cleaning and inclement weather.

Parking your vehicle in the sun is no problem, as the wrap is designed for this.

Incidental gas spills on a wrap from time to time will not pose a problem. If however you fill up your vehicle everyday, and give the car a couple of gasoline splashes for fun in the course of fueling, you could be risking issues with the repeated exposure to gasoline causing some of the adhesive on the wrap film to be degraded. The level of splash-time fun needed to cause an issue is usually only reserved commercial tanker trucks, not passenger vehicles.

Our turnaround time from receiving final artwork approval to installation is generally 7-10 business days. If you have a tighter timeline, let us know and we’ll do our best to accommodate your needs.

Wraps are designed to be removed without damaging the vehicle’s paint finish. When you are ready to have the wrap removed, one of our teams can come to your location to remove the wrap. Alternatively, with the proper tools, you should be able to remove the wrap yourself. Wraps will remove cleanly within the first 8 years of service. After 8 years, the wrap can still be removed, but removal should be done by professionals.

Yes, Brand Ink offers in-house graphic design services. From logo creation to full wrap designs, our team can assist you with your creative projects. Contact us today to discuss your project.

We would be happy to manufacture and install your design. We can install at our facility, send a team to you, or work with someone within our install network to complete your project.

Unfortunately we cannot install vehicle graphics or wrap bought elsewhere, as we cannot warranty the install or ensure a quality product.