When it comes to changing the color of your car, you have two options. You can wrap it using vinyl or paint it to make it look new.
Are you bored with the old look of your ride? You have two options. You can wrap it using vinyl or paint it to make it look new. Deciding between the two options is difficult, especially if you’re not familiar with the pros and cons of each. Which among the two options will restore the showroom appearance of your car? What is the budget? Keep reading to the end to have all these questions answered.
Should I wrap my car
Vinyl wraps are gaining popularity in the US as alternatives to painting cars. A vinyl painting protects the exterior of your ride and makes it attractive and appealing without having to repaint it.
Pros of Vinyl Car Wraps
1. It gives your car a unique look
Vinyl wraps are available in a wide variety of finishes and colors. Vinyl makes it possible to print whatever you want on the exterior of your car. Businesses looking forward to advertising their brand can incorporate their logos and contact information easily.
2. It is less expensive
A high-quality paint job ranges from $3,000 to $20,000. The price depends on the size of the vehicle and the complexity of the design. Professionally installed car wraps with the highest quality materials range from $3,500 to $5,000, and have a life expectancy of four to ten years depending on the vinyl used.
3. It is easy to remove
A paint job is permanent. The only way to get rid of it is to paint over them. Repainting your car is both expensive and time-consuming. Vinyl wraps are easy to remove. After removing vinyl wraps, the paint will look just like it was before wrapping. If you relaunch your brand with a new logo or colors, it won’t cost you a fortune to replace the current vinyl wrapping.
4. It doesn’t affect the resale value
Maintaining the manufacturer’s original paint keeps the resale value of your car intact. Vinyl protects the underlying paint. A vinyl-wrapped car attracts more buyers because they know changing it to the original paint or any of their desired look will not cost them much.
5. It is easy to maintain
Vinyl wraps are easier and cheaper to repair. Hand washing your car with water and soap only will make your car look brand new. To repair scratches that have affected the underlying paint, first sort out the paintwork and then reapply the vinyl wrap to the affected section.
6. Fast installation
Wrapping a vehicle takes three to five days. If you don’t have an alternative means of transport for the two to three weeks when the painting is ongoing, wrap it and continue with your daily transactions within three days.
7. Protection
Vinyl wraps protect every inch of the factory paint, from natural hazards such as prolonged exposure to the sun. It also greatly reduces the chances of getting harsh abrasion, stone chips, and other hazards after wrapping your car.
Cons of Vinyl Car Wraps
The downsides of wrapping your car with vinyl are very minimal compared to those of repainting. Here are some of them:
1. You get what you pay for
All vinyl wraps aren’t equal. High-quality vinyl wraps that are expensive will not damage the original paint while providing a new look and durability. Some vinyl wraps are of low quality. They are less durable, they discolor or fade over time, and damage the original paint when you remove them.
2. Legalities
If you’re planning to do a full-body wrap that will change the color of your car, you need to inform your insurance company. It isn’t worth reporting to your insurance company when you only want to wrap it for a short period before changing it back to its original color.
Vinyl wraps work well for a car that is in good condition. It does not fit properly if the vehicle has dents and other damages. Wrapping a damaged section before repairing increases wrinkling and bubbling, which degrades your vehicle’s appeal.
Should I paint my car?
Repainting your car changes its color permanently. Repainting is not always the best choice. It has got some pros and cons. Below is the information you need to know about repainting your car, the main advantages and disadvantages.
Just in case you’re not familiar with automobile painting, it involves the following steps:
1. Stripping your car into bare metal
2. Repairing chipped paints, dents, rust, and other damages
3. Applying body filler to get rid of imperfections
4. Priming the car
5. Sanding again until smooth
6. Applying three to four coats of topcoat
7. Applying lacquer
8. Buffing
Advantages of painting your car
1. Damages repair
Before putting a new coat, the mechanic first repairs all dents, scratches, sun damages, rusts, and other damages on the body of your car. A good painting job will make your car look new and appealing.
2. Customization
Just like vinyl wrapping, you have an option to customize your vehicle into a unique design. The only difference is that you don’t take part in the designing process as in vinyl wrapping. You can have anything painted on your vehicle provided you take it to the right paint shop.
Disadvantages of painting your car
1. It is expensive
A good paint job will cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 and above. Paint shops that discounts often offer low-quality services than certified paint shops.
2. Painting takes longer to complete
A quality vehicle painting job requires proper preparation. It takes one or two weeks to complete the painting job. You need to look for alternative means of transport before taking your car to the painting shop.
When to wrap and when to paint
Both wrapping and painting give your ride an appealing look. Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages of each, it is time to know the best option for you.
Choose vinyl wrap if:
- You want your car in a new exterior look in days not weeks
- You want advertisement graphics or fancy designs, but you don’t feel like custom-painting them on your vehicle
- The current paint job is not damaged
- You change the exterior design of your car frequently
- You want to protect the present paint for resale purpose
- Your budget is limited
Choose painting if:
- You want to restore the exterior of your ride to the factory condition
- The current paint job is damaged
- You only want to repair small sections
- There are no experts to install vinyl wraps in your area
