Liviu Marcus
When it comes to changing the look of your car, two mainstream options on the market are either a repaint or vinyl wrap. So, what should you get done on your car depends on your particular situation as each of the options has its pros and cons.
We have compared the two options of wrapping and repainting in some aspects to let our readers judge for themselves what to opt for.
Cost
Cost has a great impact on user selection and feasibility. Wraps have been quite an expensive option in the past, due to which they were not so mainstream about a decade or two ago. But now the cost of a decent wrap has almost gone below or almost become equal to that of a decent paint job.
A decent quality vinyl wrap sets you back almost $5,000 to $10,000. Whereas a decent paint job also costs almost in the same territory. Although you can get both paint jobs and wraps done for less than this budget, mostly they tend to be of subpar quality or offer poor application services.
Application
In terms of application, a simple wrap takes a lot less than a repaint. It includes washing the car, drying it, and disassembling the exterior parts to get the wrap done. This usually takes 2 to 3 days for a medium-sized car.
Whereas repainting a car requires a lot more time and effort, it requires removal of the previous paint, priming the car, repainting it in several coats, clear coating it, and finally color correcting and even out any errors in painting with polish and compound. This process can take up to 2 to 3 weeks if done professionally.
Although you can find many workshops that offer decent repaints, fewer workshops offer decent wrap applications due to the complexity of the application process.
Maintenance
From a maintenance standpoint, vinyl stands out as being easier to maintain but has a shorter life span than a decent paint job. But for a decent paint job to last for the vehicle’s lifetime it has to be taken care of properly. Dirt gets caught in the paint more easily than that vinyl wrap and damages the paint if not handled professionally. Paint requires frequent washes and wax application to protect it from the environment.
Whereas vinyl is much more rugged against dirt and delayed car washes and can be maintained easily.
Customizability
Paints are mostly done in a single shade, whereas vinyl wraps open a whole new world of customizability for you. Wraps can offer similar appearances of regular metallic paints if you do not want your car to stand out. They can also offer the application of extreme designs, with multiple finish options and even physical textures
Life
Wraps mostly tend to have a shorter life than that of a decent paint. A good quality wrap will be good for 5 to 10 years, whereas a decent paint job can last for the vehicle’s whole lifetime
Conclusion
So, if your car already has a decent paint job and you are bored with its current look, a wrap sounds like a much more feasible, easier, and cheaper option too. But if your car’s current paint has started to wear and is damaged from multiple locations, it’s better to get a decent paint job done as wraps need a clean paint surface to adhere on.
