Wraps are priced by the square foot. An average full wrap on a vehicle can range from $1,800 to $3,500. A mid-sized sedan will likely cost between $2,000 to $2,500, while an SUV or VAN can cost about $2,500 to $3,000. That’s much less than the cost of having a billboard that you must rent every month.

You can also use our Instant Price Estimator to instantly estimate the cost of wrapping your vehicle with vinyl to either change its color or to advertise your business.

Use a wet, non-abrasive detergent such as 3M™ Car Wash Soap 39000 or Meguiar’s NXT Generation® Car Wash or Deep Crystal® Car Wash and a soft, clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. To reduce water spotting, immediately dry with a clean microfiber cloth. We do not recommend putting your vehicle through a carwash.

Absolutely not! A wrap actually temporarily protects your vehicle’s paint.

When a wrap is applied to a vehicle, the vehicle’s surface is thoroughly cleaned to remove any debris. Then the vinyl wrap is carefully applied to the vehicle, putting a protective vinyl barrier between your vehicle’s paint and the rest of the world.

Wraps won’t protect your vehicle from accidents, dings, or other damage and isn’t meant to be used as vehicle protection. A wrap also should not be applied to paint that is not the factory original paint because of the chance of the wrap lifting aftermarket paint from the vehicle’s surface. However, when you remove your wrap from factory original painted surfaces you may find that there are significantly fewer scratches and rock chips than if you didn’t wrap your vehicle.

A well cared for vinyl wrap can last for many many years (we’ve seen some last as long as 7 years or longer, but these were mostly cars that are kept garaged). In Southern California with the intense sun, we usually see a lifespan of 4-5 years on vertical surfaces and 2-3 years on horizontal.

Wraps are just like paint, if you take care of them, they’ll last longer. If you don’t take care of them, just like paint, you’ll find their lifespan decreases.

Vinyl manufacturers like 3M and Avery warranty their vinyl from manufacturing defects and failures for a certain amount of years depending on the type of vinyl. Ask your sales rep at Xgraphix how long your wrap is warrantied.

Vinyl is very easy to remove without causing any damage to your OEM paint. It’s even possible to remove the vinyl yourself with the correct solutions and tools, although we always thoroughly recommend you bring your wrap back to us, or a certified installer to have the wrap removed. That way you gain peace of mind knowing it’s being done right.

Wash your wrap once a week or more often if your vehicle is exposed to a lot of dirt or pollutants. You should hand wash it using 3M® Car Wash Soap 39000, or Meguiar’s NXT Generation® Car Wash or Deep Crystal® Car Wash. At Wrap Works Orange County, we also recommend 3M Quick Detailer Spray Wax or Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Wax. You can use another gentle automotive detergent if necessary – any good brand will work. Always use a nice automotive sponge or clean, soft cloth to wash your wrap. Rinse vehicle with clear water after washing. Minimize water spotting by using a silicone squeegee or chamois to remove water. Dry with a clean microfiber cloth .

You can bring your wrapped vehicle to an automated brushless car wash, though hand washing is safer and more thorough. Brush car washes may be too rough on the film, degrading it and causing peeling and lifted edges. If a car wash uses water spray and no brushes, it should be safe for most wraps.

Use a wet, non-abrasive detergent such as 3M™ Car Wash Soap 39000 or Meguiar’s NXT Generation® Car Wash or Deep Crystal® Car Wash and a soft, clean cloth or sponge. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. To reduce water spotting, immediately dry with a clean microfiber cloth. We do not recommend putting your vehicle through a car wash.

If you want to pressure wash your vehicle wrap, keep it below 2,000 psi. Use a spray nozzle with a 40 degree wide angle spray pattern and keep water temperature below 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the spray nozzle at least 12 inches away from the car edges.

Clean bird droppings and difficult stains immediately. Letting them sit for too long will make them harder to remove and may permanently damage the wrap. Soak the affected area for a few minutes with warm, soapy water to loosen the contaminants. Rinse completely and dry with a microfiber cloth. For stubborn contaminants, use denatured alcohol, 3M® Citrus Base Cleaner, Meguiar’s Gold Class™ Bug and Stain Remover or two parts isopropyl alcohol to one part water. Always test these solutions on a small area that’s not easily noticeable to ensure the cleaner will not harm the wrap. Do not use solvents or oil based cleaning products.

Wipe off fuel spills immediately, then hand wash the affected area. Letting the spill stay the wrap too long will degrade the vinyl. A quick wipe with a wet paper towel at a gas station will clean the fuel affected area decently enough until you can get home to do a more through job.

Excessive amounts of time under the sun or other outdoor elements (rain, smog, debris and road pollutants from passing cars) can degrade the wrap on the roof, trunk lid and hood. These horizontal areas are a magnet for pollutants, which are intensified by UV ray exposure. Try your best to park your car in a garage or under a canopy or shelter. If you must park it outside for prolonged periods, look for shady parking areas.

If wrap is cracking, turning into a different color or browning, then it’s time to replace the wrap.* 

But you can also try to clean it first using Simple Green or isopropyl rubbing alcohol to spot clean isolated stains. Rinse area with cool water after cleaning. Don’t use tire dressing to spot clean as it may splash on the wrap and cause stains. Avoid wiping the wrap when it’s hot; this can distort the material and cause wrinkling.

*Don’t wait too long because removal will become difficult and therefore costly. 

Never, EVER use any of the following cleaning products on your wrap:

• Solvents
• Oil based cleaners
• Kitchen & Bathroom Cleaners
• Oven cleaner
• Orange Oil
• Engine Degreaser

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 hairdryer. Deeper scratches will not come out, but since the damage rarely makes it all the way through, you’re still protecting the painted surface below.

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.

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
• Noticeable seams

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

While it may not seem necessary, you should absolutely declare your vehicle wrap to your insurance company. Not only will that avoid any risk of your policy being invalidated, but in 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.

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, GotWrap 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.