Car wrap or respray: cost, lifespan and aftercare

Want to change the colour of your car? You have two choices: a car wrap or a respray. Both can look superb. They differ on cost, how long they last, what happens to your original paint and how easily you can change your mind later. Phil started this business in 1985 pinstriping cars by hand, so cars are close to our hearts, and this is the straight comparison we give anyone weighing it up.

For the colours, finishes and partial wraps we fit, see our car wraps page.

What a car wrap actually is

A wrap is a thin, flexible vinyl film applied over your existing paint. It comes in a huge range of colours and finishes, including gloss, satin, matte, metallic and colour-shift, and it can be printed with any design you like. From a few feet away it reads as paint. The difference is that it can come off again.

Cast film and calendered film

Not all vinyl is the same, and this is where wraps succeed or fail.

• Cast film is made by pouring liquid PVC onto a moving sheet and letting the solvents evaporate. It is never stretched during manufacture, so it has no memory. It is thin, conforms around curves and recesses, and stays where it is put.
• Calendered film is made by squeezing heated PVC through rollers. That stretching leaves tension in the film, so it always wants to shrink back. On flat surfaces this rarely matters. Stretched into the curves of a car, it pulls back over time and the edges lift.

For a full colour change wrap, cast film is the right material. The same thinking about matching material to the job applies to signs too, as our guide to sign boards explains.

Car wrap or respray: cost and lifespan

Cost

A quality respray, done properly with panels removed and door shuts painted, involves a great deal of preparation and labour, which is why it is usually the bigger investment. A full colour change wrap generally costs less than a respray of the same standard. Partial wraps cost a fraction of either.

The real cost of either depends on the size of the car, the complexity of its shape, the finish you choose and how much of it you cover. The only fair comparison is a fixed quote for your car.

What affects how long a wrap lasts

A professionally fitted wrap in quality cast film lasts for years, not months. How many years depends on a handful of things:

• Sun exposure. Horizontal surfaces such as the roof, bonnet and boot lid age fastest because they face the sky.
• Film type and finish. Some special finishes, such as metallics, are rated for a shorter life than standard colours.
• Storage. A garaged car keeps its wrap looking fresh far longer than one parked outside all year.
• Aftercare. The right washing routine makes a real difference, and the wrong one can damage edges quickly.

A good respray can last much longer, but it is permanent. When you want a change, you are painting again.

Paint condition, resale and lease cars

What a wrap can and cannot hide

A wrap is only as smooth as what sits underneath it. Film manufacturers are clear that the paint must be sound before wrapping. Vinyl will not hide or fix:

• Rust or bubbling paint
• Dents and creases
• Deep scratches and stone chips
• Peeling lacquer or loose paint
• Rough repairs and body filler

These either show through the film or stop it sticking properly, and loose paint can come away with the film when it is removed. If the car has been recently repainted, the paint must be fully cured before it is wrapped. Your bodyshop can tell you when their paint is ready.

Your original paint, resale and lease cars

This is the wrap’s biggest advantage. While it is on, the film shields the paint underneath from light scratches, stone chips and fading. Quality wrap films are designed to be removable, and on sound factory paint, careful removal leaves the original finish underneath. That helps resale, as the next owner gets the colour they expect and paint that has been covered up for years.

For lease and finance cars, a wrap is often the only sensible way to change the colour, because the car has to go back in its original condition. Check your agreement and speak to the finance company before you book, as some have their own rules on modifications.

The DVLA, your V5C and your insurer

Changing the colour of your car, by wrap or by paint, means updating your V5C. The DVLA lists colour as one of the changes you must tell it about. Update the details on your log book and send it to the DVLA, and a new V5C comes back showing the new colour.

Tell your insurer as well. That way your policy describes the car you actually drive. Both jobs take minutes and both are easy to forget, so do them as soon as the car is finished.

Wrap or respray at a glance

	Car wrap	Respray
Cost	Usually lower	Usually higher
Lifespan	Years, depending on care and sun	Longer, but permanent
Original paint	Protected underneath	Replaced for good
Finishes	Huge range, including matte and colour-shift	Wide, special finishes cost more
Reversible	Yes	No
Paint must be sound first	Yes	Prepared as part of the job
DVLA and insurer	Update both	Update both

Aftercare: looking after a wrapped car

A wrap needs a little different care from paint. Follow these rules and it will look good for far longer:

• Leave the car unwashed for at least three days after fitting so the adhesive can settle.
• Hand wash with a mild car shampoo, a soft mitt and plenty of clean water.
• Never aim a pressure washer straight at the edges or seams, as it lifts them.
• Dry the car with a soft microfibre towel to avoid water spots.
• Avoid abrasive polish, cutting compound and hard brushes.
• Never wax or polish a matte or satin wrap, as it leaves shiny patches.
• Use detailing products made for wrap film.
• Clean off bird droppings, tree sap and fuel spills straight away, before they mark the film.
• Keep the car in a garage or under cover when you can.

Partial wraps: a change without the full commitment

You do not have to wrap the whole car to change how it looks. Partial wraps make a big difference for much less:

• A contrast gloss black roof
• A bonnet in satin or carbon-effect film
• Mirror caps and spoilers
• Chrome delete on window trims and badges
• Racing stripes and pinstripes

For stripes, small details and decals, see our mini decals and stripes page.

Thinking about wrapping your car?

Tell us about your car and the look you are after, and we will talk you through the colours, finishes and options. See our car wraps page, or call us on 01296 399202.