As a general rule of thumb, car wrapping is the best choice if you are looking for an affordable, reversible, and personalized option, and painting is best for a durable factory finish.
It all depends on your goals, budget, and how long you plan to keep the car. Although both approaches to modifying the car achieve the same result, there are pros and cons to each. So, what are the distinctions and the pros and cons of car wrapping vs. painting?
What Is a Car Wrap?
A car wrap is where the exterior of your vehicle is covered in vinyl film. These wraps have all different kinds of finishes, including matte, gloss, satin, metallic, chrome, and custom prints. The film is then applied on top of the paint, which means the look of your car can be changed completely without committing to the changes long-term. Wraps are popular with businesses that use them to advertise and with car enthusiasts who wish to experiment with bold or unique looks.
What Is a Car Paint Job?
Painting, conversely, comes in a can, and you paint another coat onto the car’s body. This method is less reversible, and the old paint may need to be sanded before you can apply a primer, base coat, and clear coat. A quality paint job can make your car look like new again if you have damaged or faded original paint.
Cost Comparison: Wrap vs. Paint
Getting your car wrapped is consistently less costly than an extremely high-quality paint job. A full wrap will run you anywhere from about 2,000 to 5,000; a professional paint job could cost upwards of 5,000-10,000. There are budget paint jobs; that’s how you get a cheap $100 paint job. But if you want a nice set of paint, it’s not going to come cheap, and it’s not going to last.
Durability and Lifespan
Paint, when applied professionally and properly maintained, can last 10 years or longer. Wraps, however, generally have a lifespan of 5 to 7 years before they start to fade or chip away. As such, wraps are a great option for temporary style modifications, where paint is the logical choice for long-term.
Protection and Reversibility
One of the biggest benefits of wrapping is that it preserves the original paint beneath. Vinyl wraps protect the surface from UV light, smudges, light scratches, and weather damage. The vehicle’s paint is not affected when removed properly. This can be especially good for leased cars or for anyone who cares about maintaining resale value.
Paint, once applied, is permanent. It’s any kind of change that requires another full paint job, another closet to plant, and another thing that could be dry-walled and leveled and focused again, and that’s expensive and time-intensive.
Customization and Color Options
There’s much more you can do with a wrap. You have the option to incorporate textures like carbon fiber or brushed metal, or create intricate graphic designs that would require a significant investment in paint. Wraps can be in multiple colors, have branding or logos, and can even replicate high-end finishes.
Paint is much less customizable unless you go all-in. But for a factory-smooth finish or to update an older car, paint might be the way to go.
Installation Time
A complete wrap may be done in 2–5 days, depending on the difficulty level. But it can take up to two weeks to paint a car with the sanding, priming, curing, and finishing required. If you’re looking for a frothy makeover, wrapping is it.
Final Thoughts
If you’re interested in a temporary, personal, and more affordable way of changing the look of your vehicle, then wrapping is the way to go. It enables creativity, safeguards your car, and is removable when it’s time to drive. But if you’re seeking an update that has a high-end look and feel and you don’t mind spending on quality work, then painting is the way to go.