Vehicle wraps represent a significant investment for many business owners. It provides several important benefits, such as paint protection, more marketing opportunities and better car maintenance. Vehicle wraps are a significant investment and can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000. Because of these reasons, business owners will want to make the most of them.
Learn how long vinyl wraps last, the different ways you can care for it and how to make your investment last longer.
How Long Does Vinyl Wrap Last
Commercial vehicle wraps can be used as daily commercial branding without the usual monthly costs of traditional advertising. Instead, these branding visuals contain your company’s contact information, logo, business name and tagline. Fleet graphics can generate 30,000 to 70,000 views daily, depending on the amount of traffic on the road.
When considering wrapping a vehicle, vehicle owners ask, “how long does vinyl wrap last?” Estimates show that properly installed vinyl wraps can last five to seven years. You will notice that they begin to peel, fade, crack and deteriorate after that period. However, you can make them last around two years longer with proper maintenance.
Preparing Your Vehicle for Wrapping
One crucial factor that adds to the length of time vinyl wrap lasts is the proper preparation of your vehicle. Vehicle owners can perform the initial cleaning before they bring their vehicle to AZPRO.
Before the actual wrapping process begins, our team thoroughly cleans your vehicle. This process includes cleaning unwrapped parts of your vehicle that accumulate dirt and debris, which can affect the longevity and aesthetics of the vinyl wrap. This two-step cleaning process aims to ensure that the vehicle is properly washed, removing dust, grime and dirt completely.
Technicians will use a towel, lint-free cloth or a non-scratch sponge when washing vehicles for wrapping. This ensures that the commercial vehicle wraps cling securely to the surface. In addition, professionals will also use cleaning agents like alcohol to create a cleaner surface priming your vehicle for wrapping.
Quality of the Wrapping Material
Another important factor that contributes to how long vinyl wrap lasts is the quality of the material used to wrap your vehicle. At AZPRO, our technicians carry a 3M Matched Component Systems (MCS) warranty, so you can be sure that only high-quality vinyl and other components are used on the surfaces of your vehicles.
The finished graphics we apply on your cars, trucks, vans and other vehicles are approved by 3M. The material passes their manufacturing standards and is produced according to their product instructions, specifications and manufacturing standards.
Industry Experience and Expertise
The expertise, experience and professional qualifications of installers also play a part in vehicle wrap longevity. Unfortunately, vinyl wraps have become quite popular, and with that comes an increase in the number of poorly qualified technicians. Because of this, you should ensure that you’re working with seasoned professionals before you allow anyone to apply vinyl on your company vehicles.
When you collaborate with AZPRO, you will work with G7 color reproduction experts. G7 experts go through an intense training and certification program. Our staff is composed of highly skilled color technicians providing strict quality control and print analysis. They deliver output that has a set standard with predictable and repeatable results.
Making Your Vehicle Wrap Last
After understanding how long vinyl wrap lasts, business owners should learn how to care for their wrapped vehicles to ensure their investments last longer. Proper care for wrap products prolongs their usable life and saves you money in the long run.
Proper Care and Maintenance
With proper care and maintenance, you can extend the usable life of vinyl wrap by several months up to a year. This includes preventing prolonged sun exposure, providing proper coverage and regular cleaning.
Preventing Exposure to Temperature Extremes
Extreme heat and cold can affect the longevity of your vehicle’s vinyl wrap. Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can make vinyl more malleable, making it easy to peel off. On the other hand, exposure to colder temperatures can cause cracks. Your company vehicles will eventually get exposed to extreme temperatures, so the goal is to reduce their exposure, so the vinyl exterior lasts longer.
Reducing Ultraviolet Exposure
Prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) light damages the color and quality of vinyl. In addition, UV radiation can damage the skin and wreak havoc on your fleet wrap. If the color fades, you may have to replace the vinyl sooner.
To help reduce UV exposure:
- Store your company vehicles in a garage or enclosure when not on the road.
- Ensure proper climate control, so they don’t get exposed to temperature extremes while inside your garage.
- Provide shade if you don’t have a large enough garage for all your vehicles.
Proper Cleaning
Another crucial factor in ensuring your vehicle wrap lasts longer is proper cleaning. Never use strong cleaning agents and hard surface cleaners on vehicles wrapped in vinyl. Instead, use a non-abrasive cleaner or just plain water.
In addition, you shouldn’t use hard brushes but, instead, use a soft cloth or sponge for cleaning. Use water pressure below 800 psi and spray it from 12 to 14 inches away from the vehicle’s surface.
Trust the Vehicle Wrap Experts from AZPRO
If you’re looking for quality vinyl installation services from seasoned professionals, trust the experts from AZPRO. Our technicians are certified and highly skilled craftsmen that use state-of-the-art equipment. Call our specialists at 866-907-8438 or fill out this form for more information.
