A well-managed fleet offers many benefits to a business. It guarantees mobility and is instrumental to growth as it enables the company to be present whenever and wherever customers need its services. But there is a way to get the most out of your company’s fleet. Customized fleet wrap allows businesses to market themselves to prospective customers while on the move to existing customers.
Customized fleet wraps usually include the business’s contact details and services all over the sides of the vehicle. This means that fleet wraps are effective for promotions. People in the vicinity become aware of your name and contact information whenever your team drives out to provide a booked service.
Investing in vehicle wraps, therefore, maximizes a fleet. Learn the vehicle wrap cost vs. a paint job cost and why the former can be more valuable to your business.
How Much Is It To Wrap a Vehicle vs. Paint Job?
Custom wraps are ideal for service vehicles of all industries, especially businesses that are very mobile. Being seen all over town with their distinctive logo helps with brand recognition and retention. But, like any marketing strategy, it will cost money.
The cost of wrapping a vehicle depends on several factors:
- Coverage: The type of coverage ranges from partial to full.
- Material: This depends on whether you prefer a standard cast or thicker calendared wraps.
- Finish: There are various finishes, and these depend mainly on your taste. The options include matte, gloss, textured, satin or carbon fiber.
A simple rule of thumb is the bigger the vehicle and the wider the coverage, the higher the cost because more material is needed to wrap the vehicle. Similarly, premium materials will also fetch a higher price.
The average cost of wrapping a car can start at $2,000. In comparison, a DIY paint job can cost much less – only a few hundred dollars – if you know someone who is adept with a spray can or owns proper spraying equipment. But this is not ideal as the damage could cost more than getting a professional paint job in the first place. However, a good quality paint job done by a professional can be just as expensive as wrapping a vehicle.
A full-body paint job for an average vehicle can cost $3,000, and if you want an in-demand professional or shop to paint your vehicle and do some customizations, it can easily cost you $10,000. The type and quality of paint can also influence the total price. So contrary to popular belief, paint is not necessarily cheaper than car wraps. A quality paint paired with expert application can come at a substantial cost, which may cost even more than a car wrap.
But here’s the thing about discussing costs: it’s not enough to compare the face value cost of a vehicle wrap vs. a paint job. It’s also important to consider their long-term costs. Only then will you see how much they will cost your business.
Vehicle Wrap vs. Paint: Which Is More Cost Effective for Businesses?
When spending a lot of money on improvements, key factors will determine whether they are worth spending your time and resources on.
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Longevity
With proper care and maintenance, quality vinyl wraps can last for years. Similarly, quality paint can last a decade, even longer, with minor fading if you choose high-quality paint. A cheap paint job, in contrast, will easily chip. As a result, the paint would peel off in just a couple of years and make the vehicle look way older than it is.
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Maintenance
Wraps are low maintenance and do not require much upkeep besides avoiding scratches as much as possible. Shallow scratches do not damage the wrap, but deep gouges can cause the wrap to peel. In addition, the vinyl can chip, which may happen when sharp rocks come flying while driving over gravel. Fortunately, chipped portions and tiny flaws are easily fixed with vinyl patches. Since this can be a DIY repair, it won’t cost much to get your vehicle looking flawless again.
Washing a wrapped vehicle is also easier and doesn’t cost much. All it takes is water and mild detergent to wash off dirt and debris from the vehicle.
Paint also needs regular washing to remove pollutants and other contaminants that can cause corrosion and damage. But while regular detergent is good enough, you’ll get better results with a specially formulated car soap. These products have the ideal PH level, which is necessary to avoid damaging the paint.
The most significant difference between paint and car wrap maintenance is paint needs regular waxing. It keeps a vehicle looking shiny and brand-new. Skipping the wax makes a vehicle look shabby and dated, which is not a good look for a business.
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Customization
Paint is readily available and can be ordered if your color choice isn’t in stock. A potential problem is a painter’s skills and equipment can limit your design options. So even if you have a design in mind, it might not translate well on the vehicle if your painter is inexperienced.
Fleet wraps offer greater flexibility because the design is produced digitally and printed on the wrapping material. Once the design is ready, it’s just a matter of applying the wrap on the vehicle and ensuring the art is in the correct position. Moreover, there is a higher chance of your fleet looking exactly as illustrated because the outcome is not heavily dependent on the technician’s skill with spray paint.
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Installation Time
It is much faster and easier to install vinyl wraps than paint a vehicle. Once the company has printed out your design, technicians can finish wrapping your vehicle in one day.
A quality paint job can take days or weeks to complete because painters must let each coat dry before applying any overlay. If you requested additional custom paint, that could take even more time. Also, expert custom painters are often in-demand and booked for months in advance. They can only work on one vehicle at a time, so it could easily take months to finish a custom, full-body paint job for just one vehicle.
Long waiting periods in garages are not ideal for business. It could even be detrimental if time off the road means less revenue for your company. So if you don’t have the luxury of time, it’s more worthwhile to consider how much it costs to wrap a vehicle vs. paint a fleet with your brand’s colors.
Get Your Money’s Worth With AZPRO
Many famous brands pay for bus advertising, also known as “billboards on wheels.” Imagine having several moving billboards for as long as you like using only your budget for fleet maintenance.
That’s a priceless opportunity you can get from AZPRO. We go above and beyond applying fleet wraps. Our team can assist with every stage of the process, from ideating designs to printing to actual application. We are also certified G7 color reproduction experts, so rest assured that the colors and designs will be as vibrant and crisp in real life as they were on your computer screen. We also coordinate each project and handle production, shipping and scheduling.
You don’t have to worry about anything with AZPRO! Contact us for more information on our fleet wrapping services.
